There are two types of criminal charges in Illinois: felony and misdemeanor. A felony criminal charge is punishable by a year or more in prison, depending on the class of the felony. Felony charges in Illinois are typically for the most violent crimes that cause harm to others such as rape and murder, but also can be for non-violent crime such as significant drug offenses.

Felonies and misdemeanors in Illinois can arise from the same type of criminal act. For example if you are caught with drugs in Illinois, the amount of drugs in your possession will determine if you are charged with a felony or misdemeanor. In addition, there are many misdemeanor crimes that become felonies if you are charged a 2nd time with the crime. For example, if you stole $100.00 worth of clothing you would be charged with a misdemeanor. If you were convicted and charged at a later date with a new crime that involved retail theft you would likely be charged with a felony, even if the dollar amount was smaller the second time.

No matter the classification of the charge, if you are arrested in Illinois it is important to have an experienced Illinois criminal defense attorney represent you. If you have any questions about Illinois criminal defense laws or would like a referral to an experienced Illinois criminal defense lawyer please do not hesitate to contact us.