How Does Having a Criminal Record Affect Me?

 Posted on February 02, 2016 in Expungement

Crime certainly does not pay. Those accused of being involved in a crime face arrest - even if charges end up being dropped or dismissed - face lengthy, costly, and emotionally draining legal procedures. For those convicted of a crime, harsher consequences such as prison time or large fines should be expected. Even after serving the sentence of a conviction, if you have a criminal record, you will face challenges in your personal and professional life in the future. Here are a few things you need to know moving forward with a criminal record, and a few ways your tarnished record may affect you. Challenges with Employment Employers can, and often do, conduct criminal background checks before or after the hiring process. For those with a criminal record, this means landing a good job can be a serious struggle. If you have a criminal record or have had run-ins with the law, you should know that a criminal background check can reveal:

• Any misdemeanors or felonies on your record;

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Underage Drinkers in Illinois Provided Immunity During Emergencies

 Posted on January 29, 2016 in Underage Drinking

Put yourself in the shoes of a teenage or underage drinker at a party: You see somebody sick, passed out, at risk of alcohol poisoning, and in need of help, but what do you do? For any adult, the choice is clear—seek professional help immediately. For an underage drinker, however, the choice may not be as easy.

Illinois provides immunity for those that call for help in situations of drug overdose due to serious drugs like heroine. If the victim's life was at risk, whoever made the call to authorities would be protected from any serious criminal repercussions. In years past, however, the same immunity was not afforded to underage drinkers, leaving some state lawmakers worried. Stuck between calling for help for a potentially dying friend or facing the legal consequences of drinking underage, experts worried that underage drinkers would make the wrong choice. Now, thanks to a new law that went into effect on the first of this month, special immunity may be provided to underage drinkers that calls for help in life threatening situations.

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What You Need to Know About Arrests in Illinois

 Posted on January 27, 2016 in Criminal Defense

While most law-abiding citizens do not ever intend on being arrested, unfortunate situations do sometimes arise that lead to an arrest. Whether you participate in criminal activity or not, it is vital for you to understand the arrest process in Illinois, your rights, and how to handle yourself.

The state of Illinois has an arrest procedure that must be followed by any police officer or law enforcement agent, and failure to follow each step of this procedure could lead to your immediate release. Therefore, understanding your rights and how the process works is crucial. If you are an Illinois citizen, here is what you need to know about being arrested.

Who Can Arrest Me?

In Illinois, an arrest can be made by any law enforcement official with a warrant, and in certain circumstances, without a warrant. This includes sheriffs, police officers, and state troopers. In most cases, a warrant is used to make an arrest.

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Interesting Ways Thieves Steal Identities

 Posted on January 22, 2016 in Criminal Defense

When one considers identity theft, cases of lost debit cards, stolen online banking passwords, replicated fake credit cards, and the occasional stolen social security number may come to mind. As times change and as technology advances, however, modern day thieves are constantly discovering new methods of accessing personal information and stealing identities.

In addition to the longstanding basic methods of identity theft, such as stealing mail or dumpster diving for wallets or personal financial information, which are already difficult to stop, American authorities are now forced to deal with even more creative and crafty methods thieves are employing to steal identities. The problem is so large that approximately 15 million Americans have their identities stolen and used fraudulently each year.

Identity theft in America alone accounts for over $50 billion in losses annually and it continues to be a major problem. The following includes several methods thieves have used to steal people’s identities, and steps individuals can take to protect themselves.

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Fleeing and Eluding in Illinois

 Posted on January 20, 2016 in Criminal Defense

In Illinois, fleeing and eluding is taken very seriously. Therefore, all drivers should be aware of the law and how to avoid committing the crime. But what qualifies as fleeing and eluding in Illinois, and what are the potential consequences drivers face if they are charged with the crime?

What is Fleeing and Eluding?

In Illinois, fleeing and eluding could involve a high speed car chase, or simply a motorist failing to stop when directed to by an officer. Any driver that receives a signal from a police officer and neglects to pull over could be charged with fleeing and eluding. The state’s law says that the signal “may be by hand, voice, siren, red or blue light,” and that if the officer is in a vehicle, the vehicle will “display illuminated oscillating, rotating, or flashing blue lights which when used in conjunction with an audible horn or siren would indicate the vehicle to be an official police vehicle.” Additionally, the officer must be in proper uniform. If a driver fails to act once he or she has been official signaled by an officer, he or she will likely be charged with fleeing and eluding.

