In Illinois, crimes are classified according to how serious they are. Misdemeanors are less serious than felonies, which are broken down into five classifications, from most serious to least: Class X, Class 1, Class 2,... Read more
Illinois, like many states, has strict laws regulating the possession, use, and carrying of firearms. Understanding the most frequent gun charges is essential for residents and visitors alike to ensure compliance with th... Read more
Do people with mental illnesses belong in jail? While the crimes they are accused of are often petty ones, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 2 million people with mental illness are booked int... Read more
If some time has passed since you finished serving your sentence, you may wonder, “How can I get my criminal record sealed in Illinois?” A criminal record is created upon arrest. It doesn’t go away if you are r... Read more
Our protection against unlawful arrests and unreasonable searches and seizures is one of the things that makes America great. It is a fundamental right that the founders wanted to safeguard after their experiences with t... Read more
Discussing the role consent plays in sex crime charges is important for a variety of reasons. Police, prosecutors, and defense attorneys often battle over the issue of consent, as it determines criminal culpability in th... Read more
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
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
