Wheaton Family And Criminal Law Blog

If you've been charged with a crime in Illinois, the odds are high that your case will never go to trial. While it varies a little from state to state, 97 percent of federal convictions happen through plea deals. So do 94 percent of convictions for felonies at the state level.

Unfortunately, not all of those people who plead guilty are guilty. Since the system records them as guilty, there's no way to tell for sure how many innocent people take a plea bargain instead of taking their chances at trial. However, it's believed to be a considerable number. Seventy percent of the people in your local jail are there because they can't afford bail. They can't even afford what it would cost to get a bail bondsman to put up the rest of their bail for them.

If you are charged with a crime in Illinois, the best thing you can do for yourself is defend your rights. You don't want to end up with a bias against you in court, and you shouldn't have to worry about unfair treatment.

Whenever you're charged with a crime, you have a right to speak with your attorney. Your attorney's job is to protect and educate you. Your attorney can help guide you through the steps of a criminal case and will do all they can to make sure you don't face unfair charges or penalties.

After an arrest, many people wait to learn whether the court will allow for their releases on bail or bond. In numerous cases, parties may not have the ability to meet cash bail amounts, and as a result, they spend a considerable time in pretrial detention. Commonly, individuals who pose no threat to the community or who are innocent of the alleged crime will still spend time behind bars.

Fortunately, for you as an Illinois resident, you may not have to contend with this type of situation. The governor signed the Bail Reform Act into law last year, and it took effect at the beginning of this year. Now, in the event that you face arrest, you may have a lessor likelihood of remaining in pretrial detention if you cannot meet bail.

If you are addicted to drugs, it doesn't necessarily mean that you're out to harm other people. You may only want to do what you can to help yourself avoid withdrawal. If you have nowhere to turn, then it's the only lifestyle you know how to rely on.

This is something that courts are beginning to take into consideration. People who are addicted to drugs are not only harming others but also themselves. With assistance, it's possible to reduce the likelihood of further violations while also helping the individual get their life back.