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Chicago has a higher crime rate than the national average. According to 2020 crime statistics, there were around 111 cases of criminal battery. There are chances you were present at the place of crime and not part of it, and police have charged you with the criminal charge.
The US has enacted federal criminal law and procedure under Title 18 of the US code to deal with crimes. Title 18 mentions various conducts that are considered severe crimes under Federal law. Here is the list:
- Drug Trafficking
- Treason
- Piracy
- violation of interstate commerce
- violation of security laws
When you are charged with a criminal charge, you would not like to go to court unprepared. You need to hire a Chicago criminal lawyer to protect your rights and follow proper court procedures. Here are some situations when you will need a criminal lawyer.
You Are Accused of Rash and Negligent Driving That Led to the Accident
According to Chicago police department statistics, the metro city registered 101,760 crashes from Sep 1, 2017, to July 16, 2018. As per Illinois State laws, driving under the influence of alcohol is a severe crime. If you are convicted under DUI charges, you may have to spend one year in prison and pay a fine of $2500.
If the police have pressed DUI charges against you, contact a Chicago criminal lawyerand discuss the DUI charges with them. The lawyer will analyze the evidence collected by police and defend against charges levied by the Chicago police department.
You Faced Harassment or Discrimination on the Job
According to US laws, harassment is a criminal offense. If an employee presses criminal charges against the employer, the person responsible for the harassment has to spend years in jail. Many times, an employee also presses false charges against the employer.
As per the Chicago Moron news report, 66 harassment incidents were reported in total for the period between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2015. These incidents were reported at the University of Chicago. If you are a victim of workplace harassment or falsely accused of harassment, you need to contact a criminal lawyer in Chicago.
You Are Arrested for a Tax Problem
White-collar crimes are considered criminal offenses. There is a wide range of offenses that are considered white-collar crimes. Some of them are
- Cybercrimes or identity theft
- Money laundering
- Insider trading
- Ponzi scheme
- Espionage
- Embezzlement
The Chicago Tribune reported 212,000 fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits filed in Illinois. The investigative agencies have linked these fraudulent claims to serious offenses of identity theft. If the Chicago police department has pressed white collar crime charges on you, contact a criminal lawyer to protect your rights. The lawyer will study your case and prepare for your defense against these charges.
These are only a few situations in which you will need the help of a criminal lawyer. There are several other legal issues where you need to consider hiring a criminal lawyer to represent your side in the court.
To sum up, the punishment for most crimes is a jail term that might destroy your career and family life. Having an attorney by your side will give you the confidence to stand up before a judge and present your side, which might be enough to prove your innocence.
