Useful Resources
- What should I do if I am arrested or asked questions by the police?
- What is the difference between a Felony and a Misdemeanor in Illinois?
- Do it yourself expungement and destruction of arrest records
- Courthouse locations
- ISBA Free Legal Guide
- Laws Protecting Military Personnel
- Disaster Legal Services Manual
What should I do if I am arrested or asked questions by the police?
Because the strongest defense begins before you are arrested, I offer protection from police investigations through "pre-file" representation. People who choose to handle phone calls and questions from the police on their own are in many cases unknowingly providing police with the strongest evidence against them: their own words. Clients who invest a relatively small amount of resources for pre-file representation save themselves an enormous amount of time and money because I am often able to prevent charges from being filed at all.
If you find yourself in a situation where your attorney is not present, you should always ask that he be present before you make any statements. Below you will find a simple, easy to use and remember approach to dealing with police. Memorize it, or contact the Law Office of Chris M. Shepherd for a free wallet size "Rights Card":
My lawyer has told me not to talk to anyone about my case, to not answer questions, and to not reply to accusations. Call my lawyer if you want to ask me questions, search me or my property, do any tests, do any lineups, or any other I.D. procedures. I do not agree to any of these things without my lawyer present and I do not want to waive any of my constitutional rights.
No matter what police say or promise you, it is almost never a good idea for someone under investigation to speak with law enforcement. A witness can very quickly become a suspect based on their statements and an innocent person's words can be twisted to incriminate him. In fact, according to a recent study, "The Substance of False Confessions" by Brandon L. Garrett, out of two hundred and fifty (250) convicts exonerated by DNA evidence, forty (40) falsely confessed to rapes and murders.
For more on how to protect yourself when under arrest or threat of arrest, please read my blog post Your Sacred Constitutional Right to Refuse to Answer Questions Asked by Illinois or Federal Law Enforcement.
What is the difference between a Felony and a Misdemeanor in Illinois?
A misdemeanor is an offense punishable by less than a year in prison, while a felony is punishable by more than a year in prison. Misdemeanors and felonies are divided into classes:
There are 5 classes of Felony in Illinois:
Class X Felony
- Between 6 and 30 years in Prison; and/or
- Fine of up to $25,000
Class 1 Felony
- Between 4 and 15 years in State Penitentiary; and/or
- Fine of up to $25,000
Class 2 Felony
- Between 3 and 7 years in State Penitentiary; and/or
- Fine of up to $25,000
Class 3 Felony
- Between 2 and 5 years in State Penitentiary; and/or
- Fine of up to $25,000
Class 4 Felony
- Between 1 and 3 years in State Penitentiary; and/or
- Fine of up to $25,000
There are 3 classes of Misdemeanor in Illinois
Class A Misdemeanor
- Up to 1 year in Jail; and/or
- Fine of up to $2,500
Class B Misdemeanor
- Up to 6 months in Jail; and/or
- Fine of up to $1,500
Class C Misdemeanor
- Up to 30 days in Jail; and/or
- Fine of up to $1,500
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Do It Yourself Expungement and Destruction of Arrest Records
The office of the State Appellate Defender provides an expungement guide free of charge.
Expungements are complex, time consuming, and are not automatically granted. If you go it alone, you run the risk of being denied because of a mistake in the application. It is always ideal to get it right the first time and seek the assistance of an attorney experienced in destroying arrest records.
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Cook County Courthouse Locations and Contact Information
| Municipal District 1 Richard J. Daley Center 50 West Washington Chicago, IL 60602 312.603.2000 | DISTRICT 2 - SKOKIE 5600 Old Orchard Road Skokie, Illinois 60077 847.470.7250 | |
| Map and Directions to Daley Center Court House | Map and Directions to Skokie Courthouse | |
| DISTRICT 3- ROLLING MEADOWS 2121 Euclid Avenue Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008 847/818-3000 | DISTRICT 4-MAYWOOD 1500 Maybrook Avenue Maywood, Illinois 60153 708.865.4937 | |
| Map and Directions to Rolling Meadows Courthouse | Map and Directions to Maywood Court House | |
| DISTRICT 5 BRIDGEVIEW 10220 South 76th Avenue Bridgeview, Illinois 60455 708.974.6500 | DISTRICT 6 MARKHAM 16501 South Kedzie Parkway Markham, Illinois 60426 708.210.4551 | |
| Map and Directions to Bridgeview Court House | Map and Directions to Markham Court House | |
| DISTRICT 7 CHICAGO 2600 South California Avenue, Room 101 Chicago, IL 60608 773-674-3160 | DISTRICT 8 CHICAGO 555 West Harrison Street, Suite 4400 Chicago, IL 60607 312-325-9000 | |
| Map and Directions to Chicago Court House | Map and Directions to Chicago Court House | |
| COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS 2650 S California Ave # 526 Chicago, IL 60608-5146 (773) 869-3073 | CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY 555 W. Harrison St. Chicago, Illinois 60607 (312) 325-9500 | |
| Map and Directions to Daley Center Court House | Map and Directions to Daley Center Court House |
Free Legal Guide Offered by Illinois State Bar Association
The Illinois State Bar Association publishes a free legal guide covering important information on everything from cars, family, finding a lawyer, home, money, health, and estate matters.
Laws Protecting Military Personnel
The Illinois State Bar Association publishes a free legal guide for military personnel. The guide covers a wide variety of legal issues and provides practical guidance for our soldiers and their legal issues.
Disaster Legal Services Manual
The ISBA Disaster Legal Services Manual provides helpful legal advice for dealing with disasters including replacing lost documents, housing issues, public benefits, consumer protection, wills and estates, as well as a handy disaster preparedness checklist.