DuPage County Sex Crimes Attorney

Illinois has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, and penalties for violating them can be severe. If you are caught violating concealed carry laws, punishments can range from a misdemeanor for a first offense to a class 3 felony for a subsequent offense, which can be punishable by five years in prison … Continue reading First Steps to Take After Being Charged with Carrying a Concealed Weapon

The right to a speedy trial is a fundamental principle in our criminal justice system. According to the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial.” The amendment guarantees a trial within a set period of time, and it prevents the prosecution from unnecessarily … Continue reading What Does a Speedy Trial Mean?

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, Class 3 and Class 4. Although a Class 4 felony is the least serious of all felony charges, it still … Continue reading What Is a Class 4 Felony in Illinois?

There can be life after prison, although the road to get there is usually difficult and badly needs reform. Consider the case of an Illinois man, now heading to Stanford University after having served 15 years of a 30-year prison sentence for marijuana trafficking.  Jason Spyres, now 36, was caught with 38 pounds of marijuana … Continue reading Illinois Man Shares Experience to Highlight Possibilities of Reform

Marijuana laws have become much-debated issues among Illinois lawmakers and candidates for office.  Legislators recently approved a bill that allows medical marijuana to be used in place of prescription painkillers and also eliminates requirements for patients to get fingerprints and criminal background checks. While this would make it easier to possess marijuana legally, Governor Bruce … Continue reading Marijuana Laws Continue to Drive Conversation in Illinois

The Illinois criminal justice system is not equipped to handle inmates with mental health issues. Despite the fact that people struggling with mental illness need treatment, in our society too many of them wind up in jail, putting a strain on both those that have the mental health problems and those without them. Estimates from … Continue reading Our Justice System Can’t Cope with Mental Illness

Judges and juries are often swayed by what they think is the scientific reliability of the so-called “forensic sciences” such as analysis of handwriting, fingerprints, hair, bite marks, and blood spatter patterns. No wonder. It can be very impressive when people who claim to be experts in forensic science fields testify as to their conclusions … Continue reading Validity of Bloodstain Patterns Called into Question

DNA genealogy systems are increasingly being used to link perpetrators with a crime.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) operates a central DNA database for the country, and Illinois is considering joining the eleven states that already use the process to help their police departments identify criminals. And it’s not just the perpetrator’s DNA that may … Continue reading Genealogy Testing: A New Frontier for Criminal Investigations?

Driving under the influence of prescription medications can be as deadly for drivers as driving under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol. Consequently, even if the doctor prescribed your medication, both prescription and over-the-counter drugs could potentially lead to a DUI. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Roadside Survey, more than 22 … Continue reading Can Legal Medications Result in a DUI?

When children commit terrible crimes, should they be punished for most or all of the rest of their lives? Is our criminal justice system providing what children need to rehabilitate and become useful members of society? How much prison time is too much for crimes committed at an age when brains and judgment are not … Continue reading Illinois Supreme Court to Hear Youth Crime Case