Amendments to the Vital Records Act ensure that a search fee for birth and death records will not be required if the person presents a prescribed verification form completed by the Department of Corrections with the person's date of birth and social security number (410 ILCS 535/25(1)).
Until now, only nine felonies qualified for sealing of records. With passage of HB 2373, nearly all felony convictions qualify. Here's what the expansion could mean for your client.
Defendant Joe Rosado was convicted by a jury of delivery of cocaine within 1000 feet of a high school. In a previous trial before the same judge, a different jury had acquitted Defendant of delivering a controlled substance to an undercover police investigator.
Persons charged with a criminal offense are allowed counsel at bail hearings. If a defendant wants counsel for the initial appearance but is unable to obtain counsel, the court shall appoint a public defender or licensed attorney to represent him or her for the purposes of that hearing.
Eligible offenders can petition the court for a certificate of good conduct, which among other things lowers the liability risk for employers who hire them. Here's why and how to help your client get one.
Terrell was convicted of unlawful possession of a weapon and multiple counts related to drug possession and intent to distribute after officers found the illegal items in an apartment that contained items linked to him.
Rodriguez was convicted of first-degree murder when he was 15-years-old. On appeal, Rodriguez argued that the trial court erroneously denied his motion to suppress evidence found during a search of his home.
Terry v. Ohio allows police to briefly detain someone if they have a reasonable suspicion he or she is engaged in criminal activity. But when is suspicion reasonable? This article looks at the cases and offers tips for filing and challenging Terry-based suppression motions.
Thompson makes it easier for witnesses to provide lay opinion indentification testimony based on reviewing a recording. This article discusses the case's implications.
This Act amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and Unified Code of Corrections to discontinue the issuance of identification cards by the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Department of Juvenile Justice (DOJJ) to recently released persons.
Public Act 099-0697 greatly reduced the stakes for marijuana possession. But is using pot really a civil law violation? If so, how does that affect the process due a defendant under the law?
A Chicago lawyer is suing the city and other defendants for gathering cellphone information in a way that violates individual privacy and should require a warrant.
Other legislative proposals include altering the way life insurance proceeds are distributed to former spouses and increasing the credit defendants receive toward fines for time spent in jail.
The Fifth Appellate District reversed a defendant's conviction after he was denied a motion to quash arrest and suppress evidence and statements on the basis of involuntary consent.
Some want to eliminate the requirement for cash bail, while others think less sweeping changes will keep poor defendants from being unfairly put behind bars.
In response to a recent Illinois Supreme Court decision, petitions for writ of mandamus will be on the rise in criminal-law practice. Here's how they work.
Richard Speck's brutal murder of eight student nurses in Chicago 50 years ago shocked America, and the highly publicized trial posed tough challenges to the Illinois criminal justice system.
Upon the completion of hospital emergency services and forensic services, health care professionals providing forensic services shall provide the patient the opportunity to sign a written consent to allow law enforcement to submit the sexual assault evidence for testing.
Q. How are state's attorneys and judges handling cases for possession of small amounts of cannabis that are pending after the new cannabis decriminalization law took effect?
The Third District Appellate Court reversed an order denying respondent's motion to suppress his confession because he did not knowingly and intelligently waive his Miranda rights.
