625 ILCS 5/11-503: Understanding Illinois Reckless Driving Statutes & Penalties

October 22, 2019
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In the interest of public health and safety, the State of Illinois has many rules and regulations that require safe driving conduct. Among many other traffic laws, Illinois specifically prohibits reckless driving conduct that puts other people or property in danger. Any driver who engages in this type of reckless behavior can face criminal punishment, […]

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A Look at 625 ILCS 5/11-501: What is the Illinois Difference Between DUI & Aggravated DUI?

September 25, 2019
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In order to preserve safe roadways for all drivers, the State of Illinois prohibits any person from driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs. Contrary to popular belief, this applies even to being under the influence of legal or prescribed drugs. Any driver who violates these regulations can face criminal charges for DUI […]

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What are the Illinois Laws Against Possession of Controlled Substances?

August 29, 2019

In the interest of public health and safety, the State of Illinois prohibits most people from possessing controlled substances, such as heroin, cocaine, and other illegal drugs. Under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act (the Act), which is codified as 720 ILCS 570/1 et seq., any person who possesses a controlled substance without authorization is subject […]

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How Does Illinois Define & Punish Criminal Sexual Assault?

August 13, 2019

Criminal sexual assault is a type of sex crime punishable by prison time under Illinois law. This criminal offense occurs when a perpetrator commits an act of sexual penetration against a victim under specific circumstances. In certain cases, the perpetrator may use force or threats to complete the act. In other situations, the perpetrator may […]

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Obstruction of Justice and Filing False Police Reports: The Criminal Liability of Jussie Smollett Explained

February 26, 2019
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In the last few days, the investigation surrounding the alleged attack of Empire actor Jussie Smollett has twisted its way into a pretzel. The potential criminal liability continues to build as conflicting facts, false police tips, and new facts that are seeping their way into the press, emerge. Smollett alleged that while he was walking […]

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Does Child Pornography in Unallocated Space Qualify as Possession?

June 26, 2018
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There is a developing area of case law surrounding child pornography cases. In the past few years, several possession of child pornography cases have turned on the “unallocated space” of computer hard drives, making this an important area of evidentiary concern. The following sections will provide an overview of the relationship between child pornography and […]

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Possession of Child Pornography in Illinois

May 29, 2018

The crime of possession of child pornography is a serious offense in Illinois. Given the public policy of protecting children and other vulnerable individuals, Illinois has developed a robust mechanism for addressing child pornography crimes. While there are many variations of this crime, such as this blog post will focus on possession of child pornography. […]

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Challenging a Search Warrant in a Child Pornography Case

May 1, 2018
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The Illinois approach to child pornography appears in 720 ILCS 5/11-20.1. According to the statute, child pornography is a sexually explicit “visual reproduction or depiction” involving children under 18 years old or the mentally disabled. It is illegal to knowingly create, possess, or disseminate child pornography in Illinois. If the alleged offender knows or has […]

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Dissemination of Child Pornography in Illinois

April 24, 2018
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Illinois imposes strict penalties for child pornography crimes. The penalties range from probationable felonies to non-probationable Class X felonies with consecutive sentencing. Illinois employs a broad definition of child pornography, including traditional and electronic media. Specifically, the law mentions film, tape, and photograph as well as other visual depictions in electronic format. In order to […]

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What is Criminal Drug Trafficking in Illinois?

January 15, 2018
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Criminal drug trafficking in Illinois is a serious offense. There are a few types of criminal drug trafficking. 720 ILCS 550/5.1 outlines Cannabis Trafficking pursuant to the Cannabis Control Act while 720 ILCS 570/401.1 focuses on criminal drug trafficking pursuant to the Controlled Substances Act. Drug trafficking also applies to possession of a controlled substance […]

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