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When facing criminal charges, often the most challenging thing at first is trying to navigate through the criminal legal system. State and federal laws govern criminal law cases and have different penalties for each system. Most criminal charges are brought under state law in Rockford, IL, unless certain factors make it a federal crime, such as being committed on federal property or across state lines.
To understand the criminal justice system and to fight your charges effectively, you need to seek legal assistance from an experienced criminal defense attorney. A criminal defense lawyer from our law firm can assist you at all stages of your criminal case, from protecting your rights upon arrest to providing an aggressive defense in state and federal courts.
The criminal defense attorneys at Hirsch Law Group are highly experienced and skilled at criminal defense law. Our law office has a legal team of former prosecutors who are now aggressive defense attorneys. They use their unique criminal law experience to provide strong representation to each of our clients. Our priority is protecting the rights of the accused and ensuring that you do not fall victim to the criminal justice system. legal
Call our law office today to schedule a free consultation at 815-880-1134. Our criminal defense lawyers will be delighted to discuss your case and provide you with the most effective legal representation. We understand that criminal charges can have significant and long-lasting consequences, which is why we fight tirelessly to defend your rights and freedoms.
Suppose you have been charged with a crime in Rockford, IL, whether drug trafficking, domestic violence, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, or a DUI. In that case, you must have strong legal counsel. Many people underestimate the long-term impacts of a criminal conviction and how having a criminal record can hugely impact your life.
At Hirsch Law Group, our criminal defense lawyers have seen the permanent impacts of a criminal conviction and have helped many clients with their criminal cases. We prioritize protecting defendants’ rights and providing aggressive representation in court and throughout their criminal cases.
Our criminal defense lawyers are highly experienced at what we do, and we have gained this experience through years of practicing law and our hard work and dedication. Our law office has a team of former prosecutors, including our managing attorneys Gordon H. Hirsch and Melanie Fialkowski, who worked for thirteen years as Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.
Having worked as former prosecutors, our law office profoundly understands how the criminal legal system works, and we will use our years of combined experience to build a strong, robust criminal defense on your behalf.
Enterprise.com has ranked our law office as among the best 40 law offices in Illinois, and our criminal defense lawyers have received multiple awards for their dedication to clients.
A Rockford, Illinois, attorney has a duty to their clients to ensure their rights are protected throughout their criminal case and to try and get the best possible outcome.
When searching for the best defense lawyer for you, you should ensure that they are experienced, have the requisite qualifications, are good at communicating, can provide you with aggressive criminal defense, and are local to Illinois.
Some jobs of a criminal defense attorney in Rockford, IL, include:
From the get-go, your criminal defense lawyer should offer you robust and honest advice on your criminal charge, including any legal issues, the chances of winning your case, and the most favorable outcome they believe can be achieved. They should also answer your questions and advise you to remain silent when speaking with any law enforcement officers without the presence of a lawyer.
It is important to hire a defense lawyer who has strong negotiation skills. Depending on the circumstances of your case and how you decide to plea, your attorney will negotiate with the state or federal prosecutors to get you a fair plea agreement. If you decide to go to trial, they will use these negotiation skills in court to fight for your innocence.
For all criminal charges, it is essential that your attorney carries out an investigation into the evidence for your case and tries to gather independent evidence that will prove your innocence. During the discovery phase of a trial, your attorney will sift through evidence submitted by the prosecutor and try to find any legal issues relating to physical evidence, search warrants, and witness statements.
During and before a criminal trial, your criminal defense lawyer will submit motions on your behalf, such as motions to dismiss evidence and motions to suppress witness statements. Your attorney should have an in-depth knowledge of criminal defense law and know how to submit strong, fool-proof motions on your behalf.
The most important role of a criminal defense attorney is to provide a strong defense through all stages of your case and, most importantly, in court. The criminal defense lawyers in our law office are aggressive defenders of legal rights and have the experience necessary to win your case.
Your defense attorney should also be your teacher and explain the entire legal process to you in a way that is easily understood. They should tell you what to expect in court, how likely you will win the case, and the possible outcomes of your criminal charge.
