How Does Illinois Address Possession of Child Pornography?

Possession of child pornography is a type of child sex crime in Illinois. This law is designed to protect children and other people with mental disability from predatory sexual practices. In that vein, there are severe consequences for voluntary and intentional possession of child pornography in Illinois. In order to gain a full appreciation of this legal issue, the following sections will explore the definition of and penalties for possession of child pornography in Illinois.

Definition of Possession of Child Pornography

The Illinois definition of child pornography appears in 720 ILCS 5/11-20.1. Essentially, it is illegal to possess any materials that depict sexual conduct with minor children or people with serious mental disabilities. Illinois law includes photos, videos, and other visual depictions of child sexual acts.

That being said, there is an important restriction on possession of child pornography in Illinois. The perpetrator must know — or have a [...]

Written by on May 18, 2018

What is the Illinois Driver’s License Point System?

When a driver commits a moving or traffic violation in Illinois, such as driving under the influence (DUI), the driver receives demerit points on his or her driver’s license. The number of points assessed will depend on the circumstances of the offense. 

How Does Illinois Assess Driver’s License Points?

Illinois employs a tiered system for assessing driver’s license points for moving violations. Minor violations result in low point totals, whereas major violations, especially those that endanger other people or property, result in high point totals.

Please find below a breakdown of common moving violations and the corresponding number of points.

    Driving with a broken or malfunctioning head, side, or tail light results in 10 points; Driving below the minimum speed limit results in 5 points; Driving 1-10 miles per hour above the maximum speed limit results in 5 points; Driving 11-14 miles per hour above the maximum speed limit
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Written by on May 11, 2018

Overview of Reckless Driving Crimes in Illinois

Reckless driving is a traffic offense that is similar to driving under the influence. Illinois law prohibits both offenses in the interest of public safety. In order understand the boundaries of reckless driving in Illinois, the following sections will outline key definitions and penalties under the law.

What is the Definition of Reckless Driving in Illinois?

The Illinois definition of reckless driving appears in 625 ILCS 5/11-503. There are two variations of this offense under Illinois law. A person commits reckless driving in Illinois if they:

    Operate a vehicle and carelessly endangers other people or property; or Use an incline, railroad crossing, bridge or hill to intentionally send a vehicle airborne.

What are the Penalties for Reckless Driving in Illinois?

In most cases, reckless driving is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois. The potential penalties for a Class A misdemeanor include a sentence range of 364 days, fines [...]

Written by on May 4, 2018

Criminal Record Expungement and Sealing in Illinois

When a person is arrested for or charged with a crime, the relevant details appear on that person’s criminal record. Generally speaking, a criminal record is accessible to the general public, including family and friends, employers, banks and other organizations. Consequently, a criminal record can lead to serious consequences, personally and professionally. In certain circumstances, however, it is possible for a person to erase or hide his or her criminal record.

Expungement, Sealing and Executive Clemency

In order to erase or hide a criminal record in Illinois, there are three potential routes — expungement, sealing, and executive clemency. Below is a breakdown of important information for each of those methods.

    Expungement: This legal mechanism effectively erases a criminal record. After a successful expungement, the criminal record will disappear entirely. In the end, expungement makes it seem like the criminal record never existed in the first place. Sealing:This
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Written by on April 27, 2018