Domestic battery is considered a serious offense in Illinois. This is due, in part, to the awareness and movements associated with domestic violence prevention. What do you do, though, when the allegations against you are completely false? Are you even at risk if you are truly innocent? It may seem that the obvious answer is no, you are not at risk if you have not done anything wrong. Yet this is not always the case.
Disputing allegations of domestic battery can be incredibly stressful. Our Arlington Heights, IL criminal defense lawyer has successfully defended clients accused of violent crimes.
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Scott F. Anderson Blogs
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Facing Sexual Assault Charges in Illinois? Here is What You Need to Know
While almost any criminal charge can have a serious and negative impact on your life and future, those that arise from sexual assault allegations can be especially devastating. In addition to having your job, freedom, and finances on the line, your reputation – and where you fit into your community – could be jeopardized. Moving will not fix anything either, since a conviction for one of these crimes will follow you wherever you go. If you are facing a sexual assault charge, you should understand what is at stake and what you can do to lessen the negative consequences of
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Can You Be Charged With a Sex Crime Without Physical Evidence?
Accusations of sex crimes can be incredibly difficult to resolve in a legal setting. Often, the court has to make a decision based on competing testimony from the accuser and accused. In Illinois, you should know that you can be charged with a sex crime even without physical evidence. However, being charged doesn’t mean that you are guilty of that offense. A Rolling Meadows, IL criminal defense attorney can review your case and determine the best course of action.
With over 25 years of criminal law experience from both sides of the courtroom, Scott F. Anderson, Attorney at Law can
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Can I Get a DUI After I Get Home?
Suppose you finally make it home after a night out with friends, shut the door, and breathe a sigh of relief as you assume you are in the clear. Then you hear a knock at your door, and an officer is standing outside asking about whether you were driving earlier. Most of us assume that a DUI can only happen while you are actually driving, during a roadside stop or at a DUI checkpoint. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Illinois law allows DUI charges even after you have arrived at your home, parked your car by the side
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Defending a Drug Crime Conspiracy Charge in Illinois
When you are accused of participating in a drug conspiracy in Illinois, you face one of the most complex and serious categories of criminal charges under state law. These cases often involve multiple defendants. Investigations are often long and rely on surveillance, wiretaps, or informants. A single conversation or text message can lead to a conspiracy indictment, even if you never sold or possessed illegal drugs.
As of 2025, Illinois law still treats conspiracy charges under 720 ILCS 5/8-2, but the courts have refined how prosecutors must prove a case. For anyone charged in Cook County or the
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When Do You Have to Register as a Sex Offender in Illinois?
Being accused or convicted of a sex crime in Illinois will change your life immediately. One of the biggest consequences is sex offender registration. Having to register as a sex offender means you must give law enforcement your information, report regularly, and follow rules about where you live and work. Understanding when registration is required is very important. Breaking the rules can mean serious legal consequences, including further criminal convictions and jail time.
If you are in Illinois and are facing sex crime charges, you need help right away. Our Rolling Meadows sex crimes defense attorney has over 25 years
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Am I Going to Go to Jail?
Getting arrested or charged with a crime is overwhelming, especially if this is your first time in serious trouble. You may be asking yourself the same question over and over: “Am I going to go to jail?” The truth is that the answer depends on many factors, such as what crime you are charged with, your past record, and how good your Rolling Meadows criminal defense attorney is.
First, you need to have a basic understanding of how the Illinois criminal system works. Knowing the fundamentals about crimes, bail, plea deals, and alternatives to jail can help you take the
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Can the Police Search My Phone Without a Warrant in Illinois?
When police seize a phone during an arrest or investigation, the first question most people ask is whether officers can legally go through its contents. Smartphones contain everything from personal photos and banking apps to private messages and location data. For many, they hold extremely personal information.
If you live in Illinois, you should know that state law, federal constitutional protections, and evolving case law all limit when and how law enforcement can legally search your phone. As of September 2025, the law is clear: In most cases, the police need a search warrant to look through the contents of
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How Do Police Prove Something is Drug Paraphernalia?
