Owning a firearm in the Prairie State requires navigating a series of legal steps to help ensure compliance with state regulations. One of the primary legal documents needed to own or possess a firearm in the state is the Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card....
If there is one civil right related to criminal charges that most people know, it is probably the right to remain silent. It is part of the Miranda warning, which many people can recite due to watching movies and TV shows with criminal justice storylines. Despite...
The Fourth Amendment protects individuals from unreasonable property searches and seizures. Illinois police officers need a legal justification to go through someone's home or vehicle. Sometimes, officers have probable cause to suspect a crime based on certain...
It’s clear that search warrants do not give police officers the ability to do whatever they want. There are many restrictions that both homeowners and officers need to be aware of, including different ways in which the scope of a search warrant can be limited. It’s...
Like many other states, Illinois has a drug court program. This is a legal system specifically set up for those who are accused of drug offenses. If you are facing these charges, or if you end up facing them in the future, it’s important to know how this works and why...
If the police have a warrant to search your home, they are legally allowed to enter the house. These warrants can have restrictions, such as saying what part of the house they can search, but the warrants also do give permission to override your consent. Often, the...
It is unfair to face a DUI charge when you weren’t driving dangerously or showed no real signs of intoxication. In your case, you may have been driving home when you blew a tire or a light went out, leading to an officer stopping or approaching you. If they decide to...
When federal investigators or local police officers show up at your home, you may not want to let them inside. If you don't voluntarily authorize a search, they may come back with a warrant signed by a judge. A search warrant gives police officers the legal right to...
When the police arrest you or decide to question you after your arrest, they will likely inform you of your Miranda Rights. Those rights include the right to remain silent and the right to legal representation. Too many people ignore their right to remain silent and...
Child access prevention laws protect minors from getting a hold of guns. These laws serve many purposes, but their primarily purpose is protecting young people from self-harming. One University of Indianapolis study found that having a firearm in the home increased...