In news reports of major drug crimes, you may have noticed that the offenders are sometimes arrested by federal authorities, charged with federal crimes, prosecuted in the federal court system, and sentenced to federal prison. In other cases, the offenders are arrested by state or county officers, charged with violation of a state law, prosecuted in

Most people know that the “magic number” when it comes to drinking and driving is 0.08 percent blood alcohol content (BAC). If you are driving and a police-administered Breathalyzer shows your BAC is above 0.08 percent, you are legally driving under the influence. However, DUI laws are not all this straightforward. Some individuals have even

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines violent crime as any crime that involves the use of force or the threat of force. Violent crime was once a very big issue in the United States and was cause for much concern at its peak in the 1990s. According to information from the FBI and the Bureau of Justice Statistics,

When a juvenile commits a felony crime such as murder, do they deserve to spend the rest of their life in prison? A recent Illinois Supreme Court decision says “no.” The U.S. Supreme Court had already ruled in 2012 that mandatory life sentences for juveniles who commit murder are unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment prohibition of cruel

When a juvenile is taken into police custody for violating the law, the police and state’s attorney can take one of two paths. They can reach an informal agreement at the police station with the juvenile and his parents, or they can file formal charges and take the case before a juvenile court judge. An

According to the CDC, approximately one in four women and one in seven men will be the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Many U.S states have increased penalties for crimes committed against intimate partners or family members. In Illinois, domestic violence domestic violence is prosecuted heavily. Those convicted of a domestic violence-related

It can be incredibly rewarding for those with a criminal past to leave their life of crime behind them – both literally and figuratively. One way to move on from past mistakes or false allegations is to have your criminal history cleared through an expungement. Even if your case was dismissed, the only way to

It is widely known that dogs have a much more sophisticated olfactory system that humans do. Their sense of smell is anywhere between 10,000 and 100,000 times better than that of humans, so it makes sense that dogs are used in a variety of different professions. Some of the most well-known working dogs are those

When your child gets arrested, it is normal to feel angry and upset. However, being too emotional can make it hard to communicate effectively with your child, the police, and your child’s lawyer. It is important to remain calm so that you can work effectively with your juvenile defense lawyer to obtain the best possible outcome for

Illinois drivers who are caught driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) are subject to an automatic suspension of their driver’s license. Failing a blood alcohol content (BAC) test will cause a first-time DUI offender to lose his or her ability to legally drive for six months through a statutory summary suspension. A DUI offender who refuses