Forensics teams within Illinois police departments gather evidence that supports a criminal conviction. Forensic investigators gather physical evidence at the scene of the crime such as fluid, blood, residue, fingerprints, and electronic devices. Prosecutors interpret the forensic evidence gathered by investigators to bring criminal charges against a suspect. Forensic investigation has become essential to securing criminal convictions, especially in murder trials. The Illinois State Police Labs is facing a severe backlog that is negatively affecting the ability of prosecutors to...

The movement toward progressive prosecution is growing in the Chicagoland area. Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is one of a growing number of prosecutors who embrace a progressive approach. Foxx’s 2016 campaign centered around the issue of dropping incarceration rates. She promised voters that she would attempt to reform Chicago’s criminal justice system. Specifically, she has attempted to push prosecutors to seek alternatives to incarceration. Progressive prosecutors are in the minority. Nonetheless, recent data suggests that progressive prosecution may...

Illinois fathers fighting for custody of their children face a long history bias. Historically, family court judges have assumed that mothers should be the primary caregivers to children. Illinois fathers have the right to create a strong bond with their children. Family court judges should not assume that mothers should necessarily act as primary caregivers based on their gender. If you are a father fighting for custody of your children or you would like an increased amount of visitation time,...

The increase in mass shootings across the United States has spurred a national conversation about the regulation of legal gun ownership. In what is widely perceived to be an anti-gun state, more than one out of every four citizens in Illinois are legal gun owners. All legal gun owners in Illinois are required to be licensed by the State before they can legally own or purchase firearms. In Illinois, every single legal gun owner in the state has his or...

The Illinois legislature recently passed a new law requiring a parent or advocate to be present when school officials questions a student. Illinois legislature passed the law two years after a 16-year-old Naperville North High School student committed suicide after school officials interrogated him about a possible crime. Illinois students now how added protection when school officials question them about potential criminal activities. Did a school employee question your child without a parent present about a potentially criminal action? If...

Imagine going through a long and arduous divorce. When the dust settles, you will have a divorce agreement as well as an Illinois parenting agreement. You are glad that you are finally able to move on with your life and establish a "new normal" for yourself and your children. You are surprised to find that your ex-spouse is now requesting a modification to your parenting agreement. Your ex-spouse is arguing that you are not able to properly care for your...

You and your partner have been married for ten years, but lately you are beginning to feel that divorce is inevitable. In truth, you have seen the divorce coming for some time, but you still have concerns about what the future will hold. What will your life look like when you are no longer married? Because you have been a stay-at-home parent during your marriage, you are worried about your career prospects and wonder if you will be able to...

If you are a parent going through a divorce, you may be wondering how Illinois’ child support laws work and how your child may be affected. Perhaps you have been a stay-at-home parent before your divorce. You might be worried about financially providing for your child as a single, working parent after your divorce is finalized. In Illinois, child support refers to periodic or ongoing payments that one parent makes to the other parent. Child support payments are intended to...

Was your divorce recently finalized in Illinois? You may feel relief that the long, arduous divorce process is over. Unfortunately, even after your divorce is finalized, legal issues may arise that need to be addressed. When your situation or the situation of your ex-spouse changes or when your ex-spouse fails to comply with the terms of the divorce decree, a post-decree hearing may be in order. At Glasgow & Olsson, our experienced Cook County divorce litigation attorneys effectively represent our...

An Illinois employee smokes a joint of marijuana two hours before heading in for his night shift where he operates heavy machinery. He thinks that he is not stoned when starting his shift, yet he causes a small accident that damages some expensive equipment and puts himself and other workers in danger. Can his employers fire him for his use of marijuana? These are questions Illinois employers are facing now that the recreational use of marijuana is legal in Illinois....

Will Illinois college students be able to enjoy smoking a joint or consuming cannabis in foods once the recreational use of cannabis is legal? The answer will depend on whether Illinois colleges and universities are afraid of losing their federal funding for violating federal laws regarding marijuana. Illinois universities and colleges may prohibit marijuana use on their campuses to comply with federal regulations. Marijuana Use on College Campuses and its Effect on Federal Funding The Controlled Substances Act and the...

Illinois drivers will face harsher penalties for texting while driving. Illinois House Bill 4846 took effect on July 1. The new law categorizes driving while operating a mobile device as a "moving violation." Moving violation convictions show up on driving records; drivers who receive three violations within a year will face license suspension. The fine for a first-time moving violation is $75, but the charges increase with the number of offenses committed. Illinois' stricter distracted driving law will undoubtedly affect...

In December 2014, Illinois passed the Illinois Eavesdropping Act. Under the new law, citizens can record police activity without the permission of the police officers involved. However, if one of the persons subject to the recording has a "reasonable expectation of privacy," the person recording must obtain consent from all persons in the recording. Violating this law results in a felony charge. Issues surrounding the new eavesdropping law have received local and national news coverage. The Illinois Eavesdropping Law is...

Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx have been locked in conflict all summer. The FOP claim that Kim Foxx is “not working with the police but against them.” Kim Foxx claims that the FOP is stirring up division. The FOP Contend that Kim Foxx’s Decisions Have Resulted in Increased Chicago Violence Cook County FOP Board President Toni Preckwinkle recently wrote an angry letter to Chicago's Mayor Lightfoot. In the letter, she claims that...

12 years ago, a 17-year-old Illinois man received a class three felony conviction for marijuana possession. He served several months in jail. The drug possession conviction took a considerable toll on his life. Because of his criminal record as a felon, landlords denied his housing applications, he lost job opportunities, and he could not secure student loans. This man told reporters that he cried when he found out the Illinois legislature voted to legalize recreational marijuana and expunge marijuana-related criminal...