Attorneys ensure clients understand the charges against them, the available defense strategies, and the risks and benefits of various legal decisions. By providing comprehensive information and guidance, defense attorneys empower their clients to make informed choices throughout their cases.
If a client is convicted, a criminal defense attorney continues to advocate for them during the appellate process. They thoroughly review trial transcripts, legal rulings, and other relevant documents to identify errors that may have prejudiced the client’s case.
Attorneys then file appeals, arguing before higher courts that the errors warrant a reversal of the conviction or a new trial. If the conviction is upheld, attorneys can assist with other post-conviction matters, such as sentence modification or pardon requests.
Our law office in Rockford, IL, can help you with any criminal charges, whether misdemeanor, federal, or felony. The penalties for a criminal offense depend on the crime in question, the severity of the crime, whether it has been charged as a felony or misdemeanor, and your previous criminal record. Some crimes we can help you with include:
Traffic violations – The penalties for a traffic violation can be harsh if you have been charged with a misdemeanor DUI, failure to pay a traffic ticket, or aggravated speeding. Depending on the severity of your traffic violation, you could revoke your driving privileges, have to pay huge fines, and face jail time. For a felony DUI charge, you could be looking at serious jail time.
Sex crimes – Sex crimes we can help you defend at our firm include statutory rape, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, and rape. Being charged and convicted of a sex crime can have long-lasting damage to your reputation and may result in having to register on the sex offender registry in Illinois.
White-collar crimes – Financial crimes such as consumer fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, Ponzi schemes, and racketeering may be tried in state and federal courts. If the crime crosses state borders, such as fraud in an inter-state business, you will face charges at a national level. The federal court system is even more challenging to navigate than the state system, so you must hire a criminal defense attorney with experience defending federal cases.
Domestic violence – An accusation of domestic violence can cause severe damage to your reputation, and a conviction can significantly impact your life. Some examples of family law criminal matters we can help you with include violation of protection or barring orders, stalking charges, and attempted sexual assault. Domestic violence charges can also affect child custody and visitation rights.
Drug offenses – In Illinois, drug possession, distribution, and trafficking are punishable by law. Illinois has harsh penalties for all types of controlled substances, with some laws recently changed to become more lenient. Criminal defense attorneys will help you understand the current state drug laws and your rights during an investigation or arrest.
Assault and battery – Assault and battery charges are serious criminal offenses that can carry severe penalties. The state of Illinois defines assault as an attempt to injure someone else, while battery is the act itself of causing bodily harm or making physical contact with another person. Both charges can result in fines, imprisonment, probation, and a criminal record. A skilled defense attorney will help you defend against these charges and protect your rights.
Our personal injury law office deals with all types of criminal charges, and we work diligently to ensure that our client’s voices are heard and represented at all stages of their cases. If you have been charged with any criminal offense, speak with the experienced attorneys at Hirsch Law Group.
Drug crimes are a significant problem in Rockford and throughout Illinois. We have seen the impact of a drug conviction in our law office, and we know how difficult facing charges for drug crimes can be. Drug offenses are considered serious crimes in Rockford, IL, and being convicted can have severe consequences. Examples of drug offenses and their penalties include:
Drug possession – Although possession of marijuana up to thirty grams is legal in Illinois, possession of any other type of controlled substance can result in misdemeanor or felony charges. The penalties for drug possession depend on the quantity and the type of drug you are caught with. For Schedule I narcotics, such as opiates, you can face up to fifty years in prison and $200,000 fines. You can face one year of jail time and a $2,500 fine for a misdemeanor possession charge.
Drug trafficking – Trafficking, a controlled substance, can be charged at the federal level if the trafficking occurs across state borders. Drug trafficking is regarded as a serious crime at the state and federal levels, and the penalties are severe. You could look at 12 to 120 years in prison and up to $1 million in fines, so seeking help from a federal criminal lawyer in Illinois can be beneficial.
Other drug crimes include cultivation, manufacturing of a controlled substance, distribution, and possession with intent to sell. The penalties for these crimes also depend on the schedule of drugs in question and the quantity.
