Posted on March 30, 2012 in Juvenile Crimes

There are currently at least 100 Illinois inmates who were sentenced to life in prison without a chance for parole for crimes they committed while under the age of 18. The issue of life sentences for juvenile offenders is a controversial one nationwide, and the United States Supreme Court will soon hear two cases involving 14-year-old offenders that hinge on the issue of whether or not it’s right for those convicted of some juvenile crimes to face life in prison without parole.

A recent Chicago Tribune article points to the case of a man named Adolfo Davis. At the age of 14, Davis accompanied fellow gang members on what he expected to be a robbery, but that ended up with two men dead. Although Davis never fired a shot, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In fact, Illinois law allows for youth as young as age 13 to receive a life sentence for murder, and those age 15 or older can be sentenced to life in prison with no parole for murders for which they only drove the getaway car or acted as a lookout.

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 Posted on March 29, 2012 in DUI/DWI

Even celebrities and professional athletes can make the mistake of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to the Chicago Tribune, the latest athlete that has landed in this predicament is the former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks. Jenks, who signed with the Boston Red Sox following the 2010 season, was charged with a DUI on March 23, 2012 in Fort Myers, Florida, where the Red Sox are currently training.

A police officer pulled Jenks over after observing his vehicle weaving through traffic. Jenks failed field sobriety tests, admitted that he had taken too many muscle relaxers, and also stated that he had hit another vehicle earlier at a Fort Meyers strip club. He now faces five misdemeanor charges, including driving under the influence, property damage, and leaving the scene of an accident.

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 Posted on March 26, 2012 in Field Sobriety Tests

The so-called “Walk and Turn Test” is a common field sobriety test that Chicago law enforcement officers routinely use to detect whether a suspected drunk driver is intoxicated. This is a standardized test that the National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration has approved for such use. Depending on the results of the test, a driver could be charged with a DUI.

The first part of the walk and turn test requires the driver to stand heel-to-toe while listening to instructions from the officer regarding the rest of the test. The driver must balance in an awkward position while still listening to detailed instructions. Next, the driver must take nine steps forward on a real or imaginary line, and then nine steps back to the original position. The driver must take the steps heel-to-toe, and then turn by pivoting on one foot. Additionally, the driver must keep his or her hands at his or her side and count the steps out loud.

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 Posted on March 24, 2012 in DUI/DWI

While alcohol has long played a role in professional sports – both for the players and the fans – some Major League Baseball (MLB) teams have made the decision to ban alcohol from the players clubhouse. However, Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura recently reported to ESPN Chicago that the team will not be joining teams such as the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies, and Chicago Cubs in prohibiting players from drinking in the clubhouse. Ventura simply stated that he doesn’t have a reason to change the White Sox policy that allows alcohol, but that he would change the policy if “it needs to change.”

The alcohol ban may stem in part from multiple drunk driving accidents involving professional athletes. In 1999, Carolina Hurricanes star Steven Chiasson was killed while in a drunk driving crash after leaving the clubhouse with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than three times the legal limit. Similarly, four years ago, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock was also killed in an alcohol-related accident after leaving Busch Stadium following a game.

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 Posted on March 16, 2012 in DUI/DWI

According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, first-time DUI offenders in Illinois are often required to complete a period of court supervision. If a court sentences you to complete court supervision, you will be required to comply with court-ordered terms for a specified period of time. While the terms of court supervision can vary from one case to the next, and may also differ depending on which Illinois state court is handling your DUI case, most court supervision orders share some common aspects.

First, court supervision often requires you to complete an alcohol evaluation and follow any treatment recommendations. For instance, you could be required to attend counseling or drug and alcohol education meetings, or take part in a program like Alcoholics Anonymous. It is also likely that the court will order you to pay a fine, and possibly other costs related to your DUI charge. The judge hearing your case also has the option of ordering you to complete a specified number of community service hours, especially if your blood alcohol content was well above the legal limit of .08 at the time of your DUI. Finally, a court supervision order could require you to participate in other types of alcohol education events, for example, a victim impact panel.

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 Posted on March 14, 2012 in Theft

It’s not particularly unusual to see certain products under lock and key at grocery stores and pharmacies, as retailers regularly restrict access to higher-value items in order to prevent shoplifting. But you may soon notice a new addition to the expensive face creams and medications behind those glass doors – laundry detergent.

Drug stores report laundry soap thefts

Stores across Chicago are reporting a rash of laundry detergent thefts, and some, such as CVS, have resorted to keeping laundry detergent locked up. According to CBS Chicago, laundry detergent – in particular Tide – has become a big seller on the black market, and some believe that drug dealers may even be accepting laundry detergent as payment for drugs. Authorities point to the fact that laundry detergent is both expensive, and a necessity, as reason behind the surge in thefts.

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 Posted on March 12, 2012 in White Collar Crime

Forgery is just one of illegal actions known as white-collar crimes. In general, white collar crimes are based upon deceit (versus force or violence) and are usually conducted by professionals, businesspeople, government officials, and others not typically thought of as criminals.

Illinois law provides a detailed definition of forgery, but ultimately, the term describes an instance where someone unlawfully uses another person’s signature, or marks or alters a document (or knowingly delivers or possesses the document) with the intent to defraud. A forgery conviction in Illinois requires proof not only that the document was marked, altered, or signed by the individual in question, but that that person acted knowingly and with intent to defraud. Note that an individual can still be charged with forgery in Illinois if they intended to conduct a fraudulent act, regardless of whether or not the fraudulent act was successfully completed.

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 Posted on March 06, 2012 in Juvenile Crimes

A recent Canton Daily Ledger article out of the provides that one Illinois county (Fulton) spent over $406,000 housing juvenile offenders outside of their own county. The article mentions one treatment facility that costs close to $9,000 per month per person. Yet another news piece tells of Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan to close ten Illinois detention centers, including two juvenile facilities – despite the fact that the number of juvenile crimes in Illinois is increasing.

In the words of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA,) “incarceration is used too often as a solution for children with problems.” The fact is that Illinois spends over $100 million each year to incarcerate nearly 1,400 juveniles – including around 2,000 that haven’t even been convicted of a crime and are simply awaiting trial.

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 Posted on March 03, 2012 in DUI/DWI

In the United States, drunk driving is a crime that crosses all boundaries such as sex, race, and socioeconomic levels. In fact, even police officers who are sworn to follow the law may have a habit of drinking too much on occasion. Unfortunately, law enforcement officials don’t always act honestly or appropriately when suspected of drinking and driving. For instance, according to The Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago police officer Sean Patrick Dailey currently faces disorderly conduct charges for allegedly attempting to get out of a DUI charge.

Apparently, In 2010, a Niles police officer stopped Dailey for speeding and failing to stop at a stoplight, after he left a Niles bar. According to reports, Dailey admitted that he had been drinking, and after telling the Niles officer that he was a Chicago police officer, asked to leave the vehicle and make arrangements to get a ride home via cell phone. Almost immediately thereafter, the Niles officer left Dailey at the scene when he was dispatched to respond to a large bar fight at another local bar, which later proved to be fictional. Dailey wasn’t charged with DUI – that time.

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