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Illinois’ Second Chance Probation Allows For New Beginnings
The New Year brings second chances. It is a perfect time to discuss Illinois’ Second Chance Probation, the sentencing opportunity statute that went into effect a year ago. The statute, which can be found at 730 ILCS 5/5-6-3.4 allows certain persons who have not previously been convicted of felony offenses and previously afforded specified diversionary […]
Federal report issued regarding education resources for juveniles in custody
When I was Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, I worked on prisoner re-entry issues for the State of Illinois. One of the things that I discovered then, and know now as private defense counsel, was that resources in detention and prison towards education can make a difference when a young person […]
Retail Theft Under Illinois Law
With the retail “sale” season upon us, stores are more vigilant in apprehending persons for the offense of retail theft. As previously posted in this blog (/blog/consequences-of-inadvertently-failing-to-pay-for-groceries), a person commits the offense of retail theft under Illinois law “when he or she knowingly… takes possession of, carries away, transfers or causes to be carried away […]
New United States Department of Justice Report on Crimes Against the Elderly
Recently, the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the US Department of Justice released a report “Crimes Against the Elderly, 2003-2013.” https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cae0313.pdf Some of the findings, which are based on data from the National Crime Victimization Survey, data from the Center for Disease Control and US Census Bureau are surprising. The report defined the elderly as […]
Pursuing a DCFS administrative appeal
Following an investigation of abuse or neglect of a child, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) may determine that the subject of the investigation has committed those acts. This finding may be occur even if criminal charges are not lodged against the alleged perpetrator and even if the family is not referred […]
Assistance for students facing university disciplinary hearings
As a criminal defense attorney, I have been called upon to advise students facing disciplinary bodies within their university or college. Recently, due, in part, to the United States Department of Education investigating a number of colleges for violation of Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-releases-list-higher-education-institutions-open-title-i, there has been a focus on complaints […]
Temporary Visitor Driver’s License
As previously stated in this blog, undocumented immigrants living in Illinois may now apply for a driver’s license under Illinois law, /blog/undocumented-illinois-residents-to-be-allowed-driving-privileges. Prior to the passage of 625 ILCS 5/6-105.1, non-United States citizens without a valid visa could be subject to arrest for driving without a valid license. Per the Illinois Secretary of State’s website, […]
United States Supreme Court rules a warrant necessary to secure cell phone data following an arrest
Today, the United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled that police officers must secure a warrant before searching a arrestee’s cell phone. The Court issued an opinion in Riley v. California,– U.S. –, (No 13-132) that states that protections afforded by the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution clearly apply to cell phones. The Court […]
Award
I am proud and humbled to announce that I will be receiving the Matthew Maloney Tradition of Excellence Award by the Illinois State Bar Association. I could not be more thrilled to be honored by this wonderful organization. Lori G. Levin Attorney at Law 180 N. LaSalle, Suite 3700 Chicago, IL 60601 [email protected] www.lorilevinlaw.com
Chicago Bar Association program on “Finding Your Practice Area”
Yesterday, it was my pleasure to participate in a Chicago Bar Association program on “Finding Your Practice Area.” As I have posted before, /2/post/2014/04/mentoring.html, both formal and informal mentoring is important for lawyers to become accomplished. After having been the recipient of so much good advice by informal mentors, it is my pleasure to “pay […]