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Criminal defense law encompasses all acts that are considered illegal under local, state, and federal laws. These crimes can range from minor traffic violations to more serious crimes such as aggravated assault or murder. When you are accused of a crime and come up against the criminal justice system in Illinois, you will have to put up a solid fight to prove your innocence.
Here at Hirsch Law Group, our legal community strongly believes in the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty.
We know how high the stakes can be if you are found guilty of committing a crime, mainly if your charges carry with them a potential prison sentence. Our criminal defense attorneys pride themselves on their passion for fighting for defendants’ rights.
If you have been accused of committing a crime in Joliet, IL, you should contact a Joliet criminal defense lawyer. Coming up against prosecutors can be difficult without legal representation, and you do not want to risk losing your freedom or getting a permanent criminal record because you could not defend your case properly.
Our criminal defense lawyers have the experience and drive you need to win your case in Joliet, IL. Do not waste any time contacting us. The sooner you do, the better chance we have to win your case.
Call us today at to schedule a free consultation.
When facing criminal charges, you want a highly experienced attorney with criminal law and related practice areas. Attorneys experienced across various criminal issues will have the expertise to win your case. At Hirsch Law Group, we have a team of lawyers who are highly experienced in criminal law, which includes building strong cases for our clients and fighting these cases at trial.
Our law office is unique because we have many former prosecutors now practicing as aggressive criminal defense attorneys. Because of this, they have a strong awareness of the mindset of a county prosecutor, and they can try to predict arguments that a prosecutor would make in your case.
Our law offices throughout Illinois are renowned for their dedication to defending clients’ rights and fighting aggressively to ensure justice. Our legal practice has been ranked among the 40 best law offices in Illinois on Expertise.com. In addition, our managing attorney, Gordon H. Hirsch, a former Will County prosecutor, has an AVVO rating of 10.0, the highest rating attainable based on independent reviews and client testimonials.
As a former prosecutor and highly rated defense attorney, Gordon H. Hirsch knows how to secure convictions for our clients. Our goal is to get you the best outcome possible and provide you with the highest quality of legal representation. We will help you understand your charges, build a strong defense strategy, and represent you in court.
You should have the best criminal defense attorney when your life is on the line because of criminal charges. Contact us at Hirsch Law Group to discuss your case with our highly experienced Joliet criminal defense lawyer.
Criminal cases in Joliet, IL, can range from minor crimes, such as traffic offenses, to serious crimes, such as domestic violence or murder. According to the FBI crime data, in 2019 the most common crimes in Joliet included property crimes, larceny, theft, and violent crimes, among others.
Our law office represents clients whi have been charged with many types of offenses including, but not limited to the following offenses.;
Assault and battery are considered separate offenses in Illinois. Assault is defined as an act that causes another person to fear that they will suffer physical harm. No physical contact is necessary for an assault charge; the threat alone can warrant the charge. On the other hand, battery involves actual physical contact with the intent to cause harm.
Assault is typically a Class C misdemeanor. However, certain situations can elevate charges to aggravated assault. Aggravated assault can be charged as a Class A misdemeanor to a Class 3 felony.
Convictions may result in more than just legal penalties; they can also influence housing options, future employment opportunities, and personal relationships. Having a skilled Illinois assault and battery lawyer can make a vital difference in the trajectory of your case.
In Illinois, theft is defined as knowingly obtaining unauthorized control over someone else’s property with the intent to deprive that person of such property. Theft can include offenses such as burglary, motor vehicle theft, and shoplifting.
Crimes can be categorized as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the value and nature of the stolen property. Thus, the penalties can also vary considerably. If the crime is considered a misdemeanor, a defendant can face up to 1 year of jail time and fines of up to $2,500. However, if the crime is considered a felony, the defendant may face 1 to 3 years in state prison and pay fines of $25,000 if convicted.
DUI, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is considered a severe crime in Joliet, IL. A DUI can never be expunged from your criminal record if you are convicted. So, when you apply for a job or loan from a bank, and they request to see your criminal record, they can see that you have been convicted of a DUI.
