Criminal defense is the legal representation of individuals who have been charged with violating criminal statutes. In Illinois, criminal offenses range from misdemeanors like traffic violations and retail theft to felonies including drug possession, assault, and DUI. Under the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-501), driving under the influence carries penalties that escalate with each offense, including license suspension, fines, and imprisonment. A criminal defense attorney protects your constitutional rights, challenges the prosecution’s evidence, negotiates plea agreements when appropriate, and advocates for the best possible outcome at trial.
DUI offenses in Illinois are defined under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, which makes it illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher, or while impaired by drugs, cannabis, or intoxicating compounds. Penalties escalate with each subsequent offense — a first DUI is a Class A misdemeanor, while a third or subsequent offense is a Class 2 felony. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1 (Illinois Implied Consent Law), any person who operates a motor vehicle on Illinois roads is deemed to have given consent to chemical testing (breath, blood, or urine) if arrested for DUI. Refusal to submit to testing results in an automatic 12-month statutory summary suspension of driving privileges, compared to a 6-month suspension for a failed test on a first offense.
Navigating the Illinois criminal justice system alone can be scary. If you have been accused of a crime or learned there is a pending investigation, you may need an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Our criminal defense team of lawyers Courtney Anderson, Nrupa Patel, Andrew Wessler, and Fallon Conner are here to help. Our team has lawyers with prior experience in both prosecuting and defending the accused and they are knowledgeable about how the prosecution will build its criminal case case. Courtney, Nrupa, Andrew, and Fallon represent clients accused of crimes in Macon County and throughout Central Illinois.
This may appear in background checks on employment applications and other matters.
This can substitute entirely or partially for other judicial remedies and sanctions, such as incarceration or fines.
Jail or prison time can be imposed on convicted individuals.
These can be thousands of dollars, and are typically paid to the court.
When crimes affect other people, judges can order the convicted individual to compensate victims for their losses or injuries.
In some cases, a convicted individual may be ordered to serve a time of probation. This can be imposed after serving a jail sentence or can entirely take the place of incarceration.
