Illinois has been home to some contentious debates regarding eavesdropping in recent years. As we mentioned in this article on our website, this state's eavesdropping laws were at one time, some of the most aggressive in the country.Prior to the passage of new rules...
Chicago Criminal Law Blog
Under investigation for a federal drug crime? Know your rights
Federal drug investigations are typically quite extensive; enormous amounts of resources are dedicated to the processes of investigating, prosecuting and sentencing for these offenses. Cases involving drug trafficking, conspiracy and virtually any suggestion that...
Federal agents facing federal charges after undercover operation
When law enforcement agents go undercover, there is a very real potential that they will participate in illegal activity. Those investigating a drug ring may buy or sell drugs; an investigation into fraud can lead to participation in money laundering or theft. These...
AG Holder announces change to US asset forfeiture program
Under federal law, authorities are allowed to seize a person's assets if they can show that those assets are in some way connected to a crime. The most frustrating aspect of asset forfeiture is that authorities can take your property even if you are not facing...
Illinois man claims he’s a victim of a wrongful prosecution
Last year a Lake County, Illinois man spent 90 days in jail following an arrest for involvement in a criminal conspiracy. A judge later dropped the charges against him. He suspects the arrest came about due to his speaking on the telephone with the alleged ringleader...
Can you be held in jail without being charged with a crime?
Imagine what you were doing 900 days ago. That's roughly two and-a-half years ago. You may have been in another job, dating someone else, married or divorced, childless or living in a completely different place. The point is that a lot can happen in a couple years.Now...
Defending yourself crucial if your civil rights were violated
People depend on police and other legal authorities to protect people and their rights. Unfortunately, this does not always happen and the legal and justice systems end up working against the very people they are meant to protect.Every criminal accusation should be...
Governor makes appointments to new prison reform commission
Governor Bruce Rauner made headlines last month when he declared his intention to form a new commission tasked with both examining Illinois' criminal justice system and devising ways to reform its prison system, which he described as "costly, overcrowded and...
Holder announces new civil asset forfeiture policies
Being charged with or investigated for a criminal offense is scary and stressful. However, before a person is ever acquitted or convicted, he or she could have critical and often substantial assets retained by state or local law enforcement agencies, which can only...
Consent during sexual acts: Are there shades of gray?
There are many gray areas of the law: areas that must be thoroughly examined and tested in order to determine what they mean and protect and how they may or may not apply to specific situations.In some cases, one such gray area is consent during a sexual encounter....


