Author Archives: admin

THE ILLINOIS LAW ON CRIMINAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Illinois law punishes those who have a “common design” in committing a crime. Under Illinois accountability law, you can be charged with another’s crime when either before or during the offense, you solicit, aid, abet, agree or attempt to aid, … Continue reading

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CAN THEY SEARCH MY STUFF IN SOMEONE ELSE’S CAR?

You were a passenger in a friend’s car. You had your suitcase in the backseat. Your friend got pulled over by police, and police searched your bag and found drugs or weapons. Can the police search your bag if you … Continue reading

Posted in arrest, evidence, investigatory stops, privacy rights, probable cause, reasonable expectation of privacy, search and seizure | Leave a comment

THE ILLINOIS LAW ON STALKING

UPDATE: The Illinois Appellate Court declared this law unconstitutional on June 24, 2016. See our related post at Illinois Stalking and Cyberstalking Laws Declared Unconstitutional. You can’t get her out of your mind. So you’ve been following her thinking she … Continue reading

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ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT HOLDS EAVESDROPPING LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Two recent Illinois Supreme Court decisions have put nails in the coffin of Illinois’ controversial Eavesdropping statute. Under the law, a person is guilty of eavesdropping when he or she “knowingly and intentionally uses an eavesdropping device for the purpose … Continue reading

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IT WAS JUST A PRANK!: ILLINOIS CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY LAW

You thought it would be a really good joke. You and your buddies spray painted your team’s logo on a rival school’s bus. Or maybe you set off some fireworks in the neighbor’s yard one night. But instead, you blew … Continue reading

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SIX WAYS TO DEFEND AN ILLINOIS SHOPLIFTING CASE

As with most criminal charges, the State has to prove you guilty of all the elements of retail theft beyond a reasonable doubt. Retail theft is a tough crime to defend because often someone is caught in the act on … Continue reading

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SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: ILLINOIS IDENTITY THEFT EXPUNGEMENT

Your name is Jack Smith, but you’re not THAT Jack Smith, the one who stole your identity and misused a credit card or embezzled from a bank account or got a DUI using a license with your information. Perhaps you … Continue reading

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TELEPHONE HARASSMENT: WHAT IS INTENT?

Illinois law prohibits someone from using the phone to make obscene comments with the intent to offend another or to make a call, whether or not one speaks, with the intent of abusing, harassing or threatening someone. A caller’s intent … Continue reading

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“THEY ASKED ME TO PAY!”: THE RETAIL THEFT CIVIL DAMAGES LETTER

You’re already on edge after you were charged with shoplifting. Now you have received a letter or a phone call from a collection agent or a law firm asking you to pay money for the merchandise that you took. Will … Continue reading

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HOW TO CHOOSE A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

No matter how great they are, not all attorneys are right for all clients. So how do you choose the criminal defense attorney that will best represent you? Here are some pointers: 1) Communication: This factor would likely be at … Continue reading

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