What is Domestic Battery in Illinois?

Commonly referred to as domestic violence, domestic battery is a crime that occurs between family or household members. To understand the boundaries of this offense, the following sections will break down the definition of and penalties for domestic battery in Illinois.

What is the Definition of Domestic Battery in Illinois?

The definition of domestic battery appears in 720 ILCS 5/12-3.2. Domestic battery occurs if the abuser:

    Causes harm or injury to a family or household member; or Touches a family or household member in an insulting or provoking manner.

Under Illinois law, the term family and household member includes any people who:

    Are related by blood; Live or lived together in the same residence; Are currently or were previously married; Share a child or multiple children together; Are currently or were previously in a romantic relationship; or Provide care or assistance to the disabled or mentally impaired.  

What [...]

Written by on June 8, 2018

Assault vs. Aggravated Assault in Illinois

The topic today involves an exploration of the differences between assault and aggravated assault crimes in Illinois. The following sections will provide definitions of and penalties for both offenses.

What is the Definition of Assault in Illinois?

The definition of assault appears in 720 ILCS 5/12-1. Essentially, a person commits assault when he or she intentionally threatens to harm another person. Unlike battery crimes, assault does not deal with actual physical contact.

What are the Penalties for Assault in Illinois?

The penalties for assault also appear in 720 ILCS 5/12-1. In most cases, assault is classified as a Class C misdemeanor in Illinois. The potential penalties for a Class C misdemeanor include a sentence range of up to 30 days, fines of up to $1,500 and probation for up to 24 months. Additionally, the court may require 30 to 120 hours of community service.  

What is the Definition of [...]

Written by on June 1, 2018

Evanston High School Teacher Accused of Sexual Assault and Molestation

The Evanston Police Department is receiving a flood of calls detailing alleged child sex crimes by a former high school teacher, according to an article by the Chicago Tribune.

This flood of calls started around October 11, 2017, after a man posted on social media about being molested by the teacher in question. After hearing about other long-running instances of sexual abuse, the man did not want to empower a child predator to hurt more victims. So he posted about his molestation, which dated back to the 1980s.

Since this man’s initial social media post, other alleged victims have come forward to post about molestation and sexual assault by the same teacher. Evanston police have also received approximately 30 calls. Though, according to police, most of the calls have involved hearsay or background information. There are no formal charges pending at the moment.

Despite the lack of formal charges, [...]

Written by on October 20, 2017

Hazing Incident Leads to Felony Charges for College Football Players

After a violent hazing incident, five Wheaton College football players now face felony charges for aggravated battery, mob action, and unlawful restraint, according to an article by the Chicago Tribune. The perpetrators allegedly barged into a freshman teammate’s dorm room in March of 2016. After tackling their victim, the perpetrators duct taped his wrists and ankles. Then they carried the victim through a crowded dorm to the parking lot.

While driving the victim to another location, the perpetrators applied more duct tape and stripped the victim’s clothes. In addition to beating the victim repeatedly, the players also tried to insert an object into the victim’s rectum. Finally, the perpetrators dumped the victim half naked on a baseball diamond and drove off.

To fully grasp the impact of this violent incident, we need to review Illinois laws concerning aggravated battery, mob action, and unlawful restraint.

How Does Illinois Define [...]

Written by on September 22, 2017