First, I always advise my clients not to speak with the police or any law enforcement authority without an attorney present. This is common sense to an experienced criminal defense attorney but to the citizen who has never had contact with the police, the desire to explain his or her side of the story and [...]
The Law Offices of Purav Bhatt & Associates provides aggressive and cost-effective criminal defense representation for clients in the Maywood and surrounding area including Bellwood, Berkeley, Berwyn, Broadview, Brookfield, Cicero, Elgin/Joliet, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, Forest Preserve, Franklin Park, Hillside, LaGrange Park, Maywood, Melrose Park, Northlake, North Riverside, Oak Park, River Forest, River Grove, River Forest, [...]
People often ask me, "I felt forced by the police to do XYZ. What can the police make me do?" Once you are arrested what you say and do in the presence of the police becomes that much more important to protecting your freedom. Because your freedom is at stake, what you say and do [...]
When a crime is allegedly committed using the internet the first question is always, “Where should this case be handled?” Should it be in the state where the offender committed the offense? Should it be where the victim lives? Should it be somewhere else like in federal court? Illinois has specifically addressed this issue relating [...]
Police will often use a person’s presence in a high-crime area, coupled with unprovoked flight as sufficient to justify an officer’s brief, investigative stop. Illinois courts have decided that this was consistent with previous decisions recognizing a citizen’s right to ignore the police, as it found that unprovoked flight is not simply refusing to cooperate [...]
Having a judge issue a defendant a bail that a defendant can afford is part of the criminal judicial process. In many of my cases, the issue of bail and bond is ongoing throughout the case. What a judge setting bail or bond on a defendant does is sets a dollar amount the defendant must [...]
My clients bring every scenario in the book to me when I meet them. One of the most common is when my client is at someone else’s house for a party and the police show up. When you are at a party and the police have a valid warrant authorizing a search for contraband, they [...]
My clients come to me and tell me about how they were passengers in a friend’s car that was searched by the police. After some initial questioning of the driver, the police officer leans over to the passenger and asks, “Do you have anything illegal on you?” All of a sudden, as a passenger, you [...]
Just because the police ask to talk with you does not mean you are under arrest. This is an important concept to understand because if you are speaking with the police and make a voluntary statement against your interest, your casual conversation with the police could lead to you being placed under arrest. Understand that [...]