Most cases in the Illinois criminal justice system do not end in a trial. Instead, in most cases a criminal defendant accepts a plea deal, also called a plea bargain. Before you decide if a plea bargain is right for you, it is important to understand how they work. The Criminal Justice Process Pleas are used by

When some people hear that a crime is a misdemeanor, they automatically assume the crime is not a big deal. While it is true that the punishment for a misdemeanor is usually much less serious than for a felony, a single misdemeanor can still disrupt your entire life. Understanding Probation and Conditional Discharge The maximum penalty for a

Guns have been a hot topic in recent years in American politics. According to the Gun Violence Archive, which is a nonprofit organization that provides information about gun violence, there have been 256 mass shootings—defined as four or more people being shot or killed during a single incident—in the United States since January 1, 2018. With

Despite nearly a decade of ad campaigns and new laws intended to deter Americans from using handheld electronics while driving, bad habits persist. A recent survey found that half of US drivers still talk on handheld cellphones, 35 percent text message, and 29 percent admit to accessing the internet while driving. Distracted driving rates are even higher among drivers

Most DUI charges in Illinois are only misdemeanor charges. A first-time DUI conviction is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by law with a maximum sentence of up to one year in jail and up to $2,500 in fines. Each case is different and depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, you

When you are facing criminal charges, there is a lot of uncertainty you will have to deal with. If you are like most people, you probably do not know the intricacies that come with a criminal trial, or how the courts operate. You probably are not familiar with many legal terms that are used both inside

Over 80 percent of Illinois residents drive their own car to work. To stay employed, having a valid driver’s license can be almost as important as a person’s skills and experience. Yet current Illinois law allows the Secretary of State to suspend your driver’s license for many different reasons, ranging from unpaid traffic tickets to driving under the

While children committing crimes is not uncommon, it does not happen nearly as often as adults committing crimes. According to the FBI, there were 681,701 juveniles arrested and 7,799,901 adults arrested in 2016, which makes juvenile crime only eight percent of all crime in the U.S. Of those juveniles arrested, the majority of them were teens,