If you’re charged with a crime, you’ll want to know what aggravating factors for your potential sentence are. A statute may spell out a range of possible punishments, but some facts or issues can increase your senten... Read more
The charge of criminal trespass is taken seriously in Illinois, with punishments that could include fines and even imprisonment. There are many types of criminal trespass which are usually charged as misdemeanors, but th... Read more
If you’ve served your time and feel a need to own a firearm, you may wonder, can a convicted felon own a gun legally in Illinois? With rare exceptions, probably not, even if the conviction is in another state or federa... Read more
If time has passed since you finished serving your sentence, you may wonder, how do I get my criminal record sealed in Illinois? A criminal record is created if you’re arrested or charged with an offense. It doesn’t ... Read more
Being accused of domestic violence is a serious situation. In Illinois, if convicted, you may face a criminal case in court and can be charged with either a misdemeanor or a felony. Punishments include monetary fines and... Read more
When you are arrested and/or charged with a crime in Illinois, a criminal record is created, even if you are not found guilty. Your criminal records can be read by the public, your friends, your family, banks, employers,... Read more
When someone files a complaint against you in an Illinois court, you will be served with a summons that lets you know that a lawsuit has been brought against you and what you must do to respond. In the lawsuit, you are... Read more
When someone is arrested, the arrest is recorded in a public record. This is called a public arrest record, which is a little bit different from a criminal record. Even if an individual is eventually found not guilty of ... Read more
Anyone who is attacked and in danger of being harmed has the right to defend himself, but there are still times when a person acting in self-defense winds up faced with the possibility of going to jail. While Illinois la... Read more
Under Illinois law, battery occurs if you have physical contact with another individual with the intent to injure, provoke, or insult that person. Battery may consist of contact such as pushing another person, or intenti... Read more