What are my rights if I've been arrested in Chicago?

First of all, police should advise you immediately upon arrest of your constitutional rights: you have the right not to speak to the police, you have the right to have an attorney, and if you cannot afford an attorney you have the right to a public defender. If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Chicago, a Chicago criminal defense lawyer can help you through the criminal process, from the time of arrest until sentencing. Hiring a lawyer sooner in the process rather than later may help you mount a stronger defense and avoid saying or doing things against your self-interest. Note that you must unequivocally assert your right to an attorney (“I will not speak until I have an attorney present”) in order for police to stop questioning you. Once you do that, they must stop all questioning until you have an attorney present. In contrast, it is easier to accidentally waive your right to silence. You invoke your right to silence by not speaking, but if you do say something, the police may use that as evidence against you in court.

What options do I have if I did commit the crime of which I'm accused?

A criminal prosecution requires that the government prove every element of its case beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a very exacting standard, and a skilled criminal defense lawyer can seize upon the many opportunities to weaken the prosecution's arguments. For example, there may be a problem with the chain of custody of a key piece of evidence, or the defendant might not have been properly instructed of his Fifth Amendment rights. Even if you committed the crime for which you are charged, the government is responsible for proving it and following the strict procedures in place to assure a fair trial. The office of the Cook County State's Attorney, which prosecutes crimes in Chicago, has stated that it will invest substantial resources in increasing enforcement and incarceration, which makes it even more crucial that criminal defendants retain skilled counsel to represent them. Defending against criminal charges in Cook County can be challenging, which is why it is important find a Chicago criminal defense lawyer to zealously argue for your rights. A criminal record can affect your employment prospects, housing applications, and more, particularly if you are convicted of a felony. Don't hesitate to contact a Chicago lawyer; your freedom may depend on it!

Chicago Criminal Lawyers

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Jonathan Bedi

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Jonathan S. Bedi 53 West Jackson Blvd., Suite 1505 Chicago, IL 60604 jbedi@bedisinger.com 312.525.2017 Jonathan S. Bedi is an experienced trial lawyer and litigator with over a decade of trial experience. He has... Read More »

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John S. Fotopoulos

Criminal Lawyer Serving Chicago, IL

(708) 942-8400
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Get help now! Aggressive representation in criminal cases.

John S. Fotopoulos, former Cook County judge serving at the Daley Center in Chicago, established his law firm on two simple firm principals: to have competitive rates allowing everyone to afford the advice they need, and... Read More »

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Bridgette Brown

Criminal Lawyer Serving Chicago, IL

(708) 803-5029
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Fighting for your rights, freedom, and peace of mind after a criminal charge.

Attorney Bridget Brown is poised to bring an exemplary command of Criminal and Family Law to any case. Her skills, confidence and experience have made her a verifiable force for each client she defends. Ms. Brown... Read More »

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Christa M. Winthers

Criminal Lawyer Serving Chicago, IL

(630) 668-6700
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Illinois Criminal Defense Attorney with 20 years of experience

DuPage County Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association, Superlawyers and ABA Conference held in Washington DC on Improving Parent Representation in the Child Welfare SystemDuPage County Bar Association and State Bar of Illinois

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Paul F. Serkland

Criminal Lawyer Serving Chicago, IL

(312) 736-2052
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Free Consultation! Former Prosecutor! Exceptional Criminal Defense Attorney!

Illinois State Bar Association and Cook County Bar Association

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Emilio Moretti

Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(312) 861-1084

The John Marshall Law SchoolNorthern Illinois UniversityIllinoisElite Lawyer, American Jurist Institute, American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys and National Trial LawyersIllinois State Bar Association (ISBA) and Northwest Suburban Bar Association (NWSBA)

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Voss Skoullos

Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(773) 636-1094

Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of TechnologyLoyola University ChicagoIllinoisState Bar of Illinois

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Daniel Joseph Conidi

Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(708) 366-9900

MId Atlantic School of LawChicago State University and Excelsior CollegeDistrict of ColumbiaAvvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Who's Who in American Law, Avvo...American Bar Associaiton, Federal Bar Association...

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Merrill K Davis

Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(312) 736-2052

Loyola University Chicago School of LawUniversity of Wisconsin - MadisonIllinoisLoyola University Chicago School of LawIllinois State Bar Association and Chicago Bar AssociationPremises Liability and School Shootings: Identifying Traits of Perpetrators & How to Most Effectively Prevent Tragedy

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Edward Johnson

Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

University of Colorado - DenverColorado, Illinois, Wisconsin and IowaSuper LawyersState Bar of Illinois and State Bar of Colorado

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Hal M Garfinkel

Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

The John Marshall Law SchoolIllinoisElite Lawyer, Elite Lawyer, Elite Lawyer and Elite LawyerUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and National Association of Criminal Defense LawyersChicago Criminal Attorney Hal Garfinkel Named a 2024 Elite Lawyer, Chicago Criminal Attorney Hal Garfinkel Named a 2024 Elite Lawyer...

