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Recent Blog Posts
Small-Scale Study Finds Medical Marijuana Program Reducing Opioid Prescriptions
When the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program finally got underway in late 2015, Illinois lawmakers hoped that legalizing marijuana for those with approved medical conditions would have positive results. The main goal of the program was to help such patients alleviate pain and to deal with chronic health problems while reducing the need for highly-addictive opioid prescriptions. A new peer-reviewed study suggests that the pilot program seems to be working.
Limited Study Participants
The limited-scale survey was conducted by researchers at DePaul University and Rush University and included responses from 30 patients currently registered for the Illinois medical marijuana program. The project, while small, is the first peer-reviewed, published study regarding medical marijuana use in Illinois specifically. The study’s authors acknowledge that the survey was not large enough to extrapolate percentages or quantified conclusions, the response received did provide anecdotal support for other studies that suggest medical cannabis may help reduce the use of opioids.
What New Drivers Need to Know About Traffic Stops
Most adults can remember the feeling of independence that accompanied getting their driver’s license for the first time. On the other hand, most can also remember the nearly overwhelming fear that took over when they were pulled over by police for the first time. Getting stopped for a suspected traffic violation is intimidating for many drivers, including those who have been driving for decades. Younger drivers, however, often experience even more stress when they are pulled over, leading to confusing and potentially dangerous situations. Fortunately, lawmakers in Illinois have taken steps to prepare young drivers on how to handle being stopped by the police.
Helping Young Drivers Learn
Around this time last year, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed a bipartisan measure that requires all driver’s education classes in the state to include a section on how to behave during a traffic stop. The bill’s timing coincided with a number of horrific, headline-making examples of traffic stops that escalated and spiraled out of control—some of them resulting in tragedy. The new law went into effect on January 1, 2017, and affects driver’s education classes at public schools, private schools, and private training programs.
Can You Fool a Breathalyzer?
Every one of us has experienced fear in a particular situation—especially when the police are involved. In fact, the fear that arises when one is being pulled over is extremely common, and police officers are trained on how to handle a person’s fears. Of course, if you have been drinking and you are pulled over, your fear is likely to be even greater. Fear can lead to impulsive and irrational decisions, including attempting to trick or fool a breathalyzer test. Regardless of what you may have heard, such tricks rarely work and may lead to even bigger problems for you.
Two Rounds of Breathalyzers
It is important to understand that there two different types of breathalyzer tests typically administered during a stop for suspected driving under the influence (DUI). The first is a preliminary test, which provides a basis on which the officer will conduct the rest of the stop. Preliminary blood-alcohol content (BAC) testing is not admissible in court and officers may administer preliminary tests in a fairly casual manner. It is during the preliminary tests that those inclined to try to manipulate the test results are likely to do so.
The Importance of Miranda Rights
Crime-related procedural television dramas often share many similarities. Among them is a scene in virtually every episode where a suspect is placed under arrest and taken into police custody. As the officer begins to put the handcuffs on, he or she usually starts to recite a few lines, beginning with, "You have the right to remain silent." Thanks to such depictions, most Americans are aware that these statements—called Miranda warnings—are an important part of the criminal justice process. A much smaller percentage of people, however, understand what the warnings actually mean and when they apply.
Miranda Rights vs. Miranda Warnings
There are two primary components of the Miranda warnings—the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Both of these elements have their basis in the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees a criminal suspect rights regarding self-incrimination. The Sixth Amendment also guarantees the right to an attorney, but the warnings are focused on confessions and self-incrimination.
The Zero Tolerance Law in Illinois
According to the Illinois State Police, approximately forty percent of Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives. Underage drunk driving accidents account for a large portion of these auto accidents. The need for a proactive approach to underage drunk driving is an ongoing problem.
Legal Consequences of Drinking and Driving Underage
Illinois maintains a "Zero Tolerance" law for drivers who are underage (under the age of 21). This means that a driver who is not above 21 years old who is caught driving with any trace of alcohol in their system can be charged with driving under the influence. Underage drivers do not need to be impaired in order to be charged with a DUI. Put another way, young people who drink and drive do not need to have a blood alcohol level of .08% or above in order to break the law. Legal consequences of a conviction for drinking and driving while underage include loss of diving privileges for a minimum of 2 years, a fine of up to $2500 and possible imprisonment for up to a year for the first conviction. A second underage DUI conviction will result in 48 hours mandatory jail time or 10 days of community service, the loss of driving privileges for a minimum of 3 years, and possible imprisonment for up to a year. A third underage DUI conviction is a class 4 felony. Those convicted face a fine of up to $25,000, a maximum of 3 years of prison time, and the loss of driving privileges for 6 years or more.
