Class 3 felony

Child Endangerment Laws & Penalties in Illinois

April 9, 2021
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Child endangerment is a serious offense under the Illinois Criminal Code. As this offense involves the mistreatment of children – and, thus, an intersection of criminal law and family law – it is severe in the eyes of the Illinois courts. Part of this reality stems from the fact that the Illinois courts have a […]

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A summary of the law and penalties for involuntary manslaughter

April 10, 2020
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NOTE: This article was updated to reflect 2020 changes to Illinois law with passage of Public Act 101-173. This Act became effective on January 1st and instituted various amendments to the Illinois Vehicle Code, including an update to the penalties for involuntary manslaughter offenses involving violations of Scott’s Law. Involuntary manslaughter under Illinois law refers […]

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Will I lose my FOID card because of an order of protection?

April 6, 2020
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NOTE: The following entry features revised content to reflect Public Acts 100-607 and 100-906. When these acts became effective on January 1, 2019, there were numerous changes to the Illinois laws governing the denial, suspension, and revocation of firearm ownership rights. The State of Illinois has stringent regulations on the right to possess firearms when […]

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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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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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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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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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The Changing Landscape of Retail Theft Crimes in Cook County

January 15, 2018
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NOTE: This page reflects new information to illustrate the impact of Public Act 101-394. This Act took effect on January 1, 2020, and removed the ability to seal criminal records related to theft crimes committed against elderly adults or disabled individuals. In December of 2016, recently elected Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx made an […]

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Felons not required to disclose criminal convictions on Illinois government job applications

October 13, 2013
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In an unprecedented move, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has issued an order that allows applicants for state government jobs to apply without having to disclose felony convictions. Governor Quinn calls it an order to ‘Ban the Box,’ referring to the box job applicants have to check to disclose convictions. The administrative order, issued October 3, […]

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Illinois Theft Laws: Elements of the Offense and Penalties

June 11, 2012
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Note: This article has been updated and republished as of 2020. The offense of theft under Illinois law is misunderstood. Many people think that because it is not a violent offense, and in some cases, it has no discernible victim, it is not a serious offense. This thinking is wrong. Theft can result in a jail […]

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