Most DUIs Are Misdemeanors Until They Are Not The Default: Class A Misdemeanor DUI In Illinois, most first-time and second-time DUI offenses are charged as Class A misdemeanors. A misdemeanor DUI carries penalties including up to 364 days in county jail, fines up to $2,500, mandatory alcohol evaluation and treatment, and license suspension. While [...]
A misdemeanor offense is a criminal act that is more serious than an infraction, but less serious than a felony. Misdemeanor offenses in Chicago are typically punishable by fines, probation, and imprisonment for a period of up to one year. The specific penalties can differ based on the nature and severity of the offense, your [...]
Offenses are segregated into two different groups within the criminal justice system: felonies and misdemeanors. Under Illinois law, prosecutors consider the facts of the case and the severity of a crime before classifying it as a felony or misdemeanor. Misdemeanors generally carry lighter sentences than felony charges. These crimes may not be punished with [...]
Investigative Alerts I am handling a case right now where my client is being charged with attempted murder (720 ilcs 5/8-4), aggravated kidnapping (720 ilcs 5/10-2), armed robbery (720 ilcs 5/18-2) and aggravated battery (720 ilcs 12-4). These are clearly very serious charges my client is facing. He was never seen at [...]
felony convictions can lead to prison There are important differences between being charged with a felony and being charged with a misdemeanor offense. These differences affect: how much your case will cost how long your case will go on for the amount of jail or prison time you face if found guilty the [...]
felony murder Monday a middle aged man who had formerly been convicted of first-degree murder in downstate Illinois was granted a retrial. During the retrial, testimony was given that as the pawn shop owner, he refused to open the safe, while at gunpoint, because it had happened before and financially ruined him. The [...]
Sealing Felony Records Illinois is scheduled to expand a person's ability and eligibility to seal a criminal conviction. Public Act 097-1120 will allow and individual with a criminal conviction that was previously ineligible to be sealed to petition the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to seal a Class 3 or Class 4 felony conviction from their background. [...]
Felony Lawyer Purav Bhatt Many of my clients do not know what the difference is between felony and misdemeanor cases. Having an understanding of the difference between the two categories of criminal charges allows my clients to understand what the consequences of their legal situation and how to approach, prepare and beat their charges. Below is a discussion of [...]
