In Illinois, the publication of sexual images of another person without his or her consent is a serious offense. A charge of posting what is popularly known as revenge porn can have devastating consequences on the lives of the accused and his or her family. Aside from imprisonment and the required payment of heavy fines, this crime will go on a person’s permanent record, making it difficult to secure future employment and housing. Since the December passage of the law, which took effect in June, Illinois has become one of 16 states that criminalizes revenge porn.

Revenge Porn

A person commits non-consensual dissemination of a private sexual image when he or she intentionally publishes an image of another person:

While the most common crimes discussed in the media are violent crimes such as rape, murder, and robbery, most crimes in Illinois are so-called property crimes. Property damage crimes are a specific type of property crime where someone knowingly or recklessly damages the property of someone else. These crimes often have serious consequences.

What Is Property under the Law?

When most people hear the word property they think of land, houses, and real estate. But, under Illinois law, property is anything that someone can own. This includes pets, cars, furniture in your house, and just about anything else in your home or place of business.

The only contact many people will ever have with the criminal justice system is when they are stopped for a DUI. In Illinois the crime of DUI involves operating a motor vehicle when you are impaired by drugs or alcohol. You can be convicted of DUI even if you were only using your own prescription medicine.

Why the Officer Comes to Your Window

In Illinois you may have an officer approach your car window in two basic situations. The first one is at a DUI checkpoint. Illinois courts have held that DUI checkpoints do not violate driver’s constitutional rights. Officers may pick out cars at random to stop and approach or they may decide to approach you if they see something suspicious.

In Illinois, the crime of aggravated battery is considered a serious offense and is punishable as a third-degree felony. An Illinois Appeals Court reaffirmed this in a recent case where a minor was injured after participating in a choking game. Despite the age of the defendant and the victim’s consent to being “choked out” in order to induce unconsciousness, the court refused to accept the defendant’s defense of consent.

People v. Ford

In December 2012, 15-year-old T.B. and several other teenagers were at a friend’s house smoking cigarettes and marijuana. At some point during the day, T.B. allegedly gave the defendant, Michael Ford, who was also a minor, permission to place him in a choke hold in order to cause him to pass out. The two agreed that if T.B. tapped on the Ford’s arm, then he would release the hold. Ford proceeded to place T.B. in the hold, but he soon after tapped on the defendant’s arm. However, Ford did not release him, and, as a result, T.B. passed out, had a seizure, and eventually regained consciousness with a nosebleed. Ford was subsequently found guilty of aggravated battery.

 Law enforcement officers are essential to preserving law and order in the state, so Illinois has many laws designed to keep its police officers safe. Some of these laws make a victim’s status as a police officer an aggravating factor. This means that a person charged with, for example, battery will face a harsher sentence if the victim of the crime was a police officer performing his or her official duties.

Battery

Under Illinois law, a person commits a battery when he or she either: