Update on Illinois Medical Marijuana Legislation

On November 8, 2008, we posted our first blog about the efforts to legalize medical marijuana in Illinois. On February 6, 2009 we posted an updated blog discussing how the effort to enact this measure took a step back when it was defeated in a committee vote in the legislature. We are pleased to report that the effort to enact medical marijuana in Illinois is alive and kicking. On March 25, 2009, the Senate Public Health Committee passed the bill on a 6 to 2 vote. On March 4, 2009, the House Human Services Committee passed a companion bill. These votes mean that the legislation is poised for a vote before the Senate and the House. However, it appears as if there are not yet enough committed votes to send the measure to the Governor for approval.

We urge our readers to join in the effort to make Illinois the 14th state to legalize medical marijuana. One more strong and final push is urgently needed. Contact your legislators and urge them to do the right thing and side with the consumers and give needy patients a real alternative to costly prescription drugs to help alleviate their pain and suffering. If we make our voices heard we can help make changes to our drug laws that will actually do some good and help people who are in urgent need of some help.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Cook County Changes to Electronic Monitoring Program

For many months we have been reporting on efforts by Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart, to change the way the Electronic Monitoring Program is run in Cook County. The Electronic Monitoring Program was implemented many years ago to deal with the problem of overcrowding in the Cook County Jail. Inmates that are considered non-violent, and usually held for minor criminal violations, are fitted with an electronic bracelet around their ankle that transmits an electronic signal which notifies jail personnel when they leave their home. This bracelet allows inmates to spend time at home rather than jail.

Sheriff Dart has taken steps which has drastically cut down the number of inmates on Electronic Monitoring. He has been working on efforts to place the decision of who should be placed on Electronic Monitoring to judges rather than jail personnel.

A "Special Update" has been placed on the Sheriff's website. The "Special Update" reads as follows:

Since 15 December 2008, placements onto Electronic Monitoring are being made in Central Bond Court. Recently arrested persons who wish to be placed on Electronic Monitoring should immediately notify their attorneys and/or court personnel of this fact.

In addition, persons incarcerated in the Department of Corrections may ask their attorneys to bring the same request in the appropriate court.

The practical effect of this change is that in order for an inmate to be eligible for Electronic Monitoring, a judge must first find that the inmate is eligible for Electronic Monitoring. So when a judge sets a bond, the judge will also determine whether that inmate can be released on Electronic Monitoring. An inmate will not be placed on Electronic Monitoring unless a judge has found that the inmate is eligible for this program.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Undercover Cops Posing As Pedestrians To Start Issuing Tickets

The Chicago Police Department has been cracking down on motorists who don't yield to pedestrians crossing the street. Officers will start pulling over and ticketing motorists who do yield to undercover plainclothes officers posing as pedestrians at intersections that are not controlled by traffic control devices. This effort started several weeks ago when police started issuing warning to motorists. Now the police will start issuing traffic tickets which carry fines up to $500 per ticket. Currently, drivers are required to yield to pedestrians that are in the crosswalk. There is legislation currently pending in Springfield which would require drivers to stop when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk. Eleven other states, and the District of Columbia, have similar laws. Under the proposed legislation, a ticket for failure to stop for a pedestrian in the crosswalk would carry a minimum fine of $150. Approximately 6,000 accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians occur in Illinois every year. Approximately half of those accidents have occurred in Chicago. The number of such accidents has been declining nationally but staying at the same level in Illinois.

The Chicago police have made it known that they plan on having several high profile undercover operations throughout the City until at least September of this year. An undercover officer, posing as a pedestrian, will enter an uncontrolled intersection and if an approaching driver fails to yield, they will be stopped and ticketed by uniformed officers. Some of the intersections mentioned are Peterson and Nagle, 119th Street and Stewart Avenue, 103rd Street and South Prairie Avenue, and 86th Street and Commercial Avenue. Our readers are advised to be especially careful at those locations.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Lawsuit Filed Against Chicago Cop For Framing Motorist

We have previously reported about problems that Chicago police officers have had with framing innocent citizens. The past few days we reported about the falsified DUI arrests involving Joe Parker and John Haleas. This morning we read about a lawsuit filed against another Chicago Police officer for allegedly framing a motorist. We would like our readers to read about this incident.

The full article can be read here.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense lawyers at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Stepped Up Background Searches For Sheriff And Police

The Cook County Sheriff's Office and the Chicago Police are taking new steps to do background searches on employees and find out if any of their employees have criminal backgrounds or have had contact with police in the past. There are roughly 7,000 people employed by the Cook County Sheriff. Any sworn officer with a felony conviction cannot be employed by the Sheriff. Any employee that has had any contact with police is required to report this to the Sheriff. The Cook County Sheriff has ordered internal affairs to conduct thorough background searches on all the employees. The civilian employees will be treated differently than sworn officers.

The Chicago Police Department is implementing a polygraph machine program. Four officers and a sergeant are being sent for special training to learn how to properly operate the machines. Every applicant to the Chicago Police Department will be required to take a polygraph test. Approximately 295 applicants took the test last year. The Cook County Sheriff's Office already requires all sworn officer applicants to take the test.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense lawyers at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Schaumburg Camera Going Down But Way More On The Way

Just when it looked like the Village of Schaumburg was going to be doing the right thing, they had to let us down. We have previously reported about the second thoughts the village was having about the red light camera at the intersection of Meacham and Woodfield roads. The Village Board finally agreed to take down the red light turn camera at the intersection. But at the same time, they announced plans to install 9 more red light cameras throughout the village. All of this occurred Tuesday night at a Village Board meeting. Many residents showed up to express their disagreement with the red light program. Some of the residents handed out pamphlets at the meeting and several vehicles were seen in the Village Hall parking lot with windshield signs critical of the red light cameras. The Village Trustees decided to take down the red light camera that would catch drivers who failed to come to a complete stop before turning right on the red light. 98 percent of the tickets issued had been for that right turn on red. The Trustees kept in place the cameras to catch drivers proceeding directly through the intersection on the red light. At the same time the Village Trustees announced that they had applied to the Illinois Department of Transportation to install cameras along 9 other state owned intersections throughout the village.

The buzz created by this story is a sign that people are starting to stand up and take notice of what is happening around them. People should expect that as the economy continues to falter and communities start searching for easy ways to generate revenue, red light cameras will become more common. Let's face it. It's an easy and efficient way for towns and villages to generate revenue. At the same time they can easily counter any criticism by claiming that they are trying to protect the public. This particular intersection generated approximately $1 million in fines. According to information we received from our first posting, the Village paid the camera company $129,000 up front to set up the camera. Out of the $100 received from each ticket, the Village was to keep $70 and the camera company was to get $30. So, assuming $1 million in fines were paid, Schaumburg would walk away with $571,000 and the camera company would make $429,000. And that's only after less than 3 months of tickets. These red light cameras are like cash station machines. With potential revenues like this, it's amazing that there's not more red light cameras out there.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Guilty Plea Ends Judges Trial

Yesterday we posted a blog about the trial of Federal Judge Samuel Kent's trial which was about to start. This morning we can report that Judge Kent entered a guilty plea to one count of obstruction of justice in return for the government dropping the 5 remaining counts alleging sexual misconduct. This plea agreement brings the case to a close. In addition, Judge Kent immediately resigned his position as a federal judge. The plea agreement avoids the first trial against a federal judge for alleged violation of federal sex crime statutes.

The federal obstruction of justice charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison but the government is expected to ask for no more than 3 years in prison.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.