Posted on August 02, 2019 in Criminal Law

Sexual assault survivors will no longer need to worry about getting justice due to statute of limitations issues when a new law goes into effect.

House Bill 2135, which Governor JB Pritzker signed late last month, removes the statute of limitations on criminal sex crimes in Illinois. Crimes on that list include:

• Criminal Sexual Assault
• Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault
• Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse

As it’s laid out in the new law, prosecutors can bring criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault or aggravated criminal sexual abuse charges against an alleged perpetrator at any time after the incident. Under the previous law, victims had 10 years to report the incident in order for prosecutors to be able to legally bring charges against the perp.

Many Approve Of The New Law

Although the new law doesn’t become official until January 1 of 2020, many are already championing the change as a step in the right direction for sexual assault survivors.

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 Posted on July 25, 2019 in DUI

Drunk driving is a problem across the US, but it’s also a significant problem right here in our own backyard. Thousands of motorists are arrested and charged with driving under the influence in Illinois each year, and some places are hotbeds for intoxicated driving. Thanks to a report from the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists, we can see which cities were home to the largest number of drunk drivers in 2018. We dive into the report below.

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 Posted on July 18, 2019 in Drug Charges

Illinois will become the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana use beginning January 1, 2020, but just because the drug becomes legal does not mean that you have free reign to smoke as you please when the calendar turns. There are still a number of rules and regulations that must be followed if you’re going to use recreational marijuana, and we want to highlight those laws so you don’t need to hire us to get you out of trouble. We’re obviously more than willing to help you out of a sticky situation, but we also want to promote education so you can stay out of trouble in the first place. Here’s a little bit more information about the changes coming in the new year regarding recreational marijuana use.

Recreational Marijauna FAQs

Below, we provide answers to some common questions about the upcoming legalization of marijuana use in Illinois.

• Can I smoke anywhere? – No, just because recreational marijuana is legal does not mean that you can light up wherever you please. In fact, it is illegal to smoke in public, so if you’re caught smoking in a public place, expect a ticket. You are allowed to use recreational marijuana in private dwellings and in establishments if local jurisdictions allow it.

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 Posted on July 11, 2019 in Family Law

Following a divorce, the court may order that one spouse pay a monthly support payment to their former spouse as a way of helping each party become self-sufficient following the split. A number of factors go into the award amount, but the point of spousal maintenance is to ensure that both parties come out of the split with the financial means to support themselves.

However, circumstances can always change, and the factors that go into a monthly spousal maintenance award can be influenced by these changes. For example, maybe you lost your job, or your spouse got a raise and is making more money. These factors and more can impact how much you need to pay in spousal maintenance each month, but how do you go about modifying your previous agreement? We explain how we can help you modify your spousal support payments in today’s blog.

Terminating Alimony Payments in Illinois

For starters, it’s worth noting that even if you are in the process of modifying or terminating your spousal maintenance award, you must continue to pay the original agreed upon amount until a new agreement is finalized by the court. Even if things change, you owe the original amount until a modification has been granted.

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 Posted on July 03, 2019 in Criminal Law

Distracted driving continues to be a problem on the state and national level, but Illinois lawmakers have made a push to help keep our roads safer. Starting last week, new distracted driving laws went on the books, and they are much stricter than the previous laws. Below, we take a closer look at what constitutes a violation under the new laws, and what you should do if you receive a ticket for texting while driving.

Electronic Device Use Behind The Wheel

The new law makes it illegal for a person to use an electronic device while they are behind the wheel. This action was already illegal, but the scope has been broadened and the penalties enhanced. Under the previous law, a police officer could stop a driver who was texting behind the wheel and issue them a warning ticket. If they were caught texting behind the wheel a subsequent time, they were issued a monetary citation that was considered a non-moving violation, which meant it didn’t affect the status of their driver’s license.

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 Posted on June 26, 2019 in Criminal Law

There are many common misconceptions about prostitution laws. In this article we’ll debunk many of the prevalent myths about prostitution in Illinois.

Myth: An officer cannot expose himself, or actually engage in sex with a provider before arresting her.

