Springfield Criminal Defense Blog

Generally, motorists in Illinois want to drive responsibly, but the unfortunate fact is that when a person chooses to drive drunk, they put other motorists and passengers at risk of death and injury even if they do not mean to do so. Currently, there are enhanced penalties when a drunk driver causes a fatal accident.…

Not all drug crimes are committed with nefarious intent or as mere money-grabs. Oftentimes addiction drives a person to commit a drug crime. If so, is it better to simply lock away the user and throw away the key? Or should a person who is addicted to drugs and subsequently commits a drug crime be…

For many Illinois residents, a traffic ticket is little more than an inconvenience. They get the ticket, pay the fine and forget about it. For others, a traffic ticket can be a much more serious matter. For a driver who has a lot of points on their record, a new traffic ticket could mean having…

When you think of someone committing a crime, you probably naturally assume it is a violent crime. While that may not always be true, there are reasons our minds automatically think of crimes as violent. They are the types of crimes society condemns the most and the crimes that usually make the news. However, what…

Weapons charges in Illinois are more serious than you may think. If you are convicted of a weapons charge, you will face fines and even jail time. These consequences become even more serious if you already have a criminal record and are prohibited from possessing a firearm. This was recently illustrated in a case involving…

DUI is a serious charge by itself under Illinois law. It becomes much more serious in cases involving a motor vehicle accident, and if someone is killed in the accident, the charges can land a defendant in prison for years. While many Illinois residents may think they will never face this type of charge themselves,…

When you’re accused of criminal wrongdoing, the police and prosecutors are going to do everything they can to try to get a conviction. They’ll pressure you, lie to you, and twist your words to make it appear that you said something that you didn’t. All of these tactics can leave you feeling like you need…

When a new year begins and lawmakers are seated in Illinois, it is inevitable that they will try to implement new laws. Many are safety related. Specifically, road dangers have become a prominent issue, especially when it comes to children. Speeding in school zones is a problem. It puts kids in jeopardy and law enforcement…

When people face a criminal charge in Illinois they can experience confusion along with fear and uncertainty. The confusion oftentimes comes from a lack of knowledge about court procedure in general, and the criminal justice system specifically. And, if you are facing a violent crime charge, your future is on the line. In theory, the…

The consequences of a criminal conviction often involve far more than the sentence imposed by the court. So-called collateral consequences—meaning consequences that do not flow directly from the criminal sentence—can at times be as severe as the sentence itself. For this reason, it is important that a person accused of a crime understand potential consequences…