On top of this, DUI charges carry with them harsh penalties. You may face up to one year in jail for your first conviction and a maximum fine of $2,500. If you are convicted a second time within the following five years, you will be sentenced to 5 days minimum in a county jail or 240 hours of community service. Any convictions on top of this can revoke your driving privileges and result in severe jail time.
Luckily, we have a team of premier DUI attorneys at Hirsch Law Group who can help minimize your DUI charges or get your case thrown out.
Drug crimes are a huge problem in Illinois. Because of this, police officers and prosecutors take narcotics violations very seriously. Crimes involving narcotics that you can be charged with include drug possession, trafficking, manufacturing, and distribution. The sentences and fines for each of these crimes vary, and you could face a serious felony charge depending on your circumstances.
Alongside violent crimes, drug crimes have some of the harshest penalties attached to them in Illinois. For possessing anabolic steroids, a misdemeanor, you could face 30 days in county jail and $1,500 in fines. For a felony drug possession charge, you could face up to 50 years in prison and up to $200,000 in fines.
On top of this, certain aggravating factors are considered when sentencing a person convicted of a drug crime. For example, if you were caught selling drugs near a public park or a place of worship, you could face increased jail time and fines.
An accusation of domestic violence alone can often be enough to ruin your reputation. Having a criminal defense attorney for domestic abuse or violence charges is extremely important. You may be facing charges for breaking a protection order, aggravated stalking, attempted sexual assault, or violating a stalking order, all considered severe crimes in Illinois.
Acts of alleged domestic violence can be charged as either misdemeanors or felony charges. If you are convicted of a felony, you could face a lengthy prison sentence and a permanent criminal record. Even with a misdemeanor, a domestic violence conviction could massively impact your life and ruin your reputation.
An experienced criminal attorney can help your case by carrying out a thorough investigation, questioning the statements of the complaining witness, and speaking with the police officer present at the time. The only way to avoid a misdemeanor or felony conviction of domestic violence is to have the backing of an experienced criminal defense attorney.
White-collar or financial crimes, such as money laundering and embezzlement, are often charged at the felony level in Illinois. Often, these charges arise due to a misunderstanding or because the defendant didn’t have the opportunity to provide evidence defending their case.
Regardless, the felony prosecution of white-collar crimes is usually aggressive, and you must have a robust criminal defense to bring to court. For example, if you are convicted of embezzlement or money laundering, you could be sentenced to up to 30 years in federal prison, depending on the circumstances.
Usually, crimes that involve large amounts of money are brought against individuals in a position of power, such as executives, CEOs, or high-profile individuals. As such, these charges can ruin your reputation and could result in your business going bankrupt. For this reason, you must hire an experienced defense lawyer from our law office who can help prevent a serious conviction.
The criminal legal system can be described as complicated, to say the least. Building a criminal case against a defendant can take quite some time, as prosecutors must gather enough evidence to ensure a conviction. Prosecuting felonies can be even more complicated; federal prosecutors often spend significant time building up criminal cases.
In general, however, the process of bringing criminal charges against a defendant follows these stages:
Law enforcement agencies will investigate a crime against an alleged suspect. This will include getting search warrants from county judges, investigating the crime by speaking to witnesses involved, looking at security footage, and examining evidence.
Suppose the law enforcement officers leading the investigation believe they have probable cause to arrest the subject. In that case, they will get an arrest warrant from the judge and arrest the defendant. They may discuss legal issues with the defendant and interrogate them about the crime before bringing criminal charges against them.
The defendant will be arraigned in court and asked to plead guilty or not guilty. The defendant must speak with a criminal defense attorney before attending the arraignment to be advised on how they should plead. Depending on the circumstances and the lawyer’s skills, the defendant will either be kept in jail on bail or released.
To avoid a trial, your Joliet, Illinois criminal defense lawyer may try to negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecutor. This will depend on the evidence the prosecution has against you and whether you are happy to plead guilty to a crime.
If the defendant pleads not guilty, the case will be brought to a bench trial or jury. Your Joliet criminal defense lawyer will argue your case using the evidence gathered and the defense they built before the trial. They will be up against experienced prosecutors determined to ensure a conviction.
Once all evidence has been submitted to the court, the judge or jury will be asked to reach a verdict. Depending on their decision, the defendant will be either found guilty or not guilty.
