Author Archives: lorilevin

Another ruling against the Illinois eavesdropping statute

I have frequently posted regarding Illinois’ stringent eavesdropping statute which criminalizes the videotaping of law enforcement officers exercising their duties. Today, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Stanley J. Sacks declared the statute to be unconstitutional. For more information, read the Chicago Sun-Times article at https://www.suntimes.com/11009784-417/judge-declares-state-eavesdropping-law-unconstitutional.html

By lorilevin | Published March 2, 2012 | Posted in Eavesdropping | Leave a comment

Another challenge to the Illinois eavesdropping statute

Previously, I have described Illinois’ strict eavesdropping statute which prohibits the videotaping of law enforcement performing official duties. An amendment to the statute has been proposed in the legislature and a downstate judge has declared the statute unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union has also challenged the statute in federal court but that suit has […]

By lorilevin | Published February 15, 2012 | Posted in Eavesdropping | Leave a comment

New national resource for girl offenders

Girls are increasingly becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. During my tenure as Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, members of the dedicated research staff explored the risk factors for girls interactions with juvenile justice officials. https://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/Examining%20at-risk%20and%20delinquent%20girls%20in%20Illinois.pdf Recognizing the need for special services for these girls, in 2010, the United States […]

By lorilevin | Published February 14, 2012 | Posted in Girl Offenders | Leave a comment

ReDeploy Illinois serves Illinois delinquent youth

When I was Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, I was proud to serve on the board of ReDeploy Illinois, a state initiative to treat juvenile offenders. ReDeploy Illinois attempts to serve juvenile offenders in their communities rather than committing them to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. A link to the […]

By lorilevin | Published February 13, 2012 | Posted in Juvenile Law, Redeploy Illinois | Leave a comment

ICJIA releases searchable database on Illinois criminal statutes

As the former Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, I am proud that my former agency has released a new searchable database for the Illinois’ criminal statutes. In the past, the Authority has not only constructed model databases for criminal justice purposes but has also conducted award-winning criminal justice research. The database […]

By lorilevin | Published February 3, 2012 | Posted in Criminal Law | Leave a comment

Legislation Introduced in Springfield Regarding Expungement of Emergency Orders of Protection Which Do Not Become Plenary Orders

Frequently, persons inquire whether an emergency civil order of protection may be expunged from the records of the Circuit Court. Currently, as such an order is a civil matter, there is no means to expunge such a case that is dismissed. Legislation that was introduced in the state legislature, if passed and signed as law, […]

By lorilevin | Published February 2, 2012 | Posted in Civil Emergency Orders Of Protection, Expungement | Leave a comment

Federal report on Youth in the Adult Criminal Justice System

Recently, the United States Department of Justice National Institute of Corrections published a report, “You’re An Adult Now. Youth in Adult Criminal Justice Systems,” which can be found at https://static.nicic.gov/Library/025555.pdf. When I was Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, I sat on the board of ReDeploy Illinois, the state’s policy team to […]

By lorilevin | Published January 27, 2012 | Posted in Youth Offenders In Adult System | Leave a comment

United States Supreme Court rules the installation of a GPS device is a search under the 4th Amendment

Today, the United States Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Jones, 565 U.S.__, (No. 10-1259) that law enforcement’s attachment of a global positioning system tracking device on an automobile and its use to monitor that car’s movements constitutes a search under the 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Court reiterated that the […]

By lorilevin | Published January 23, 2012 | Posted in Drug Offenses, Gps Devices, Search | Leave a comment

United States Supreme Court recent decision on eyewitness identification

The United States Supreme Court recently limited the ability for defendant’s to successfully challenge a suggestive or unreliable identification in Perry v. New Hampshire , ___ U.S._____, (Slip Opinion 10-8974), January 11, 2012. In an opinion written by Justice Ginsburg, the Court listed some of the guarantees of a fair trial, “the right to counsel, […]

By lorilevin | Published January 18, 2012 | Posted in Eyewitness Identification, Police | Leave a comment

Newspaper support for changing the Illinois eavesdropping statute

I have posted that Illinois’ eavesdropping statute makes it a felony to audio-tape police officers working in public. Legislation has been introduced to change the statute. Now, the legislation is garnering newspaper support in that the Chicago Sun-Times supports changes in the law. https://www.suntimes.com/opinions/9995701-474/editorial-time-to-allow-recordings-of-police-officers-at-work.html

By lorilevin | Published January 16, 2012 | Posted in Eavesdropping, Police | Leave a comment

