Chicago Criminal Lawyer

If you have been arrested and accused of a crime in Illinois, I invite you to stop long enough to read this page. It should only take about five minutes. I have designed this website to help you make an organized and intelligent decision.

Most people facing criminal accusations want to accomplish three goals:

• Avoid Jail,
• Avoid a Conviction, and
• Avoid Pleading Guilty.

Since 2005, I have helped good people who find themselves on the wrong side of the law accomplish these goals. Whether it is negotiating a dismissal for a client accused of soliciting a prostitute, getting drug charges dismissed early using your Constitutional rights, or obtaining a “not guilty” after trial for a client accused of domestic battery, I tell you from first-hand experience that your life can go back to normal. To learn more about me, please take a moment to read my attorney profile page.

The Darkest Hour is Just before Dawn

The beginning of a criminal accusation is often the most stressful part of the case. In addition to being forcibly arrested and maybe abused by police, much of the evidence seems to be in the other side’s favor. After all, if the case was weak, the government could decline to bring charges in the first place.

Often, however, weaknesses lurk beneath the surface. Aggressive investigation combined with thorough legal research finds these weaknesses. Once uncovered, they can improve your position and help you negotiate a fair settlement with prosecutors, file a motion to dismiss charges, or beat the case at a trial. Tracking down a video of the incident before it is destroyed, finding any convictions in your accuser’s background, and researching the latest law, are ways of maximizing your chances of saving time, money, and heartache by seizing the early initiative. As the author of the “Getting the Early Advantage” chapter of Thomson Reuter’s “Inside the Minds: Defense Strategies” textbook, I focus on aggressive representation during the early stages of a criminal prosecution as the best way to obtain the most favorable outcome later in the case.

For more on the importance of early investigation and thorough legal research in protecting your rights, please read my pages on the importance of aggressive and early investigation and using motions to get your case dismissed.

Do I Have Any Settlement Options?

I recognize that your goal is to protect your record and get your case dismissed with as little cost, time, effort and risk as possible. Next to prompt investigation, negotiating a fair settlement that protects your record is one of the most important services a Chicago criminal lawyer can provide his client. For example, those charged with misdemeanors such as soliciting a prostitute, prostitution, retail theft, or simple battery, and even some charged with felonies, often qualify for diversionary programs involving counseling, community service, or continuing education. If successfully completed, your case is dismissed with no jail time, no conviction and no guilty plea. Entry into these programs is discretionary and you may be barred entry based on the nature of the incident and arrest, the county you are in, other arrests in your background, the strengths and weaknesses of your case, and the attitude of the judge or prosecutor in the courtroom on that day.

For more on using settlement options to protect your record, please read my page on avoiding a criminal conviction in Cook County and Illinois.

Call for a Free Confidential Consultation

While I hope this page has answered some of your questions, the only way to get precise answers tailored to the unique facts of your case is a conversation with an expert. I have helped hundreds facing felony and misdemeanor accusations either defeat the charges or at least control the damage they can cause. If there is a way to beat your case, I will find it. If there is a way to settle your case quickly while keeping your record clean, I will find it. On the way, your phone calls and email will be answered promptly and you will have direct access to me personally.

For a free confidential consultation, call me at 312.789.8050 or contact me online. A lawyer is available 24 hours a day every day of the year.

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If you have not yet been arrested, read my article on what you should know if you are ever arrested, pulled over, or questioned by police.