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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 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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 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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 Posted on December 23, 2015 in Criminal Defense

Sexual assault on college campuses across America is a consistent, serious problem that affects millions of students each year. Campus assault incidents have received major media attention in recent years, and have garnered the attention of many American politicians.

Just last year, President Obama started a White House college assault task force, the first of its kind, in hopes of studying and addressing the problem. Now, a recent survey released in September highlights just how important it is to address the issue. According to the Association of American Universities, one in four women experience some type of sexual assault on their college campus.

Conducted by the Association of American Universities, the recently released survey data shows that despite continued efforts from university officials and advocates across the country, sexual assault on college campuses remains a serious problem. Previously conducted survey on campus sexual assault showed similar numbers, but the A.A.U.’s survey stands out based its large number of participants spanning many universities across the country. 150,000 students across the country took part, spread across 27 American universities.

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 Posted on December 18, 2015 in Criminal Defense

Many drivers experience being pulled over at some point in their life, typically for violations like speeding or running a stop sign. These common encounters with officers are brief and usually end with a minor consequence like a warning or ticket. However most of us will never experience a situation like Sandra Bland—a woman who made headlines this past summer. Bland was pulled over as part of a routine traffic stop that quickly escalated, leading to her arrest. Bland later died in jail.

Unfortunate situations like Bland’s case do not happen often, but they provide an important reminder for all of us. As a U.S. citizen and motorist, you have a responsibility to understand your rights and be able to protect yourself in any unfortunate situations involving police. If you are pulled over by a police officer, consider the following tips to protect your rights.

You Do Not Have to Agree to a Search

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 Posted on December 16, 2015 in Criminal Defense

Modern day theft is becoming extremely creative. From identity theft to cyber crime, thieves are coming up with a variety of sneaky methods—many using new technology—to steal money from individuals and corporations. One of the newest and most lucrative tactics, known as ‘card skimming,’ has experts and everyday citizens extremely concerned.

Using high tech devices attached to ATMs and credit card readers in places like convenience stores and gas stations, criminals are able to collect, store, and use everyday citizen’s personal financial information.

What is Card Skimming?

Credit and debit card skimming can happen in a variety of ways. One of the most common ways is stealing personal financial information is through ATMs. High tech gadgets are installed on frequently used ATM machines which allow thieves to capture the card data on anyone who uses the ATM to withdraw money. To do so, thieves install a magnetic card reading device on top of the ATM’s card reader. These devices are made to look exactly like the real ATM reader underneath them, so users do not often catch on.

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 Posted on December 11, 2015 in Criminal Defense

Oklahoma City prosecutors recently charged two people with prostitution-related crimes—all thanks to witness-collected drone footage. The precedent setting incident, which occurred in November, is one of the first times in history that authorities have used drone collected footage to prosecute on prostitution-related charges.

Using his drone, a concerned Oklahoma City resident and self proclaimed ‘anti-prostitution activist’ captured footage of a sexual encounter between a local prostitute and a john, and he then turned the footage over to local authorities. County officials were able to use the footage to press charges against both people involved.

Law enforcement officials across the country do not typically employ drones, as laws surrounding the use of drones are still emerging. In most situations, authorities would need a warrant before using a drone to collect footage to be used in a case. However, civilians are able to use drones much more freely. Since it was a citizen that collected and submitted the footage to local officials, charges were able to be pressed against both parties.

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 Posted on December 09, 2015 in Shoplifting

Retail theft is a serious problem in America. No other type of theft, including home burglary, bank robberies, and auto theft, even comes close to the cost of retail theft each year.

In 2014, retail theft cost American retailers $44 billion. However, the costs do not stop there. A serious retail theft problem in America means higher costs for all consumers.

Why is Retail Theft a Problem?

Compared to other forms of stealing, retail theft is by far the largest theft-related problem in America. From organized criminals to amateurs sneaking candy bars into their pockets, retailers across America experience retail theft often.

Last year, retailers reported a $44 billion dollar loss due to retail theft. The $44 billion, known as “shrink” in the retail world, includes losses from shoplifting, employee theft, administrative errors, and vendor fraud. No retailer is immune to retail theft.

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 Posted on December 04, 2015 in Drug Crimes

With the recent opening of a few medical marijuana dispensaries in Illinois, some concerned citizens and substance abuse experts are worried. Will more easily accessed pot lead to abuse by children and teens?

Some say yes, and argue that as public perceptions on the drug change, and more dispensaries open across the state, young people will be more inclined to find, consume, and abuse marijuana. Marijuana use and abuse can have serious, lasting impacts on children, so experts have reason to be concerned. As the drug becomes more readily available across the state, for medical use only, are Illinois youth at risk?

Young people are especially susceptible to the dangers of marijuana abuse. THC, the mind altering substance within marijuana, can be harmful to young, developing brains, and affects areas like memory, attention and learning. Teenagers are often more willing to engage in risky behavior, like drug use, because their prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain that controls impulses, is still developing. While consuming marijuana occasionally is unlikely to do any major damage, chronic use can lead to serious problems.

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 Posted on December 02, 2015 in Criminal Defense

This past February, the state of Illinois joined a nationwide movement aimed at reducing prison populations, saving states millions of dollars, and rehabilitating inmates. Lawmakers across the country have long argued for prison reform, citing safer prisons, rehabilitating productive members of society, and serious financial savings as the major benefits. Currently, the state of Illinois has over 28,000 parolees—a number that has risen 14 percent over the past four years.

With the number of parolees expected to continue growing, state officials are worried about a serious lack of resources necessary to help rehabilitate recently released inmates.

The state’s governor set a goal of cutting the number of inmates in Illinois by one-fourth over the next 10 years. In a recent budget address, the governor spoke on the state’s prison reform:

“By reforming our criminal justice system, we can make our prisons safer, rehabilitate ex-offenders so they become productive members of society and save many tens of millions of dollars.”

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