The former Minnesota police officer who knelt on George Floyd's neck during an arrest was recently convicted of second-degree murder and manslaughter. George Floyd’s death brought significant media attention to the use of chokeholds by police officers around the country. As a result, half of the largest police departments in the United States have banned or limited the use of neck restraint since June. Approximately 62% of police departments now explicitly prohibit chokeholds and carotid holds in their policies about...

Going through a divorce can be emotionally trying and confusing for all parties involved. This is especially true of the financial aspects of a divorce, including spousal maintenance calculations. Spousal maintenance, also called spousal support, or alimony, occurs when one spouse must pay the other spouse money on an ongoing basis after a divorce. Family court judges typically order spousal maintenance. However, spousal maintenance can also be agreed upon by the couple in a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement. Recent Changes...

Recently, a teenager and a 22-year old were fatally shot by Chicago police officers during foot chases. In the case of the 13-year-old, the Chicago Police Department has stated that bodycam footage shows he was holding a gun in his right hand. As he turned towards the police officer, he raised his empty hand, and the police officer shot him. They later found the gun behind the fence a few feet from where he was killed. Only two days later,...

The question of when police officers can use deadly force has been a significant talking point over the last few years. Many state legislators are pushing for criminal justice reform that makes it more difficult for police officers to use deadly force against suspects. Illinois has taken the lead by passing a comprehensive criminal justice reform law that limits the use of force among police officers. We will discuss what has changed below. The New Law Limits the Use of...

In many marriages, one spouse earns more than the other spouse. As a result, the spouse who earns less comes to rely on the other spouse for financial support to maintain their shared standing of living. When a marriage ends in divorce, it can be difficult for the lower-income spouse to recover financially. Thankfully, Illinois courts often award spousal support, also known as alimony, in these cases. Spousal support is not a permanent solution, however. We will discuss how long...

Illinois is leading the country in addressing police accountability and criminal justice reform. A significant part of Illinois’ new criminal justice reform law involves making police misconduct records more readily available to the public. Illinois must maintain a Professional Conduct Database maintained by the state board responsible for certifying and decertifying police officers. Illinois’ Police Officer Misconduct Database Illinois’ new law makes several changes to the police officer misconduct database. First, the Illinois State Police Merit board will be responsible...

Illinois’ Police Reform Law Changes the Definition of a “Habitual Criminal”

posted on 5/22/21

Illinois recently passed one of the most significant criminal justice reform laws in the country. The law, which is nearly 764 pages long, revamps the entire Illinois pre-trial system. This...

An 18-year-old girl was recently accepted into the University of Chicago with an athletic scholarship. She is a great student and dedicated to swimming. However, on a recent shopping trip to celebrate their upcoming graduation, her friends suggest it would be funny to steal a pair of wireless earPods from the Apple store. She goes along with them, and they all get caught by the store’s security guard. Now she is facing harsh penalties for the retail theft that could...

2021 is shaping up to be another challenging year for married couples and families. Many couples have spent too much time together with few of the outlets for enjoyment and distraction they used to enjoy. With more people working from home and experiencing job loss, household responsibilities have shifted, and many people's anxiety has increased. Nearly 75% of the licensed psychologists who treat patients for anxiety have seen an increase in demand since the pandemic. These pressures have also led...

In February, Governor Pritzker signed a police reform bill that ended cash bail and significantly reformed Illinois’ criminal justice system. Now, a bill that would end qualified immunity for Illinois police officers is making its way through the House of Representatives. The bill, called the Bad Apples in Law Enforcement Accountability Act of 2021, would allow citizens to sue police officers for depriving “any individual rights guaranteed under the Illinois constitution.” Officers who fail to intervene on behalf of citizens...

Changes in Sentencing Laws in Illinois’ Criminal Justice Reform Bill

posted on 5/6/21

A family man who owns a restaurant in Schaumburg is facing serious criminal charges. The evidence against him is extensive, and he is concerned that he will receive a guilty...

Defendants who are facing drug-related crimes in Illinois may be able to take advantage of recent changes in Illinois law. Illinois’ groundbreaking criminal justice reform law makes it easier for suspects to receive sentencing credit for probation, eases electronic monitoring restrictions, and makes it easier for those convicted with drug felonies to qualify for probation and alternative sentencing. Changes Regarding Time in Custody The new law makes it easier for the Department of Corrections to award suspects with a sentencing...

An Illinois businessman has been working long hours from his home office trying to keep his company afloat during these challenging economic times. His wife spends long days helping their kids through their Zoom schools schedules in addition to doing her own work. The stress has the spouses at each other’s throats all the time. They have never been more angry with each other or more miserable in their marriage. One night, after a particularly intense argument, the wife throws...

The wife of a former Chicago Bulls player decides that it is time to pull the plug on their marriage. During their marriage, she quit her job so she could support her husband’s all-consuming NBA career. She took care of their home and their three children while he traveled to and from games. During her marriage she enjoyed an affluent lifestyle, and she is concerned that she and her children will not be able to maintain their lifestyle if she...

A young couple is watching a movie in their apartment when police officers burst through the door. Thinking that a home invader was breaking in, the boyfriend got his gun and fired what he considered to be a warning shot. The shot hit one of the police officers, injuring him. Police officers then opened fire into the apartment, fatally wounding the woman. The boyfriend claims that he never heard an announcement that the police were entering his apartment. The raid...