Fake IDs Can Have Very Real Consequences
A quick Google search for "fake IDs" returns over a million results. Many of the top search results are websites touting their business of manufacturing and distributing fake driver’s licenses and identification cards. The websites claim that their IDs "even fool experts!" and "pass blacklight tests!" With school is starting for most colleges, many young people will be tempted by the appeal of purchasing a fake ID. Students under the legal drinking age may be drawn by the possibility of being able to buy alcohol or to get into bars and nightclubs that are 21 and over. It may seem easy to get away with using a fake ID, but the reality is that obtaining or using a fake ID is a crime that can have very serious consequences.
Consequences of Buying or Using a Fake ID
The state of Illinois takes fake IDs very seriously. It is illegal to obtain, distribute, use or even possess a fraudulent state ID card or driver’s license, as well as to help anyone else do the same. The state has the authority to suspend or even revoke a person’s driving privileges if they are caught possessing another person’s license or state ID card. This can happen without a conviction.
The Consequences of Theft in Illinois
Finding desired merchandise at your favorite store can be very easy, and it may be tempting to take it without paying. However, if you do not pay for a product, or if you take property that is not yours, there may be consequences that you have to face, as theft is not taken lightly by criminal courts in Illinois
What Is Theft?
Theft is defined as the act of a person illegally taking another person's property or services without permission or consent. A person may deliberately obtain unauthorized control over the owner’s property by deception or threat. Theft can also be defined as the act of a person taking control over property that was previously stolen, with that person already having the knowledge of the stolen property.
The Consequences of Theft
There are several consequences when a person gets caught stealing property, depending on the severity of the crime, with the charges applying to the State of Illinois.
The Basics of White Collar Crime
Nearly everyone has at least heard the term "white collar crime" before, but not everyone understands what it means. There are a wide variety of criminal activities that fall into the category of white collar crime, and they generally involve the theft of data and financial assets to be used for personal gain by the perpetrator. In many cases, the criminal does not even come into contact with their victim, and many victims of white collar crime are unaware of the crime until much later. White collar crime is very serious, and anyone facing charges related to a white collar crime should seek the help of a qualified criminal defense attorney.
Common White Collar Crimes
There are a variety of different offenses that fall under the umbrella of white collar crime. These types of crimes often occur in business or professional settings; hence the term "white collar" as a reference to dress shirts common in such environments. Crimes that are commonly considered white collar include:
Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, Part 3: The One-Leg Stand
Over the last couple of weeks, posts on this blog have talked a little about the battery of standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs) recognized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These three tests are commonly used by police officers during traffic stops to help determine whether a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs. If you have been arrested on drunk driving charges, you should seek help from a skilled defense attorney immediately.
Two Types, Three Tests
There are three tests that comprise the SFSTs: the horizontal gaze nystagmus, the walk-and-turn, and the one-leg stand. The first test—the horizontal gaze nystagmus—is an observation of involuntary eye movements while the subject follows a pen or flashlight with his or her eyes. The other two tests are both considered "divided attention" tests, because they test the subject’s ability to hear and follow instructions while performing simple tasks. The rationale behind these tests is that a sober person, for the most part, would have little trouble completing them, while an impaired person is much more likely to struggle.
Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, Part 2: The Walk-and-Turn
For most people, walking several steps in a straight line then turning around and walking back is about as simple an action as there is. Doing so, of course, may be considerably more difficult for those who have been drinking. That is why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recognized the "Walk-and-Turn" as one of the three assessments that comprise the standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs) used by law enforcement nationwide.
In a recent post on this blog, we talked about the first test of the series—the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN). The walk-and-turn is the second test, and the third is the one-leg stand, which will be covered in the near future. Each test was selected to allow officers on the scene to observe a subject’s reflexes and involuntary responses, giving the officer the basis on which to suspect whether a driver is impaired.
Test 2: The Walk-and-Turn
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