Assault is a serious crime. According to the Illinois General Assembly, assault is a Class C Misdemeanor. However, if you commit an assault in public, it becomes an aggravated assault. Depending on the severity of the offense, you might face a felony charge. No one wants to face an aggravated assault charge. However, if you are unfortunate enough to receive one, there are some mistakes you want to avoid. Talking about the incident Talking to other people about your incident might endanger your chances of getting the charges dropped. The plaintiff will use all their available resources, includi ..read more

Retail theft, also known as shoplifting, is purposefully taking an item or merchandise without paying. Shoplifting includes any action that conceals your intent to take an item without paying the listed price. Retail theft could include hiding the item or removing a price tag. Switching price tags on items so that you pay a lower price is also considered theft because the action deprives the owner of the full value. What are the consequences of conviction? Retail theft convictions in Illinois can result in both prison and monetary fines. The amount of the fine and time in jail depends on wheth ..read more

Receiving a traffic violation can trigger a reevaluation of your driving habits. However, if you feel that your actions did not warrant a ticket, you might consider fighting it in a court of law. Knowing when it is worth your time to fight a ticket can help you identify your next steps. Driver's license points Each time you receive a traffic ticket the points on your driver's license will increase. If the total of your points exceeds the number allowed, you could face several repercussions including the following: Driver's license suspension Costly fines Loss of vehicle insurance Ineligibilit ..read more

If you are facing criminal charges and are out on bail, you will need to go to court to finish your case. When you go to the courtroom, what you wear is very important. You not only will be setting the tone for how the judge and jury see you but also you are showing your respect for the legal system. Your attire and appearance can influence your case, so it is essential to know what to wear. Courtroom dress codes Most courts will have a dress code. You can often contact them or look on their website to see what it is. Generally, though, all courts follow the same basic rules. Rules for court a ..read more

When you face drug charges, you may hear law enforcement officials talking about a drug schedule. This schedule can affect your charges, so it is important to understand what it is. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, a drug schedule categorizes different substances. The grouping considers how likely it is that someone might abuse a substance or become dependent on it. Officials also evaluate whether a substance has valid medical purposes. Low-risk substances There are five categories of drugs. These are also known as schedules. Schedule IV and V substances present the lowest ris ..read more

Teenagers make mistakes; it is part of growing up. But sometimes, those mistakes come with incredibly harsh consequences. Getting arrested for drunk driving is one such case. If your child is facing DUI charges, you should know what you can do to protect your child and their future. Talk to a lawyer As soon as you learn about your child's arrest, consulting a legal professional will be crucial. Despite what the police officers might say, they are not there to protect your child. And while Illinois laws ban police from lying to minors or promising to "go easy" on them, your child can ..read more

Drivers of all ages drive too fast from time to time. Nevertheless, according to the Illinois State Police, drivers under the age of 30 are more likely to speed than drivers in other age demographics. This should concern both young drivers and their families because speed is responsible for approximately 33% of all fatal crashes. Some young drivers may not even be aware of the different types of speed limits on Illinois roads. Posted speed limits Posted speed limits are probably the type with which drivers are most familiar. Also called regulatory speed limits, posted speed limits appear on re ..read more

Finding out your child is facing a criminal charge may have you feeling anxious, and your feelings may have merit. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your son or daughter’s arrest and charge, a conviction could hinder future educational or career prospects and more. Per the Illinois State Bar Association, the severity of the penalties your child may face after a criminal conviction depends to some degree on whether he or she faces charges as a juvenile or an adult. As you might imagine, adult crimes typically carry harsher penalties than juvenile offenses. Whether your child faces a ju ..read more

You have probably heard of a blood alcohol concentration level. This is how the police measure the amount of alcohol in your blood if they stop you on the road for suspicion of DUI and give you a breath test. According to the Illinois Secretary of State's office, a BAC level of .08 means you are legally intoxicated. However, you could end up under arrest even if your BAC level is much lower. People have different tolerance levels for alcohol. Some individuals ingest a few drinks and remain alert enough to drive without any issues. Conversely, a person could have problems driving even after one ..read more

You may have heard rumors about drug convictions making college students across Illinois and the rest of the nation ineligible for financial aid. For a long time, those rumors were true. Until recently, anyone who received a drug conviction at a time when they were receiving financial aid stood to lose financial aid eligibility for a year, two years or even longer. Per Federal Student Aid, an Office of the U.S. Department of Education, receiving a drug conviction while a recipient of federal financial aid no longer disqualifies a student from using financial aid moving forward. Rule changes Co ..read more