Tenaciously Fighting to Protect Your Rights and Freedom – Chicago Criminal Defense Law Firm
Whether you have been arrested or you are merely under investigation for a criminal offense, it is normal to experience a wide range of emotions that include fear, confusion, embarrassment and even anger. Sometimes the shock of being restrained by handcuffs and placed in back of a squad car causes those who have had little contact with the criminal justice system to panic and do whatever they think they can to appease the police.
Sadly, county jails and state prisons are filled with inmates who thought waiving their rights and cooperating with law enforcement was the best way to prevent formal criminal charges. State and federal law enforcement agents frequently lie or mislead suspects into inadvertently waiving critical rights and assisting the police in gathering evidence that will be used against them. Whether you are arrested or simply being asked to participate in an interview with a police officer or detective, YOU SHOULD NEVER WAIVE YOUR MIRANDA RIGHTS TO REMAIN SILENT AND HAVE AN ATTORNEY PRESENT DURING QUESTIONING!
Experienced Chicago criminal defense attorney Robert J. Callahan has almost two decades of experience protecting ordinary citizens from a rush to overreaching, a rush to judgment, misconduct by prosecutors or police, and sloppy police investigations. Mr. Callahan and his team of criminal defense attorneys are committed to defending the Constitutional and statutory rights of their clients and mitigating the risk of regrettable errors in judgment. Our legal team utilizes experienced investigators so that we can identify and assess witnesses, analyze forensic evidence, uncover police procedural errors, challenge chemical testing results of BAC or controlled substances and otherwise aggressively challenge the evidence against our clients. While Mr. Callahan has developed a reputation in the niche area of drug defense litigation, his firm has successfully defended clients in the full range of criminal offenses including:
- Violent Crimes
- DUI/DWI
- Sex Offenses
- Theft Offenses
- White Collar Crimes
- Crimes against Property
- Federal Crimes
- Misdemeanors
When our Chicago criminal defense law firm is obtained early during the investigative phase of a criminal case, we sometimes are able to prevent formal charges or influence the prosecutor to file lesser or fewer charges. Prosecutors have extensive discretion in determining whether to bring charges and what charges are appropriate so we use a range of strategies to impact such decisions. We may control the flow of law enforcement interviews; oppose searches of our client’s person, home, business or vehicle; and expose deficiencies in the prosecutor’s case.
A conviction of either a misdemeanor or felony can result in very serious consequences. A misdemeanor conviction in Illinois may result in a term of incarceration of up to one year in county jail and fines up to $2500 while felonies may result in a lengthy term in state prison and tens of thousands of dollars in fines. There are many other negative consequences of a Chicago criminal conviction depending on the charges against you, which may include:
- Orders to pay restitution
- Public criminal records discoverable by employers, landlords and others
- Immigration consequences including removal and/or a to future entry
- Compulsory participation in anger management, alcohol classes, drug rehabilitation and similar programs
- Loss of driving privileges
- Forfeiture of certain rights, such as firearm possession, jury service and right to vote
- Probation
- Registration as a sex offender
- Mandatory installation of an Ignition Interlock Device (IID)
If you are facing the considerable resources of the state or federal government, our criminal defense attorneys at Robert J. Callahan & Associates employ all of our years of combined experience, expertise and investigative resources to seek a dismissal of charges or acquittal after trial. When these options are unrealistic, we work diligently to build a compelling defense strategy so that we can take an aggressive negotiating posture during plea negotiations.
While some defendants may have the option to use a public defender, private criminal defense attorney typically have lighter case loads and more resources for independent investigations and expensive testing (i.e. DNA testing). If you retain our Chicago criminal lawyers, some of the ways we may be able to help include:
- Using investigation and cross-examination to expose misrepresentation and lies by witnesses
- Pursuing a dismissal of charges prior to trial or a NOT GUILTY verdict after trial
- Filing for a hearing to suppress illegally obtained or improper evidence
- Utilizing experts like polygraphists, forensic chemists, accident reconstruction experts, medical experts and ballistics experts
- Negotiating aggressively for dismissal of certain charges, reduction in the grade of charges or diversion
- Undertake extensive forensic investigation to discover exculpatory evidence
Whether you are under investigation by a law enforcement agency or have been charged with a criminal offense, the Chicago criminal defense law firm of Robert J. Callahan & Associates is committed to aggressively protecting our clients from incarceration and other hardships associated with a criminal conviction. We offer a free consultation so contact us today by calling us 24/7 at 312-322-9000 or contact us online by submitting an online contact form or through our live chat.