Andrew Affrunti

Quick Answer At your first court date for a misdemeanor charge in Illinois, the judge may review the charge, confirm your rights, address release conditions, ask about legal representation, and set the next hearing. You usually should not plead guilty before reviewing the evidence, possible defenses, court supervision options, and long-term record consequences with a […]

An unknown warrant can turn a normal day into a serious legal problem. You may find out during a traffic stop, at work, at home, or while trying to renew your driver’s license. The worst part is that many people do not realize a warrant exists until law enforcement is already involved. A warrant does

Many people drive on a suspended or revoked license because they need to get to work, pick up their children, attend court, or handle daily responsibilities. That reason may be understandable, but Illinois law still treats driving while suspended or revoked as a criminal offense, not a simple traffic ticket. A conviction can lead to

Quick Answer What Happens After a Probation Violation in Illinois? After an alleged probation violation in Illinois, the court may hold a hearing to decide whether a violation happened and what consequences should follow. A judge may continue probation, modify probation terms, add stricter conditions, order treatment or community service, revoke probation, or impose a

Quick Answer Aggravated DUI in Illinois is a felony DUI charge. A DUI may become aggravated when certain factors are present, such as a third or later DUI, driving under the influence with a suspended or revoked license, causing great bodily harm, causing death, having a child passenger in certain situations, or other aggravating facts

Quick Answer Yes, you can refuse a breathalyzer in Illinois, but refusal can trigger a driver’s license suspension under Illinois’ Implied Consent Law, 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1. A first refusal can lead to a 12-month statutory summary suspension. A later refusal can lead to a longer suspension. Refusal does not automatically dismiss a DUI case. If

An arrest in Springfield or Sangamon County creates immediate pressure. You may feel embarrassed, angry, scared, or confused. You may want to explain what happened. You may want to contact the other person involved. You may want to ask friends what to do. You may want to ignore the paperwork because everything feels overwhelming. Do

How the SAFE-T Act Changed Pretrial Release in Illinois Illinois no longer uses cash bail to decide who gets released before trial. A person is not supposed to stay in jail only because they cannot afford to pay money. Instead, courts focus on risk. Judges decide whether a defendant should be released, released with conditions,