Yearly Archives: 2009

‘I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE THE MONEY”: WHEN YOU BOUNCE A CHECK DUE TO INSUFFICIENT FUNDS

You have never been very good about managing money, but somehow you have always put enough money in your checking account in time for your checks to clear. Until now. You just wrote some checks, figuring you’d have the money … Continue reading

Posted in bounced check, class 4 felony, class a misdemeanor, criminal charges, deceptive practices, insufficient funds | Leave a comment

I HAVE A FELONY. WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

You saw some designer jeans that you couldn’t resist, so you stuffed them into your bag. When store security stopped you, the merchandize you had shoplifted cost more than $150, enough to make your offense a Class 3 felony in … Continue reading

Posted in arraignment, Class 1, Class 4, Class X, cook county courthouse, felony, Maywood, skokie | Leave a comment

BUT I WAS BELOW THE BLOOD ALCOHOL LIMIT!: HOW YOU CAN STILL BE ARRESTED FOR DUI EVEN WITH A BREATHALYZER UNDER .08

You know you didn’t pause on that stop sign quite long enough, and now just your luck, a cop has pulled you over. After approaching your window, the cop looks at you a little strangely and then asks you to … Continue reading

Posted in blood alcohol limit, breathalyzer, criminal law, driving while under the influence, drunk driving, dui | Leave a comment

CAN THEY DO THAT? SCHOOL SEARCHES OF STUDENTS FOR DRUGS AND WEAPONS

Your high school student just got into the worst trouble of his life. School security searched his locker. After finding some narcotics, the principal demanded the keys to your 17-year-old son’s car and then proceeded to rip apart your trunk. … Continue reading

Posted in criminal law, drugs, high school, illegal searches, juvenile court, school searches, weapons | Leave a comment

“BUT MY CHILD DIDN’T START IT”: WHEN YOUR CHILD IS FACING SUSPENSION, EXPULSION OR JUVENILE COURT CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR FIGHTING

You’ve been hearing complaints from your high school student about some other kids at school. They keep harassing him, and the school doesn’t seem to be doing anything about it. While you don’t condone violence, you really can’t blame your … Continue reading

Posted in assault, battery, criminal law, expulsion, fighting, high school, juvenile court | Leave a comment

“I MEANT TO PAY FOR IT”: WHEN YOU ARE ACCUSED OF SHOPLIFTING

You are visiting your favorite big box store. You picked up a couple DVDs that you were thinking of purchasing, but then got distracted and walked out the door with them. Before you knew it, security was after you, and … Continue reading

Posted in expungement, retail theft, shoplifting | Leave a comment

“IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!”: WHEN VISITING AN INAPPROPRIATE WEBSITE CAUSES YOU TROUBLE

You are a dedicated public school teacher. Your students adore you. You have even received awards for your innovative teaching techniques. So it is with great dismay that you find yourself hauled into the principal’s office. It appears you have … Continue reading

Posted in criminal law, Cybercrime, downloading, education law, inappropriate websites | Leave a comment

BUT I JUST TEXTED: HOW SEXTING CAN GET YOU IN TROUBLE.

You just broke up with your girlfriend from school, and you’re upset. You don’t think she treated you right, so to get even with her, you’ve texted those nude photos you took on your cell phone in better days to … Continue reading

Posted in Cybercrime, cyberstalking, Texting offenses | Leave a comment

THE DRUGS AREN’T MINE: WHEN YOU ARE CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS

You’ve just been arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Maybe it’s marijuana or cocaine or methamphetamine or even heroin. Maybe the substance was mailed to you in a package or the police found it in your car or the … Continue reading

Posted in arrest, controlled substance, criminal charges, criminal law, drug dealing, drug possession, drugs, narcotics, possession | Leave a comment

THE NEW ILLINOIS DUI DRIVING MONITOR DEVICES

As of January 1, 2009, Illinois has a new system for permitting first time DUI offenders to drive. The Monitoring Device Driving Permit (MDDP) allows a qualified driver more leeway than the old system, but involves a new set of … Continue reading

Posted in breath alcohol monitoring device, breathalyzer, criminal charges, drunk driving, dui | Leave a comment