Department of Justice Seeks to Redefine “Engaged in Business” to Expand Gun Control The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced a proposed rule change by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that would expand when a person is “engaged...
Felonies
Felons May Be Able to Have Gun Rights Restored
Recent Supreme Court Decision Presents Avenue for Felons to Possess Guns Again Last year when the United States Supreme Court announced its decision in New York Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, many advocates of Second Amendment rights saw an opening for greatly...
Illinois Lawmakers Attempt to Combat Rising Carjackings on Multiple Fronts
City of Chicago Sues Kia and Hyundai Over Rise in Auto Thefts Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson recently announced that the City of Chicago has filed a lawsuit against car manufacturers Kia and Hyundai, alleging that a defect in their car designs on multiple vehicles make...
Department of Justice Shifting Focus to Concentrate on White Collar Crime Enforcement
High Ranking Official Highlights Appointment of Chief Counsel for Corporate Enforcement as Evidence of New Focus This past Monday, the Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, Marshall Miller, announced during a panel on white-collar crime that the Department of...
Cook County States Attorney’s Office Publishes “Do Not Call List” of Police Officers Deemed Unsuitable to Testify in Court
Hundreds of Police Officers Will Not Be Called to Testify as Prosecution Witnesses in Cook County Criminal Courts Although many believe that law enforcement officers are prone to lying in court as a means to an end, statistically most law enforcement officers are...
Illinois to Expand Eligibility for First-Time Gun Offenders
Legislation Expands Qualifications for Deferred Prosecution for First Time Gun Offenders Illinois recently passed into law an expansion of who can qualify for the second chance probation program with bipartisan support. Under the previous law, enacted as a pilot...
Federal Sentencing Guidelines Amended for Zero Criminal History Point Offenders
Federal Sentencing Guidelines Amended for Zero Criminal History Point Offenders Defendants With No Criminal History to Receive Reduction in Guideline Level Calculation The United States Sentencing Commission recently met and made changes to the federal sentencing...
Inmates with Serious Medical Needs Remain Imprisoned at High Levels in Illinois
Inmates with Serious Medical Needs Remain Imprisoned at High Levels in Illinois 2022 Reform Has Limited Impact on Aging Population in Illinois Prisons In 2022 Governor Pritzker signed the Joe Coleman Medical Release Act, which was a bill designed to allow the Prisoner...
Practical Limitations on Illinois Expungements
Individuals Seeking Expungement in Illinois Face Roadblocks In Illinois, there is a legal process that allows individuals that have been accused/convicted of certain crimes to have their records formally sealed or expunged from their criminal record, depending on the...
Federal Court Rules Felon In Possession of Gun Law Unconstitutional
District Court Dismisses Indictment in Potentially Landmark Ruling A federal district court judge, the Honorable Carlton Reeves, in the Southern District of Mississippi dismissed an indictment against a man charged with being a felon in possession of a gun in...