Although many believe possession charges only arise for drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin, it is possible to be convicted of a drug possession charge for some prescription drugs listed as controlled substances. Due to the current opioid crisis and the rise in false prescription drug crimes, Illinois takes an uncompromising approach to illegal prescription drug possession.
Some prescription drugs are considered controlled substances under federal and state law, as they pose a risk of harm and addiction to members of the public. These drugs are mostly contained within Schedule III, IV, and V, which means that being found in possession without a valid prescription can result in a felony or misdemeanor criminal charge.
If you need to take prescription drugs such as Valium, Oxycodone, Ritalin, or Xanax, you must have a valid prescription from a medical professional in Rockford, IL. If your prescription runs out, you must return to a doctor and get another prescription for the particular substance.
Being convicted of a drug offense in Rockford, IL, has further consequences than the criminal penalties you face. If you receive a criminal conviction, it will be added to your criminal record, significantly impacting your life and future opportunities. Some ways a criminal record can affect you include:
Background checks – Employers and universities will likely conduct a background check on you before hiring or accepting you to their school. If it comes up that you have a criminal conviction, you may face difficulties getting accepted.
Housing – It can be more challenging to apply for housing or loans from a bank with a criminal record in Rockford, IL.
Court-ordered rehab – If you can avoid jail time for a drug charge, you may be ordered to attend rehab. The purpose of this is to help you overcome addiction or drug abuse; however, because it is court-ordered, you must stay in rehab until your sentence is up. You may also be required to pay for this rehab or use your medical insurance.
Right to vote – Being convicted of a felony charge can impact your right to vote in Illinois.
Although you may face many difficulties with a criminal conviction, it is essential to know that turning your life around is possible with dedication and assistance. Our criminal defense lawyers can help you get your criminal record expunged or cleaned, opening up many more opportunities.
Drug addiction is described as a “medical disorder that affects the brain and changes behavior” by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. When a person becomes addicted to drugs, their brain behaviors and patterns can change, and they may change how they behave to obtain drugs.
Substance use disorder is a massive problem in Rockford, IL, and many people who have become addicted to drugs struggle with turning their lives around. We want to assure you that you are not alone in battling drug addiction, and many different resources and support groups in Northern Illinois can help you get on a new path.
It takes courage to recognize that you may have developed an addiction to drugs or alcohol. However, it takes even more strength to seek the help you need and take steps toward recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with drug addiction, please know that there is always hope for a better future.
If your drug conviction was related to a substance abuse problem that you are currently dealing with, seeking rehabilitation can be the best option to turn your life around and help with your criminal conviction. If you have been put on probation or are serving jail time, seeking help or going to a rehabilitation center can significantly increase your chances of getting your sentence reduced.
If you are charged with a drug crime and awaiting sentencing, it is strongly recommended that you begin a rehabilitation program during this time. Most importantly, getting yourself on a new path in life will hugely benefit your health and future. A criminal defense lawyer can also use this as evidence to the judge that you have no intentions of committing further crimes and that a criminal conviction would negatively impact your future chances.
Some rehabilitation services in Rockford, IL, include:
Al Tech Services.
Our Rockford criminal defense lawyers want to ensure that a drug conviction does not impact your future, and we will fight aggressively to ensure you get the most favorable outcome in your case. If you require assistance, do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation. Let us help get your life back on track.
Being charged with a crime can be particularly daunting, and many people are unsure what to do to ensure that a conviction does not impact their lives. At Hirsch Law Group, we strongly recommend that you seek help from an experienced Illinois criminal defense attorney immediately if you have been charged with a crime in Rockford, IL.
Our law firm has been serving the citizens of Rockford, IL, and Winnebago County for many years, and we have helped hundreds of clients win their cases. Our priority is to protect the rights of those facing criminal charges and use our expertise and experience to provide the best defense possible. We pride ourselves on being highly skilled criminal defense lawyers who have added experience as former prosecutors.
Our law office has a diverse team of lawyers with experience with criminal defense law, personal injury cases, and other civil matters. Due to our hard work and dedication to our clients, we have built up a solid attorney-client relationship. We offer a free initial consultation for you to come in and discuss your case with one of our experienced Rockford criminal defense attorneys.
Call us to schedule a free consultation at 815-880-1134.
