A phone call comes into the local 9-1-1 dispatch center. The dispatcher hears a chilling voice on the other end of the phone: “I have killed a family member and might kill others.” The dispatcher gathers the phone number and address from where the call is coming, and then quickly summons help. Law enforcement and… Read more »
Posts By: JohnPaul
Back to ArticlesIllinois Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act
Beginning in January 2014, Illinois joined a number of other states in legalizing the use and possession of small amounts of medical marijuana (or medical cannabis). But the statutes authorizing this limited use and possession (410 ILCS 130/1 and following) do not give free license to carry as much medical marijuana as one chooses or… Read more »
Illinois DUI Offenders May Be Eligible for a Monitoring Device Driving Permint (MDDP)
Driving under the influence is a serious crime in Illinois, punishable by serious penalties. Even a first offense can result in up to one year in jail and up to $2,500 in fines. Not only this, but a first offense can result in a minimum suspension of your driving privileges for a full year. These… Read more »
TASC probation: what is it, and how can it help me?
If you have been charged with a crime and you suffer from alcoholism or other drug addiction, you could be eligible for probation through TASC (20 ILCS 301/40-5), which stands for Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities. Unlike “traditional” probation, successful completion of a TASC probation term can provide you with the opportunity to avoid a… Read more »
Illinois Rule Of Evidence Makes Prosecution Of Domestic Violence Easier
There has been an established common law tradition of banning propensity evidence, evidence of one crime that is used to show a defendant is more likely to have committed another crime, in many types of cases. The rationale behind this ban is that allowing evidence of uncharged conduct to demonstrate a defendant’s propensity to commit… Read more »
First Offender Probation For Certain Drug Offenses
Prosecutions for criminal drug offenses in Illinois usually occur under the Cannabis Control Act or the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. These charges can be either misdemeanors or felonies. Charges under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, however, are more likely to be felonies. Despite the increased likelihood of receiving a felony charge under the Controlled Substances… Read more »