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 a loaded firearm and opened the door for the release of hundreds of inmates in prison. The state high court…

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 misdemeanor offenses, they are looking at a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of $2,500.…

NOTE: This article was updated to reflect 2020 changes in Illinois law with passage of Public Act 101-0130. These new laws became effective on January 1st, eliminating the statute of limitations for various sex crimes, including criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. All too often a person involved in a hostile confrontation in a domestic relationship will call the police without knowing the serious legal consequences that follow. Usually…

NOTE: This article was updated to reflect 2020 changes in Illinois law with passage of Public Act 101-173. These changes became effective on January 1st, adjusting the Illinois statutes governing reckless homicide charges and Scott’s Law violations. The courts treat most accidents as a matter of negligence. The person who is responsible for the accident is considered at fault, or liable. Anyone who is injured or killed by the person at fault can recover damages…

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 convictions for moving violations in 12 months will result in suspension. The suspension is mandatory, not discretionary. In fact, it…

Note: This article has been updated to reflect the law 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 a felony offense has a possible sentence of one year or more imprisonment, whereas a misdemeanor is…

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 misdemeanor retail thefts from $150 to $300. Shoplifting is a serious crime in Illinois and the law imposes harsh penalties…