Theft of lost property: not a criminal offense

February 11, 2020
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NOTE: This article was updated to reflect 2020 changes in Illinois law with passage of Public Act 101-0394. These changes became effective on January 1st, amending the Illinois statute governing theft. Most people who are accused of theft suffer through feelings of anxiety and fear about the outcome of their case. For defendants charged with […]

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Why was I arrested for domestic battery when the victim refused to sign a complaint?

February 4, 2020
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NOTE: This article was updated to reflect 2020 changes in Illinois law with passage of Public Act 101-0130. These new laws became effective on January 1st, eliminating the statute of limitations for various sex crimes, including criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. All too often a person involved in […]

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Fatal Accident: A Review of Reckless Homicide Charges and Penalties

February 3, 2020
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NOTE: This article was updated to reflect 2020 changes in Illinois law with passage of Public Act 101-173. These changes became effective on January 1st, adjusting the Illinois statutes governing reckless homicide charges and Scott’s Law violations. The courts treat most accidents as a matter of negligence. The person who is responsible for the accident […]

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Illinois Traffic Ticket Points & Driver’s License Suspension Rules

January 29, 2020
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How many traffic tickets can I get before my Illinois driver’s license is suspended? Note: This article has been updated as of January 2020 to include all changes in Illinois traffic law. Too many traffic tickets in one year will cause the Illinois Secretary of State to suspend your driver’s license. The rule is, 3 […]

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What is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois?

January 23, 2020
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Note: This article has been updated to republished as of 2020. The misdemeanor sentencing structure is governed by 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-55. The last change to the statute became effective on July 1,2019. All criminal charges in the state of Illinois fall generally into two categories: felony and misdemeanor. The distinction between felony and misdemeanor is that […]

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Penalties for the offense of retail theft under Illinois law

January 23, 2020
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Note: This article has been revised as of January 2020 and reflects the updated statute of retail theft. Retail theft used to be codified under 720 ILCS 5/16A-13. The new statute is 720 ILCS 5/16-25 which became effective on January 1, 2012. This article also encompasses the changes from 2011 that increased the cutoff for […]

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What is domestic battery under Illinois law?

January 17, 2020
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Illinois law says that domestic battery is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.

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Can a child get an order of protection against a parent in Illinois?

January 16, 2020
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NOTE: This article was updated to reflect 2020 changes in Illinois law with passage of Public Act 101-0285. These changes became effective on January 1st, amending the Illinois statute governing female genital mutilation. Children may seek an order of protection against a parent under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, found at 750 ILCS 60/1 et […]

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720 ILCS 5/11-9.2: What is the Definition of & Penalties for Custodial Sexual Misconduct in Illinois?

November 14, 2019
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Custodial sexual misconduct is a specific type of sex crime under Illinois law. This criminal offense relates to sexual acts that occur between certain government employees and individuals in their custody or under their supervision. In these situations, a government employee has a position of power and control over individuals, which effectively destroys the concept […]

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720 ILCS 570/401: How Does Illinois Address Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver?

November 14, 2019
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The Illinois Controlled Substances Act establishes the state laws against and penalties for various drug crimes. Under this act, illegal drugs – referred to legally as controlled substances – are divided into different schedules based on medical use and addictiveness. In addition to rules against possession of a controlled substance, this act also prohibits the […]

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