Class A misdemeanor

Can parents in Illinois get charged with domestic battery for striking their children?

April 22, 2020
Thumbnail image for Can parents in Illinois get charged with domestic battery for striking their children?

NOTE: This page features updated content demonstrating 2020 changes in Illinois law with passage of Public Act 101-0130. Since its effective date of January 1, this Act removed the statute of limitations for the regular and aggravated versions of criminal sexual assault. Domestic battery is a serious criminal offense in Illinois. The first offense is […]

Read the full article

Will I lose my FOID card because of an order of protection?

April 6, 2020
Thumbnail image for Will I lose my FOID card because of an order of protection?

NOTE: The following entry features revised content to reflect Public Acts 100-607 and 100-906. When these acts became effective on January 1, 2019, there were numerous changes to the Illinois laws governing the denial, suspension, and revocation of firearm ownership rights. The State of Illinois has stringent regulations on the right to possess firearms when […]

Read the full article

Theft of lost property: not a criminal offense

February 11, 2020
Thumbnail image for Theft of lost property: not a criminal offense

NOTE: This article was updated to reflect 2020 changes in Illinois law with passage of Public Act 101-0394. These changes became effective on January 1st, amending the Illinois statute governing theft. Most people who are accused of theft suffer through feelings of anxiety and fear about the outcome of their case. For defendants charged with […]

Read the full article

Illinois Traffic Ticket Points & Driver’s License Suspension Rules

January 29, 2020
Thumbnail image for Illinois Traffic Ticket Points & Driver’s License Suspension Rules

How many traffic tickets can I get before my Illinois driver’s license is suspended? Note: This article has been updated as of January 2020 to include all changes in Illinois traffic law. Too many traffic tickets in one year will cause the Illinois Secretary of State to suspend your driver’s license. The rule is, 3 […]

Read the full article

What is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois?

January 23, 2020
Thumbnail image for What is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois?

Note: This article has been updated to republished as of 2020. The misdemeanor sentencing structure is governed by 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-55. The last change to the statute became effective on July 1,2019. All criminal charges in the state of Illinois fall generally into two categories: felony and misdemeanor. The distinction between felony and misdemeanor is that […]

Read the full article

Penalties for the offense of retail theft under Illinois law

January 23, 2020
Thumbnail image for Penalties for the offense of retail theft under Illinois law

Note: This article has been revised as of January 2020 and reflects the updated statute of retail theft. Retail theft used to be codified under 720 ILCS 5/16A-13. The new statute is 720 ILCS 5/16-25 which became effective on January 1, 2012. This article also encompasses the changes from 2011 that increased the cutoff for […]

Read the full article

What is domestic battery under Illinois law?

January 17, 2020
Thumbnail image for What is domestic battery under Illinois law?

Illinois law says that domestic battery is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.

Read the full article

The Changing Landscape of Retail Theft Crimes in Cook County

January 15, 2018
Thumbnail image for The Changing Landscape of Retail Theft Crimes in Cook County

NOTE: This page reflects new information to illustrate the impact of Public Act 101-394. This Act took effect on January 1, 2020, and removed the ability to seal criminal records related to theft crimes committed against elderly adults or disabled individuals. In December of 2016, recently elected Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx made an […]

Read the full article

What is the Cannabis Law in Illinois?

March 17, 2016
Thumbnail image for What is the Cannabis Law in Illinois?

NOTE: The information below was modified to clarify the effect of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. After this Act became Illinois law on January 1, 2020, cannabis became legal for recreational possession and use, which also impacted various criminal offenses related to cannabis. Cannabis was formerly illegal to possess or use in the state […]

Read the full article

Overview: Expunging Your Criminal Record in Illinois

February 27, 2016
Thumbnail image for Overview: Expunging Your Criminal Record in Illinois

NOTE: This article was refreshed to account for Public Act 102-933, which became part of Illinois law on January 1, 2023. Since that date, Illinois modified the Criminal Identification Act to enable a person to request expungement, even after testing positive for cannabis. Expungement is the process where a criminal court disposition is removed from […]

Read the full article

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →