Felony Lawyer
An aggressive and knowledgeable CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER representing people against felony indictments
If you’ve been charged with a felony in Illinois, you are facing a minimum of a year (or more) in prison and fines that can go into the tens of thousands of dollars. Felony convictions also carry other severe consequences, including a lifetime criminal record that, most of the time, cannot be expunged and will follow you for the rest of your life. You can be forced to submit your DNA to the state of Illinois, pay costly fines, and lose your constitutional right to vote and possess a firearm. In some cases, you may need to notify neighbors of your felony status, could lose of employment opportunities, and will have to live with the social stigma of being a “convicted felon.” That’s why choosing the right felony attorney is crucial. Your future literally depends on it.
Chicago Felony FAQs
A felony is a serious crime. In Illinois, a felony is generally a crime that can come with a prison sentence of one or more years. Common felony charges include: Murder, Drug Crimes, Weapon Offenses, Sex Crimes, Domestic Violence, Assault & Battery, Theft, or even DUIs.
The difference between a felony and a misdemeanor is mainly in the severity of the crime and the punishment. These differences affect:
- How much your case will cost
- How long your case will go on
- The amount of jail or prison time you face if found guilty
- The amount of fine you could receive if found guilty
- Your ability to vote
- Your right to serve on a jury
- Your ability to possess a firearm
A felony is more expensive, will likely go on longer, have increased jail or prison time, have higher fines, and could take away your ability to vote, serve on a jury, and ability to possess a firearm.
A felony conviction will prevent you from employment with the federal government, including the United States military. With a felony conviction you will be excluded from government aid, even if you’ve paid into those programs such as: Social Security and Unemployment, federal grants and loans, eligibility for Section 8 housing and food stamps. If you are a professional, or are pursuing a professional degree, a felony conviction may prevent you from, or revoke, your professional license.
In Illinois, felonies are categorized into six classes which include:
Class of Felony |
Punishment |
Class 1 Felony | 4-15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections |
Class 2 Felony | 3-7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections |
Class 3 Felony | 2-5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections |
Class 4 Felony | 1-3 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections |
Class X Felony | 6-30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections |
Consequences of Felony Convictions in Chicago Can Be Harsh
Illinois follows a multi-tiered criminal justice system to classify different felony offenses, such as aggravated kidnapping, criminal sexual assault, aggravated arson, attempted murder, aggravated unlawful financial crimes, aggravated arson, child pornography, aggravated battery, aggravated vehicular hijacking, and armed robbery, among many others. Depending on the severity and type of offense, the felony charges may be classified from Class 4 felony to Class X felony.
Without a skilled criminal defense attorney on your side who will fight to protect your rights, you could end up facing serious criminal penalties, including a lengthy prison sentence that may have a devastating long-term impact on your future. The precise prison sentence imposed depends on a wide array of factors, such as aggravating facts, underlying circumstances, the level of harm inflicted, applicable criminal law statutes, and so on.
In general, a felony conviction may result in the following:
- Expensive fines
- Formal probation
- Incarceration in a state prison
- Loss of driving privileges
- Sex offender registration
- Permanent felony record
- Deprivation of rights, such as jury services, gun ownership, voting, and other constitutional rights
- Limitations on where you can travel and live
- Restraining orders
Penalties for subsequent convictions are harsher, making it all the more important to work with an experienced criminal defense attorney who has the dedication and skill to build a solid defense strategy.
There are also several aspects of your personal and professional life that can be affected by a felony record of conviction, including:
- Personal relationships
- Job and career options
- Immigration status – it might mean disqualification of permanent residency or citizenship and deportation
- Educational opportunities because of ineligibility for financial aid or academic punishment
Our Strategy-Driven Criminal Defense Is Based on Hard Legal Facts and Identifying Flaws in the Prosecution’s Claims
Attorney Purav Bhatt is a former prosecutor with extensive insider knowledge of the criminal court system and the structure of federal charges. You can drastically improve your outcome by having the former Cook County State’s Attorney represent you. If you are charged with a crime, contact The Law Office of Purav Bhatt right away.
Police officers know that the time before an accused individual asserts their right to an attorney is a crucial stage in the investigation of a criminal case. This is when most criminal defendants provide inconsistent statements, incriminating disclosures, and even full confessions.
The bottom line is that you need to take immediate action and find a seasoned Chicago criminal defense attorney if you don’t want your future derailed. Getting arrested on misdemeanor or felony charges can have wide repercussions in all aspects of your life.
The first thing you need to do when arrested for drug crimes, aggravated criminal sexual assault, DUI, carjacking, or any other criminal charges is to ask for an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Do not speak with a police officer unless you have a seasoned Chicago criminal lawyer by your side.
The United States Constitution requires state or federal prosecutors to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable standard of doubt. Having an experienced Illinois criminal defense lawyer to advise you will prevent you from inadvertently contributing to your own conviction.
Difference Between Felony and Misdemeanor Cases
Several factors of an alleged crime are considered before categorizing it as a misdemeanor or felony. Formal criminal charges can quickly turn into felony charges if the situation involves violent crimes where an individual was injured.
The criminal offense may also be considered a felony if the accused has been previously convicted of the crime. These variables usually apply to DUI, theft crimes, domestic violence, and other criminal offenses.
Three Strikes Law in Illinois
Felony offenses in Illinois can have severe consequences if you are booked under the Three Strikes Law. Repeat offenders facing felony criminal charges might get increasingly harsher penalties and sentences. These are a few examples of “Strikes”:
- Murder
- Mayhem
- Manslaughter
- Robbery
- Arson
- Kidnapping
- Attempted murder
- Carjacking
- Residential burglary
- DUI
- Assault
The felony attorney you choose for legal representation has the potential to drive the outcome of a case. The right Chicago criminal defense lawyer may be able to have your felony charges dropped to a misdemeanor. Lesser charges will reduce your prison time and help you avoid other severe penalties and consequences.
When your freedom and future are on the line, you want a criminal defense law firm that has a proven track record of success and will work diligently on your behalf. Attorney Purav Bhatt has over a decade’s experience as one of the top criminal defense lawyers in Chicago. He has helped many criminal cases get reduced to misdemeanor charges through a plea bargain and has successfully presented numerous defense strategies and won at a criminal trial. You can be confident he will fight for your rights.
A Knowledgeable Felony Attorney
With the proper representation and presentation to a court or prosecutor, probation is an option for some people charged with felonies, but even probation carries lifelong consequences. For some people, probation is not an option and they are facing long prison sentences in the Illinois Department of Corrections based on their criminal history or the nature of the charges against them. Whether a defendant receives probation, a dismissal or is sentenced to prison depends heavily on their representation and the ability and talent of their criminal defense attorney.
Attorney Purav Bhatt is a criminal defense attorney practicing across Illinois. If you or a loved one has been arrested for a criminal offense please contact The Law Office of Purav Bhatt at 773-791-9682 to discuss your matter.