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New 2016 Laws Aim to Keep Illinois Teens Out of Prison

 Posted on January 15, 2016 in Criminal Defense

As the debate on the incredibly high number of inmates in America continues, many state officials across the country are pledging to reduce prison populations in their states within the coming years. Last year, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner announced his goal of reducing the state’s large inmate population by 25 percent within the next 10 years. Now, thanks to a new package of laws that went into effect at the start of the new year, Illinois officials are doing even more to reduce the number of inmates in the state. The group of laws all aim to reduce the population of juveniles in the state prison system, many of whom continue to cycle in and out of prison for the rest of their lives.

The first law changes how and when teenagers can be tried as adults. Previous Illinois law required that teens, ages 15 and older, be tried as adults when charged with one of five state determined serious crimes: armed robbery with a firearm, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and first-degree murder. Additionally, any teen tried once as an adult would automatically be tried as an adult for any future offenses, a practice often called “once an adult, always an adult.”

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Overall Crime Down in Chicago Despite Increased Gun Violence

 Posted on January 13, 2016 in Violent Crime

Police departments across the United States faced a large amount of criticism in 2015. America’s trust in our police forces was tested time and time again, thanks to the year’s many viral videos depicting police brutality, high profile cases, and questionable police department secrecy. Fortunately for the Chicago Police Department, things may be looking up in 2016.

A report recently released by the department shows that despite an increase in gun violence and gun related crime, overall crime in the city dropped for the fourth consecutive year. For a city that experienced the most homicides of any city in the United States in 2015, a drop in overall crime is very good news.

According to the department’s report, overall crime in the city dropped 6 percent from 2014. The report notes that robberies, assaults, burglaries, rapes, and thefts dropped significantly. Additionally, the report notes that violent crime fell substantially as well. In fact, the amount of violent crime that took place in Chicago in 2015 is the lowest the city has seen since the 1960’s. Since 2011, overall crime in Chicago has dropped 37 percent.

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Illinois Changes Major DUI Punishment in 2016

 Posted on January 08, 2016 in DUI

Drivers found guilty of a DUI in Illinois in 2016 can breath a small sigh of relief—thanks to a new law that went into effect January 1st, Illinois no longer requires a mandatory driver's license suspension for drivers caught driving under the influence.

Despite a steady push for mandatory license suspensions from anti DUI activists and lawmakers over the past few decades, Illinois now joins many other states across the United States in requiring that special breath monitoring devices be installed instead of license suspension.

In the past, drivers caught under the influence and found guilty of a DUI faced a mandatory driver's license suspension for a minimum of 30 days. Activists and lawmakers believed harsh punishments were necessary to combat drunk driving; however, opinions across America are changing. Instead of license suspensions that make it difficult for offenders to resume their daily lives, the current trend in many states nationwide is instead installing breath monitoring devices that prevent cars from starting if alcohol is detected.

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Chicago Pollution May be Leading to Higher Crime Rates

 Posted on January 06, 2016 in Violent Crime

We have long known that air pollution is not beneficial to humans. Particles in the air are neurological irritants and have effects on human comfort levels and behaviors. Being surrounded by and inhaling pollution can lead to antisocial behavior, lack of productivity, and lower levels of awareness and alertness. Aside from the many health risks, experts have wondered if pollution may have another effect on humans.

In a recent paper published by the National Bureau for Economic Research, two researchers say their findings indicate a link between violent crime and car pollution in Chicago. Could pollution be a factor that drives people to commit violent criminal acts?

Thanks to a large amount of data from the Chicago Police Department, the two researchers were able to examine more than 2 million cases of major crimes committed from 2001 to 2012. The researchers pinpointed the locations of each crime, and noted their proximity to major interstates crossing the city, such as the I-290.

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The High Cost of Domestic Violence

 Posted on December 28, 2015 in Criminal Defense

Domestic violence affects millions of Americans each year, leading many to physical and mental health problems, loss of productivity, and for thousands of people each year, death. Domestic violence is a problem that affects all of us. In financial terms, domestic violence and abuse costs billions of dollars each year in the United States alone.

Now, experts and advocates across the country are calling for increased awareness from citizens, employers, and health care professionals, in hopes of drastically reducing the number of victims.

Why is Domestic Violence an Issue?

Domestic violence is a major issue worthy of national attention. One in 4 women in America are domestic violence victims at some point in their lifetime—millions of Americans each year that are physically, mentally, or sexually abused. In fact, the American Psychological Association reports that more than 4 million women experience physical violence from a partner each year. The problem is not exclusive to women either—15 percent of domestic violence victims in the U.S. are men.

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