Testimonials
- “Having a lawyer can really be a double-edged sword – chances are, the circumstances requiring you to retain a lawyer aren’t awesome. But when you have to, it’s really helpful to have someone compassionate, competent, and successful. I was so happy to have Lori return my call when I needed someone to represent my interests. I got lucky – she couldn’t have been more professional and capable, but at the same time I felt like she was instantly…almost family? If that makes sense. Bottom line: I won, and if I hadn’t had Lori, I shudder to think what may have been. I’m not made of money, certainly, but I feel like I got a great value from Lori even though I never bothered to check what it all cost me. That’s the best customer experience you could have – make them never question how they are spending their money because the results are so good. Well, I never felt like I had to look into it – whatever it cost, I got more out of the deal than she did. Highly recommended. Should I ever need a lawyer in this space again, I will only make one call.” D.C.
- “I got a call in Key West, while my husband and I were on vacation, about my youngest child, 29-years old, living in Chicago. We knew she was struggling with mental illness, but she had always refused to get treatment. “This child had a psychotic break and needed help desperately. We got a call from her landlords. The call we had been expecting, and we knew we needed good professional legal help for both her and us. We live in Charlottte NC. My husband called the Chicago Bar and asked for a lawyer with expertise dealing with individuals with mental health issues. Or their families. They gave us Lori’s name and she answered herself on the first ring. “Lori was a voice in a wilderness, and for almost a year continued to guide us with emotional support, superb legal advice and everything in between. She was always clear about her financial charges. And we always thought she was reasonable. We got very good advice. And she seems almost to know everyone in her field in the Chicago area. “I cannot recommend Lori Levin highly enough. She is thoroughly professional. She was not afraid to coach me and remind me what our goal was. But she was also kind and sensitive to the situation with my loved daughter, as difficult as it was. My husband and I cannot possibly recommend Lori enough.” J.V
- “I utilized Lori when a friend of mine needed a legal advocate on his side to represent his best interests. Lori responded quickly and immediately interjected herself into the defense of a vulnerable person undergoing life challenges. Lori kept within her budget, didn’t make promises that she couldn’t keep and explained the choices and probably outcomes clearly and concisely. If the need arose, I would reach out to Lori as a lifeline any time.” D.Z.
- “I contacted Lori when I had a dispute after a long Christmas party. It was my first brush with the criminal justice system. Lori clearly explained the process to me, charged a reasonable fee, and did an excellent job every step of the way. We faced some obstacles with the first judge and Lori was able to change the venue and persuade the prosecutor to agree to a minor charge. Lori also successfully expunged the minor charge as soon as it was eligible. This was incredibly important to me and Lori kept in contact throughout. She was highly professional, a great listener, and extremely skilled and experienced. Lori turned an awful experience, one of my life’s worst, into a manageable series of steps that ended very successfully. I give her the highest recommendations.” S.D.
- “Lori … was more than an exceptional person … Being able to be accompanied by such an individual was a blessing in disguise, she was easy going, caring and understanding. But what made her stand out above all others is she had heart and cared for people who really needed saving. Once again thanking you for your generosity, professionalism and determination. You are highly appreciated. You have helped change a life for the better :) ” F.N.
- “Lori Levin is an exceptional attorney. She helped my husband and I will our guardianship case for my husbands daughter and I honestly don’t know what we would of done without her knowledge and expertise in the court system. Ms. Levin listens to her clients and provides them with the best plan of action for their case. I would recommend her to anyone that is looking for a good, knowledgeable and fair attorney.” L.H.
- “Lori was a wonderful asset to my family in a legal matter. Her expertise on the issue was extensive and she handled herself with the utmost professionalism at all times. Lori is a top notch legal adviser. Her clients are always in good hands and lucky to have her in their corner just like we were lucky to have her in ours. Lori Levin gets the job done!!!” T.T.
- “Lori, You are a dear soul. Great to know that the justice system works and there are angels like you…Thank you for giving me something that money cannot provide and that is my good name back.” E.A.
- “Well worth the call & money. Lori was a great attorney & friend. She was very professional in handling my case. She did what most thought was impossible. I would recommend her to anyone.” O.C.J.
- “Lori Levin is responsive, knowledgeable and experienced in her field. She develops a good rapport with her client. She kept him informed as to how the case was proceeding. I appreciated her extreme honesty, trustworthiness and effectiveness. I appreciated her professionalism during the entire case and confidence in her ability to fight hard to get a Victory. She was a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend her.” J.H.
- “My experience with Attorney Levin was the best. I contacted Attorney Levin on short notice and she took the time and spoke with me over the phone about my case. She was very nice, supportive and professional. I would recommend her to everyone that needs legal assistance. If you come across her name and need legal assistance make sure you give her a call. Attorney Levin is great!” S.N.
- “Lori’s knowledge and assistance with a friend’s case helped provide the best possible outcome for him. Her in-depth knowledge of the legal timeline helped put us at ease each time there was a delay. She also went out of her way to investigate the details of the charges and she was very understanding of my friend’s preferences, leading us to a positive outcome.” A. L.
- “I contacted Lori to help me with some minor infractions and legal assistance with expunging my record. This was my first run in with the law, and Lori was very professional and helped me understand the legal process every step of the way. While we ended facing few obstacles, I am confident that Lori would have pulled every legal maneuver to help clear my name had things been more dire. Lori was candid about the possible outcomes and penalties that I could face; she did not sugar coat anything. That being said, she also gave me her opinion on matters, the most likely outcomes, and informed me of the steps that we would take for each instance. She understands the legal process inside and out, and clearly is well liked in the court system, which I suppose never hurts. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with her services and would recommend her to any friend in a similar situation.” D.K.
Practice Areas
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  Phone: 312-767-2356
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Author Archives: lorilevin

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