Class 4 Felonies

An Explanation of Illinois Sex Crimes

May 12, 2021
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NOTE: The following information was updated to account for various amendments to sex crimes under the Illinois Criminal Code in 2019. More specifically, Public Act 101-0130 eliminated the statute of limitations for prosecuting major sex crimes in Illinois, including the regular and aggravated versions of criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse. The accusation of […]

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What is the Illinois Crime of Inducement to Commit Suicide?

May 7, 2021
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In 2015, there was a highly publicized suicide case in Massachusetts involving Michelle Carter. This situation was commonly referred to as the “texting suicide case,” after Cater sent messages to a romantic partner, Conrad Roy, encouraging the act of suicide. As established in court documents, Roy expressed a desire and intent to commit suicide via […]

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How Does Illinois Penalize Violation of Civil No Contact Orders?

December 28, 2020
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Civil no contact orders are legal mechanisms under Illinois law designed to protect victims of sex crimes. These orders are available to victims of rape, sexual assault, or sexual abuse and their family or household members. Civil no contact orders are similar to an Illinois petition for order of protection in domestic violence cases. But […]

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Illinois Inmate Early Release

July 17, 2020
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NOTE: This page contains new materials to account for updates to Illinois law after passage of Public Act 101-440. After January 1, 2020, this Act modified several provisions of 730 ILCS 5/3-6-3, including guidelines for sentencing credits earned toward early release. There was a time in Illinois when inmates could get released from state prison […]

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625 ILCS 5/11-506: What are the laws, penalties, & sentencing for street racing in Illinois?

May 18, 2020
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NOTE: This article contains new content to reflect Illinois law after Public Act 101-0172 became effective on January 1, 2020. Since that date, this Act increased the penalties for traffic offenses committed in highway construction or maintenance zones (625 ILCS 5/11-908). Street racing is a criminal offense in the Illinois Vehicle Code with very serious […]

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720 ILCS 5/22-30: Illinois public indecency laws explained

March 16, 2020
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NOTE: There are changes to the original content of this article to cover the impact of Public Acts 96-1551 and 101-238. As recently as January 1, 2020, these acts amended the Illinois statutes concerning public indecency (720 ILCS 5/11-30) and disorderly conduct (720 ILCS 5/26-1) as well as the definitions of sexual conduct and penetration […]

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Illinois Supreme Court Rules Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon Statute Violates 2nd Amendment

February 14, 2020
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NOTE: This article was updated to reflect 2020 changes in Illinois law with passage of Public Act 101-223. These changes became effective on January 1st, modifying the Illinois laws against and penalties for unlawful use of weapons at places of worship. In one decision, the Illinois Supreme Court has undone thousands of convictions for carrying […]

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Theft of lost property: not a criminal offense

February 11, 2020
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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 […]

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Penalties for the offense of retail theft under Illinois law

January 23, 2020
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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 […]

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Obstruction of Justice and Filing False Police Reports: The Criminal Liability of Jussie Smollett Explained

February 26, 2019
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In the last few days, the investigation surrounding the alleged attack of Empire actor Jussie Smollett has twisted its way into a pretzel. The potential criminal liability continues to build as conflicting facts, false police tips, and new facts that are seeping their way into the press, emerge. Smollett alleged that while he was walking […]

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