If the defendant is found guilty, the judge will decide on a sentence based on the charges and aggravating factors. Sometimes, the defendant may be sentenced to jail time or community service or be asked to pay fines or restitution.
Navigating your way through the criminal justice system can be pretty overwhelming and confusing. By law, you are entitled to a public defender. However, public defenders often have many cases on their desks and cannot dedicate the time necessary to each case.
If you do not want to risk spending time in prison or having a permanent criminal record, you should always hire an experienced criminal defense attorney.
If you have been convicted of a crime in Joliet, IL, and believe that you were unjustly found guilty, you may be able to file an appeal. An appeal is a request for a higher court to review your case and potentially overturn the decision made by the lower court. It is not a retrial, and you cannot introduce new evidence. Instead, you must argue that errors made during the trial resulted in an unfair verdict.
Appeals for criminal cases are filed with the appellate court or the Illinois Supreme Court, depending on the severity of the crime and other factors.
To file an appeal in Illinois, you must submit a Notice of Appeal within 30 days of the final judgment being entered. It is essential to act quickly, as missing this deadline could cause you to lose your right to appeal. Your criminal defense attorney can help you with this process and represent you during the appeal hearing.
The main job of criminal defense lawyers is to ensure that their clients are impacted as little as possible by criminal charges. This may mean reducing their client’s charges, minimizing the penalties they receive, or getting their charges out altogether.
An excellent criminal defense lawyer will fight aggressively to ensure that your rights as a defendant are protected and that you receive the best possible outcome for your case.
Some of the primary responsibilities of a criminal defense lawyer in Joliet, IL, include:
When looking for a criminal defense attorney in Joliet, IL, there are certain qualities you should look for to ensure that your rights and best interests are protected. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a criminal defense attorney:
To fight against criminal charges, you must bring a robust defense proving your innocence. Whether you are suspected of committing violent crimes, traffic violations, capital offenses, or drug crimes, your defense should prove to a jury that you do not deserve the charges brought against you.
The defense used in your case will depend entirely on the circumstances. However, some examples of common defenses used include:
Innocence – If you are innocent of the crime you are accused of, your attorney will argue that you did not commit the crime and are entirely innocent. They will have to bring a strong case forward to prove your innocence.
Coercion or duress – This defense argues that you were forced to commit the alleged crime due to the threat of violence or actual violence. So, if a person threatened to use unlawful force against you if you did not traffic drugs for them, for example, you could use the defense of coercion or duress.
Self-defense – If you committed a crime to defend your own life, you can use the argument of self-defense.
Statute of limitations – Almost all crimes in Illinois are subject to a statute of limitations, which means that the prosecution only has a certain amount of time to bring charges against a defendant. If charges are brought after this time has elapsed, you can use the statute of limitations defense.
Ignorance or mistake – Although this does not always work, your lawyer may be able to reduce your charges by arguing that you made a mistake or were unaware that the act you committed was criminal. This will, of course, depend on the crime you are accused of.
Alibi – If you had an alibi at the time of the criminal offense, such as being out of town or being at work, an attorney could use this as your defense.
Defense of property – Like self-defense, you can argue that you committed the crime to defend your property. For example, this could include assaulting someone who attempts to rob your home.
An experienced Joliet criminal defense attorney will investigate your case thoroughly and build a strong defense suited to your case. Schedule a free consultation with our law office today to discuss your case.
Criminal charges in Joliet, IL, should not be taken lightly. A criminal conviction can potentially destroy your reputation and take away your freedom. If you are facing criminal charges, regardless of their seriousness, you should speak with an experienced Joliet criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.
We at Hirsch Law Group have a team of criminal defense lawyers ready to take on your case and fight for your rights. Our law office has been serving Joliet since 2013, and we are experienced in numerous practice areas, including criminal law, personal injury cases, and domestic issues. On top of this, several of our lawyers have acted as former prosecutors, meaning we can look at your case from both sides.
We advise seeking legal representation from a law office that will fight aggressively to protect your rights. We believe that Hirsch Law Group is the right law firm for you.
Schedule a free initial consultation today and see how we can help.