Being arrested for drug-related charges is intimidating enough, but sometimes the situation feels even more intense and unfair when the police seize everyday objects and claim they are “drug paraphernalia.” Under Illinois law, paraphernalia charges can carry serious consequences, even if drugs are not present.
But how do police take a simple, everyday item like a plastic baggie or a spoon and claim it is involved in drugs? Can you not simply claim that those things are totally unrelated, and you happened to have them lying around the house? Knowing how police try to prove an item is paraphernalia, and
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What’s the Difference Between a Felony and a Misdemeanor in Illinois?
The word “criminal” can feel like a brand, a permanent stamp that separates the accused from everyone else. But not all criminal charges carry the same weight. Some are serious enough to destroy careers, families, and futures. Others, while still consequential, may offer a path forward without lifelong consequences.
In Illinois, the criminal justice system separates crimes into two main categories: felonies and misdemeanors. If you or someone you love is facing charges for either of these types of crimes, understanding the difference could shape everything that comes next. Whatever level of charges you may be facing, our Rolling
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Most Common Charges for Sex Crimes Against Children
Crimes against children are some of the most serious offenses in Illinois. Prosecutors pursue these cases aggressively, often to make examples out of the accused, and convictions lead to long prison sentences, lifetime registration as a sex offender, and extremely serious personal and professional consequences.
If you are facing allegations of a sex crime against a child, you need to know what you are up against. Even false accusations can lead to arrests, damaged reputations, and intrusive investigations. The sooner you get an Arlington Heights, IL criminal defense attorney for sex crimes involving minors on your side, the more likely
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Parked But Prosecuted: Can You Get a DUI Without Driving?
Most of us associate DUI charges with behaviors like swerving across lanes and then failing a breathalyzer after being pulled over. In the state of Illinois, you can face DUI charges even if you were not actually driving. Simply sitting or sleeping in your parked vehicle while you are under the influence can result in serious legal consequences.
So, finding out that you are being arrested for DUI can feel very unfair. If you have been charged with DUI as a result of being in a parked car, it is a good idea to speak to an experienced Arlington Heights,
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What to Expect at Your First Illinois DUI Court Appearance
If you have been arrested for DUI, you are likely full of anxiety and uncertainty regarding your future. Part of this stems from the fact that those who have never been in trouble with the law before have no prior experience with the judicial system. Not knowing what is going to happen can be very stressful.
It may be helpful to read through Illinois DUI laws, which are found under Statute 625 ILCS 5/11-501. While it may not make a difference in the outcome, the more prepared you are, the easier your first DUI court appearance (arraignment) will
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Are Automatic License Plate Readers Unconstitutional?
The Illinois legislature passed a bill this year that would rewrite the definition of “forcible felony” so that state police can use images from automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) to further apprehension and prosecution of human traffickers. When a license plate number from an ALPR matches one of those in the multi-agency databases, the Illinois State Police are alerted.
Currently, the law allows the use of ALPRs for the investigation of cases that involve vehicular hijacking, terrorism, motor vehicle theft, or any forcible felony (treason, first and second-degree murder, sexual assault, kidnapping, arson, robbery, burglary, and aggravated battery resulting in
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Could You Be Eligible for an Illinois DUI Diversion Program?
Facing DUI charges in Illinois can feel overwhelming. Because there are serious potential consequences of a DUI conviction, you may not know what you need to do to protect yourself and your future. You may fear losing your job and your livelihood, being unable to drive due to a suspended driver’s license, the financial cost, and the public stigma that often accompanies a DUI conviction.
If you are a first-time DUI offender, there may be a bit of good news. The state of Illinois, like many states, has alternative diversion programs for first-time DUI offenders. Diversion programs focus on rehabilitation
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Is Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm a Felony?
A Chicago man was recently charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm and trespassing. The man allegedly entered a restricted underground CTA area near a Red Line Station, then took out a gun and fired shots upward through a grate at people walking on the sidewalk. While no one was injured when the shots were fired, the 24-year-old now faces serious charges, with serious penalties if convicted.
If you are facing a weapons charge like aggravated discharge of a firearm, you must take these charges very seriously. Weapons charges are aggressively prosecuted in the state and have severe penalties.
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