Sentences

Cook County to host annual expungement summit June 2, 2012

May 1, 2012

All persons who have ever been arrested in Cook County should be aware of the free expungement seminar scheduled for June 2, 2012.
Under Illinois law, any person who is arrested and charged with a crime has a record with the Illinois State Police that can be disseminated nationwide. The record of the arrest remains even [...]

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Important changes to Illinois retail theft laws in the year 2012

April 24, 2012

Illinois state law concerning retail theft has seen some significant changes in the year 2012. State lawmakers in Springfield have overhauled the retail theft statute. First, the offense is no longer found under 720 ILCS 5/16A-1. That section was repealed, and replaced by Section 16-25. All charges for retail theft written in 2012 fall under [...]

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An explanation of Illinois sex crimes

March 5, 2012

The accusation of sexual misconduct can be devastating for a defendant. First, the person is tried in the court of public opinion, and almost always found guilty when his or her mug shot appears in the news. Second, regardless of any sentence imposed in a criminal case, the defendant will be required to register as [...]

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Offenses that mandate sex offender registration in Illinois

January 22, 2012

Illinois law provides that any person who is found guilty of a sex offense must register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act. See 730 ILCS 150/1.
A person who is required to register will have his identity made part of the public registry managed by the Illinois State Police. The registry [...]

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Illinois law changes definition of forgery in 2012

January 16, 2012

State lawmakers made several changes to the Criminal Code in 2012. New crimes have been established and penalties for old crimes have been increased.
One of the most important changes in Illinois law concerns forgery. This offense is a Class 3 felony which is punishable by 2-5 years in prison. The maximum fine for such an [...]

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Summary of sentencing rules for misdemeanor offenders

December 5, 2011

The potential penalties for a Class A misdemeanor offense include up to one year in the county jail and a maximum fine of $2500. Technically, a sentence of incarceration can last for only 364 days. A jail sentence of 365 days or more is only permissible for a felony offense. Additionally, any sentence lasting one [...]

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New expungement guidelines in 2011

October 12, 2011

Each year, the Office of the State Appellate Defender publishes an instruction guide for expunging criminal records. The attorneys with that office provide a valuable service to Illinois and should receive more recognition for their efforts.
The latest release from the appellate public defender’s is available here for download.
The legislature changes the expungement statute each year, [...]

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Examining State Police expungement statistics

October 4, 2011

The Illinois State Police are mandated by law to keep track of how many petitions to expunge or seal they receive each year, and what the outcome is. This is a new legal obligation. It became mandatory through the Expungement Backlog Accountability Law. 20 ILCS 2630/14.
In the past, the State Police were notorious for delay [...]

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Two types of domestic battery and penalties

September 13, 2011

The law in Illinois provides that there are two types of domestic battery offenses. First, a person can be charged with domestic battery for causing bodily harm to any family or household member. Second, a person can also be charged with domestic battery for making contact of an insulting and provoking nature with any family [...]

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Statistics show increase in felony charges across state of Illinois

May 29, 2011

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority has been tracking felony and misdemeanor filings in state courts throughout Illinois over the years, and their findings may surprise you. The findings come as no surprise, however, to attorneys and judges handling these caseloads. The studies prove that, on average, prosecutors are seeking stiffer penalties more than ever.
Across [...]

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