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Stephen Komie

Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(312) 263-2800

National College for DUI Defense at Harvard Law School and DePaul College of LawNational College of Criminal Defense and University of ArizonaIllinois Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit, U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and U.S. District Court for the Western District of MichiganNational Trial Lawyers, Francis W. Parker School, ATLA, American Trial Lawyers Association...Illinois State Bar, ABA Small Firm and Solo Practitioners and ISBA Judicial Compensation, Governance for the New Century, and Protection of the Public From the Unauthorized Practice of Law...Allegations of Child Abuse in Custody Disputes and Visitation Battles, The Magna Carta: 800 Years of the Rule of Law,...

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Stephanie Kemen

Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(312) 940-8225

University of Illinois - Chicago John Marshall Law SchoolUniversity of Minnesota - Twin CitiesIllinoisSuperLawyers, SuperLawyers, SuperLawyers and John Marshall LawCook County Bar Association, Federal Trial Bar for the Northern District of Illinois...

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Sal John Sheikh

Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(312) 532-8554

Thomas Jefferson School of LawCalifornia State University - Chico and United States Army Field Artillery SchoolIllinoisSuperlawyers , Superlawyers , The National Trial Lawyer, The National Trial Lawyer...Illinois State Bar Association, Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago...DUI Penalties in Illinois

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Tina T Tran

Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(773) 609-3637

Loyola University Chicago School of LawIllinois and Northern District of IllinoisState Bar of Illinois, National Lawyers Guild...No Judgment. No Shame. No Guilt and No Judgment. No Shame. No Guilt.

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Audriana T. Anderson

Criminal Lawyer Serving Chicago, IL

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Audrey Anderson is an experienced, dynamic, and accomplished trial attorney. She is a 20-year veteran of the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office who has conducted over 250 trials to verdict and received numerous... Read More »

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Darryl A. Goldberg

Criminal Lawyer Serving Chicago, IL

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Chicago criminal defense attorney Darryl A. Goldberg is an aggressive advocate who is no stranger to high profile cases or the high stakes world of federal court. In his federal criminal defense practice, Mr. Goldberg... Read More »

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Lori Levin

Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(312) 972-3756

Georgetown University Law CenterUniversity of Illinois - Urbana-ChampaignIllinoisSuper Lawyer, Leading Lawyer, Illinois Academy of Lawyers and Illinois State Bar AssociationChicago Bar Association, Womens Criminal Defense Bar Association...

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Michael F McMahon

Hinsale, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(630) 953-4400

Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of TechnologyLoyola University ChicagoIllinoisAvvo and The National Trial LawyersState Bar of Illinois, DuPage County Bar Association...

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Juneitha S Shambee

Evanston, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(773) 741-3602

Northern Illinois UniversityChicago State UniversityIllinois, Federal Circuit, 11th Circuit, 7th Circuit and FloridaNational Black LawyersState Bar of Illinois and The Florida Bar

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Alexander B Blum

Evanston, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(773) 999-2586

Western Michigan University Cooley Law SchoolUniversity of Southern CaliforniaIllinoisLake County Bar Association and Illinois State Bar Assocation

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Frank R. DiFranco

Park Ridge, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(847) 825-7744

Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of TechnologyIllinoisMillion Dollar Advocates ForumIllinois State Bar

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Sharon R. Mulyk

Glen Ellyn, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(630) 852-1100

The John Marshall Law SchoolIllinoisAmerican Bar Foundation and Illinois State Bar Association

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John W Callahan

Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(630) 593-7446

DePaul College of LawUniversity of Illinois - Urbana-ChampaignIllinois and Federal CircuitThe National Trial Lawyers, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, The National Trial Lawyers and American Institute of Criminal Law AttorneysIllinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association...

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Michael J. Brennan

chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(312) 379-9270

The John Marshall Law SchoolDePaul UniversityIllinoisIllinois Bar Association and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association

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Matthew P. Prengaman

Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(773) 530-2875

University of Idaho College of LawUniversity of RedlandsIllinois and United States District Court for the Northern District of IllinoisIllinois State Bar

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Bryce Wayne Powell

Chicago, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

(312) 216-5150

University of Idaho College of LawIdaho, Montana and IllinoisAmerica's Top 100Illinois Bar Association and Montana State Bar

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