Sometimes, a person can make a mistake, but it does not have to impact the rest of his or her life. In Illinois, there may be some arrests, convictions, offenses, or charges on someone's criminal record that may be eligible for expungement or sealing. By removing eligible reports from his or her police record, he or she may find it easier to obtain employment, housing, or higher education. The process of having a criminal record erased or hidden may take some time, but it can be worth it in the long run. If you have been charged or convicted of a crime, having an experienced expungement lawyer on your side is an important first step. 

Expunged Versus Sealed

The first step in cleaning up your criminal record is to understand the difference between having a recorded criminal event expunged or having it sealed. Expungement means that the crime is erased completely from your record as if it never occurred. A sealed offense is one that is still on your record, but it is hidden so no one can see it on a criminal background check. However, law enforcement and other criminal justice personnel will still have access to the details of that offense.

It is no secret that cannabis laws are changing throughout the country, with some states legalizing the sale and use of marijuana, while others continue to incriminate those found in possession of the substance. At the end of May, Illinois joined many other states by legalizing marijuana. While the drug will soon be considered legal, there will be a variety of restrictions and regulations in place. The following are frequently asked questions and answers to act as a comprehensive guide for Illinois residents.

When and Where Can I Buy Marijuana?

Consumers will be able to purchase cannabis for recreational use starting on January 1, 2020. The legal recreational sale process will begin solely through medical marijuana dispensaries in January 2020 but will expand to new stores, processors, cultivators, and transporters in mid-2020 as the state grants additional licenses. Illinois will allow up to 295 stores to operate by 2022; however, county and municipal governments will be allowed to decide whether to allow such businesses to operate in their designated area.

No one likes paying taxes. You see money being siphoned from your paycheck each month and dread receiving your tax return just to hear that you owe the government even more money. Unfortunately, there is no way to escape this aspect of “adulting.” Some individuals will use tax avoidance to try to lower their tax bills. This is not to be confused with the illegal practice of tax evasion. Avoidance is a legal method of structuring your finances and transactions to help you receive the largest tax benefits at the end of the year. While tax evasion may sound similar, it is actually an illegal attempt to cheat the system. In some circumstances, a person can unintentionally commit tax fraud as the victim of scammers.

Examples of Tax Evasion

Tax evasion is a type of tax fraud that could lead to someone spending time behind bars. Some people unintentionally commit tax fraud, but many offenders intentionally try to avoid their civic duties. Actions that could result in criminal charges include:

Many people drink alcohol before reaching the legal age of 21. Some parents may let their teenagers try a sip of beer, or a person may have a drink at a party. While this can seem innocent in a safe environment, underage drinking can escalate and quickly become dangerous. Long-term effects of underage drinking include impaired cognitive and physical development, memory and learning problems, increased risk of abusing other substances, and alcohol dependence. Drinking under the age of 21 is a crime in and of itself, but it can also lead to various other crimes with serious consequences.

Juvenile Drinking Crimes

1. Drinking underage: The first crime is the consumption of alcohol by those under the age of 21. If a law enforcement officer sees the possession, consumption, purchase, or receipt of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21, the legal consequence will be a three-month suspension of driving privileges for court supervision, six months for a first conviction, one year for a second conviction, and license revocation for subsequent convictions.

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Relationship violence is not reserved for adult marriages. In fact, nearly 1.5 million high school students in America experience physical abuse from a dating partner each year. Although physical abuse receives attention, there are many other forms of abuse from which teens suffer. One in three adolescents in the United States is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner. The high use of technology has created new ways for boyfriends and girlfriends to abuse their partner.

Ways to Enforce Power and Control

Abuse has always been a means to have power and control over another person. By taking away the equality between both partners, the abuser can feel like he or she has the control in the relationship. The following are common abuse tactics used: