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Recent Blog Posts
How to Handle an Aggressive or Confrontational Encounter With the Police
While the majority of police officers are good and decent human beings, police brutality, aggression, and confrontational behavior does exist. Knowing how to handle such situations, should you ever experience it, is critical. In fact, in some situations, it could even save your life. At the very least, an understanding of your Constitutional rights and thoughtful action could help mitigate the risk of a wrongful arrest, wrongfully filed charges, and wrongful conviction.
Understanding Your Risk
Anyone can be victim of police brutality or aggression, but certain groups are at an increased risk. For example, African American males are three times more likely to be killed by an officer of the law than any other race and gender combination. Further compounding this issue is the reality that African American men are much more likely to be stopped by a police officer than other groups. Therefor, it is critical that they, above all others, understand how they can attempt to deescalate a situation and protect their rights.
Judge Falls Asleep During Criminal Case, Conviction Stands
When a decision is handed down in a criminal proceeding, both the state and the defendant typically have the right to file an appeal. Appeals filed by defendants nearly always follow a guilty verdict or an unfavorable ruling on a pre-verdict motion, and most are focused on the defendant’s rights to a certain extent. Many such rights have their foundations in the U.S. Constitution and its amendments, such as the right to due process of law and the right be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. Other principles have been established in practice, such as the presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. But, what happens if the presiding judge falls asleep during the proceedings? Does a jurist’s quick nap constitute a violation of the defendant’s rights so grossly that it should result in a mistrial? An Illinois appeals court recently answered these questions.
Chicago Woman Sentenced to Probation for Hate Crime
In early January of this year, the nation was horrified at a shocking display of racism and violence. An 18-year-old disabled man was brutally attacked by four young individuals who filmed and broadcasted themselves physically and emotionally torturing him.
In a Facebook Live video stream, the victim can be seen bound and gagged. The aggressors tease, taunt, and humiliate the teen. They beat, stabbed, punched, and kicked the victim, as well as cut off part of his scalp with a knife. The video of the torture lasts about 30 minutes but the victim was bound for several hours. During the video of the attack, the four suspects, who are black, can be heard making expletive-laced comments about "white people" and President Donald Trump. One of the four individuals involved in the attack contacted the victim&s mother and demanded a $300 ransom for the victim&s return.
The Importance of Due Process in the Internet Age
The internet has changed the world in arguably more ways than any other invention in human history. At the click of a button, we have the ability to share our thoughts and beliefs across the globe. We can access the wealth of global knowledge on our cell phone. While the advances made because of the internet are astounding, there are a few downsides to being constantly connected to the rest of the world, especially as they relate to allegations of illegal activity.
Recently, a multitude of men and woman have come forward to accuse others—mostly high-profile individuals—of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and even rape. The public’s response to these allegations has been intense. While it is understandable that many people have emotional reactions to news involving terrible crimes, it is a mistake to automatically assume that any person accused of a crime is guilty.
What Rights Does Someone Accused of a Crime Have?
If you have even been arrested or accused of a crime, you know how dehumanizing the experience can be. Criminal suspects are often treated much worse than they deserve. However, you should know that those suspected of criminal activity have certain rights which cannot legally be denied to them. Every citizen should be educated about his or her rights and take steps to ensure that they are treated properly according to the law.
The Right to Be Free from Unreasonable Search and Seizure
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S Constitution states, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." If police wish to enter a person’s property in order to find evidence that they plan to use in court, they usually need a search warrant. Nonetheless, there are some situations which allow police to execute a search without a warrant. It is always a good idea not to give police your consent to search your home if they do not have a warrant. If police search anyway, do not attempt to physically stop them, but do make note of the circumstances and that you did not consent to the search. This information can be tremendously valuable in the future.
What You Need to Know About Criminal Charges for Assault
Like many legal terms, people often use the word assault incorrectly. Although it is used casually to refer to aggressive or violent behavior, the Illinois Criminal Code defines the offense much more specifically. If you have been charged with assault, you are probably unsure of what to do next. The best start to effective criminal defense is educating yourself about your charges. If you are facing assault charges, read on to learn what exactly you are up against.
Assault and Battery Defined
The colloquial definition of assault usually refers to some type of physical altercation between individuals. What many think of as assault is actually two separate offenses according to the Illinois Criminal Code: assault and battery. The legal meaning of assault can only be completely understood when one considers the definition of battery.
Battery refers to instances when a person intentionally and without reason "(1) causes bodily harm to an individual or (2) makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with an individual." Battery can include things like a fist fight in a bar, slapping someone’s face, or even something as simple as poking someone in the chest with the intention of provoking them. Assault, in the legal sense, includes the threatening actions which precede aggressive or unwanted physical contact. More precisely, assault occurs when an individual is in "reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery."
Supreme Court Rules Warrants Needed for Cell Phone Location Data
In today’s digitally connected world, information is everywhere. If you need an answer to a question, a few taps on your smartphone can allow you to run a Google search. If you want to contact your friend, you can send him or her an instant message or even connect through video chat instantaneously. The stream of data, however, goes in both directions. Any time that your phone is turned on, it is sending signals to nearby cell towers about your location and whether you are available to receive a call.
Over the last few years, law enforcement agencies have been able to gather information from these signals with little more than a request to the wireless service providers, but a new ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court says that a warrant must be obtained first.
The Case in Question
In 2013, a Detroit man was convicted on several charges related to armed robberies that had taken place in and around the city. The prosecution’s case was helped by cell phone evidence gathered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from the defendant’s cell phone service carrier. Using the Stored Communication Act, government agents needed only to show the wireless carrier that the information they were requesting was relevant to an ongoing investigation. The government did not believe that a warrant was necessary because they were not pulling the content of calls or messages. Instead, they were looking for location points.
Defense Lawyers Group Raises Questions About the Trial Penalty
Nearly every person or entity involved with the American criminal justice system is aware of the existence of the so-called "trial penalty." This penalty refers to the harsher sentences imposed on criminal defendants who exercise their right to a trial compared to those who accept plea bargains. There is little question that some form of a trial penalty is acceptable, but a new report from a national organization of defense attorneys suggests that the differences in sentences have become so severe that the penalty is threatening the right to a trial guaranteed by the Constitution’s Sixth Amendment.
The Sixth Amendment
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution promises, "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury…" The amendment also guarantees a defendant the right to face the witnesses against him or her, as well that the right to legal counsel.
Bar Association Advocates Change to Mandatory DUI License Suspension
Earlier this month, the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) proposed changes to the mandatory punishment guidelines in place for drivers convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) in the state. Representatives from the ISBA met with officials from a traffic safety task force created by Secretary of State Jesse White to discuss concerns over the inconsistent application of license suspensions.
Current Mandatory DUI Penalties
Under Illinois law, a first-offense DUI conviction may result in up to one year in prison and fines up to $2,500 plus court costs. Additionally, the law requires suspension of driving privileges for up to one year, with a full suspension for at least 30 days. After 30 days, a driver may be eligible to apply for a Monitoring Device Driving Permit, allowing limited driving privileges conditional to the use of an ignition interlock device and other monitoring requirements.
DUI and Implied Consent in Illinois
As a licensed driver in Illinois, you have been granted certain privileges related to the operation of a motor vehicle on roadways within in the state. In exchange for such privileges, you are expected to assume certain responsibilities under law regarding safe and proper driving practices. The state of Illinois also maintains "implied consent" laws to which, by operating a vehicle in accordance with the terms of their licenses, all drivers are subject. One of the more common applications of implied consent relates to blood-alcohol content (BAC) tests when a driver is suspected of driving under the influence (DUI).
Like the implied consent laws in most states, the statutes in Illinois require you to submit to a breath, urine, or blood test if you have been arrested on suspicion of DUI. With probable cause for such an arrest, the law enforcement officer must arrange that the test be conducted as soon as possible for the sake of accuracy. There is no right granted for you to contact an attorney prior to the test and the officer selects the type of test most appropriate for the situation.
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