Fact: Police have been known to do both of these things to catch suspected prostitutes. Do not assume that a client who exposes himself cannot be a cop. Cops will go to great lengths to make arrests, and even experienced providers have been tricked into incriminating themselves.

Myth: If a client actually has sex with a provider, the provider can’t get into legal trouble.

Fact: While it is unlikely that an officer would actually have sex with a provider, there have been cases wherein the police have hired a civilian to participate in a sting operation. These civilians could go through with the sex act and the police would still be able to charge the provider.

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 Posted on June 19, 2019 in Criminal Law

Now we’ll investigate the procedures surrounding prostitution—specifically how law enforcement officials go about setting up and arresting patrons.

Prostitution stings operate on a two-call system. When a prospective john calls the number posted on a fake advertisement, the information exchanged is initially very general. The officer posing as a prostitute will give the patron a general location at which to meet. Once in the area, the patron will have to call again to get a specific location (e.g. Holiday Inn, Rm. 231). All calls are recorded and used for evidence.

When the patron arrives at the agreed upon location (usually a hotel room that is wired and video recorded from an adjacent room), the undercover officer will entice conversation regarding the patron’s desires by asking leading questions like: “What are you interested in?” or “Is it ok if you use a condom?” Such statements ensure the recorded conversation covers the required sex-for-money elements of the crime.

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 Posted on June 12, 2019 in DUI

There are many Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to a DUI stop. Outlined below are the best and worst practices of a DUI stop. Follow these guidelines if you’re ever pulled over for drinking and driving in Illinois.

What to Do:

It is always a good idea to keep your driver’s license and proof of insurance with you while driving. In fact, it’s the law. When you’re pulled over, the officer will undoubtedly ask for these. Have them out and ready before the officer approaches your vehicle. This will demonstrate that you’re of sound mind and will prevent the officer from observing you fumble around in the glove compartment.

Insist upon your right to speak with an attorney before answering any questions, taking any tests, or signing any documents.

You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer any of the officer’s questions regarding how much you’ve had to drink or where you’ve been. Provide the officer with the necessary identification information, then stop talking. Invoke your right to remain silent and calmly inform the officer that you do not wish to answer any questions.

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 Posted on June 05, 2019 in DUI

Drunk driving is a serious problem with serious consequences. It is important that all Illinois drivers be aware of the consequences of drunk driving.

Criminal Consequences

Criminal consequences of a DWI charge include: bail and conditions of release from custody, jail time, probation, court-ordered chemical dependency evaluation, and random testing.

Jail time and fines vary based on the degree and circumstances of the DUI charge.

Probation is meant to help the DWI offender in reintegrating into society as a law abiding citizen. While on probation, offenders are subject to random drug and alcohol testing. They are also often required to obtain a chemical dependency evaluation and psychological assessment.

Chemical dependency evaluations are used to determine how dependent a person is on a chemical such as drugs or alcohol. These are very commonly required following a DUI charge. If a dependency is found, the DUI offender is usually required to seek treatment in the form of rehabilitation, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and other mandatory classes.

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 Posted on May 29, 2019 in Juvenile Crime

Introduction, Definition

In our tech-savvy society, cyber-bullying has become a rampant problem. Bullies not only push and shove on the playground; now they also insult and harass on the internet, hiding safely behind a mask of anonymity.

Cyber-bullying is the repeated harassment of a person through an electronic medium, such as e-mail, text messaging, or social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). It is most prevalent among children and teenagers who have access to these modes of communication at increasingly younger ages. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, 43% of teenagers report that they have been victims of cyber-bullying.

Cyber-bullying is often much more severe than traditional bullying because it allows the bully to hide behind an electronic façade. This permits the cyber-bully to be much harsher than he/she would be in person. The intensity of this harassment can have terrible psychological effects on victims.

Types, Examples

There are varying types of cyber-bullying. The first, and most common, is when a person is harassed by a cyber-bully via inappropriate or degrading texts, e-mails, or other electronic messages. Another type occurs when a cyber-bully hijacks a person’s identity (i.e. their Facebook profile) and defames their character by acting inappropriately in the social media sphere. All forms of cyber-bullying are dangerous and detrimental to a person’s emotional well-being.

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