Cook County

Important new bill in legislature would expunge felonies

March 26, 2012
Thumbnail image for Important new bill in legislature would expunge felonies

In the current legislative session, Illinois lawmakers are considering a very important new statute to be added to the criminal code. Senate Bill 3349, proposed by Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago), would create a special type of probation for felonies that can be expunged. If signed by the governor, a defendant with a pending felony would […]

Read the full article

New Illinois Supreme Court ruling limits use of field sobriety test

July 24, 2010
Thumbnail image for New Illinois Supreme Court ruling limits use of field sobriety test

The Supreme Court of the state of Illinois issued a new ruling in 2010 concerning the use of the horizontal gaze nystagmus test (HGN). During an arrest for DUI, the police officer will ask the driver to stand still and follow a pen with his eyes, and keep his head motionless. The HGN test is […]

Read the full article

The police officer asked me to follow a pen with my eyes. Is that a field sobriety test?

April 9, 2010
Thumbnail image for The police officer asked me to follow a pen with my eyes. Is that a field sobriety test?

During a traffic stop, if a police officer suspects that a driver is intoxicated, he will use special training to assist him in making the decision whether to arrest. The police officer will ask the motorist to participate in field sobriety tests (e.g. FSTs) to determine whether the driver is impaired. The National Highway Traffic […]

Read the full article

What is the law in Illinois on possession of cannabis?

March 3, 2010
Thumbnail image for What is the law in Illinois on possession of cannabis?

Possession of cannabis, generally referred to a marijuana, is a criminal offense in Illinois. The criminal charge of possession of cannabis is set forth in 720 ILCS 550/1 et seq, the Illinois Cannabis Control Act. While other states have decriminalized cannabis, Illinois has not. To decriminalize possession of cannabis is to say that it is […]

Read the full article

Next Entries →