CALL US TODAY AT 312-835-2996
Criminal Defense Attorney
Skokie, IL
Whether you, a friend or a loved one made a mistake, used improper judgment or have been falsely accused, Illinois Criminal Defense lawyer Debbie Cohen is prepared to stand up for you. Cohen Law understands that the legal world can be overwhelming and scary. The consequences of a criminal disposition can affect your personal and professional life and extend well beyond fines and jail time. Having a highly respected, tough & experienced attorney by your side can make all the difference in the outcome of your case.
Ms. Cohen represents all criminal matters including alcohol crimes, assault and battery, bail and bond hearings, burglary, criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct, domestic battery/violence, drug charges, DUIs, expungements/sealings, financial crimes, forgery, fraud, gun and weapons cases, Juvenile matters, misdemeanors and felonies, orders of protection, probation violations, property crimes, resisting arrest charges, robbery, student crimes, theft, underage drinking/drug charges, and warrants.
Ms. Cohen can help you with these Criminal Defense charges:
Assault and Battery
Did you lose your temper and get into a physical fight? Did you drink too much and overreact to something? Did you protect somebody else? Did you shove somebody who got in your face? Did you threaten somebody? If you did any of these things or something similar, you may be facing criminal battery charges because somebody is alleging that you harmed them.
In Illinois, the offense of Assault (720 ILCS 5/12-1) is committed when a person without legal justification puts another person in fear of being harmed. In Illinois, the offense of Battery (720 ILCS 5/12-3) is typically committed when a person intentionally causes bodily harm to another person. However, in certain situations, the contact does not need to be physically harmful, but can instead be insulting or provoking. To be criminal, the person must act “intentionally or knowingly without legal justification.” Battery is typically classified as a Class A misdemeanor carrying up to a year in jail and up to $2,500 in fines. In certain circumstances, a battery may be upgraded to a felony charge, which carries possible prison time and higher fines.
An assault or battery conviction will always follow you and will detrimentally affect your personal and professional life. A criminal conviction on your record can affect your ability to obtain a job or housing, receive or maintain professional licenses, obtain a loan, or continue with higher education. Additionally, the label of having an assault or battery conviction may cause you humiliation and unfair judgment by family, friends and colleagues.
You must speak to an experienced criminal attorney about your matter and any possible defenses to your case. As a former Cook County ASA turned defense attorney, Ms. Cohen not only brings you 20 years of experience, but also the care, skill and judgment in beating criminal charges. Protect yourself and do not allow one mistake, one moment of bad judgment, one moment of drunken stupor, to haunt you for the rest of your life. Contact Skokie criminal defense lawyer Debbie Cohen now so she can begin preparing your defense and fight for you.
Domestic Violence
In Illinois, domestic battery is a criminal offense that involves bodily harm caused to any family or household member without legal justification. Additionally, the statute provides that an individual can be charged with domestic battery should he or she (without legal justification) make physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with any family or household member.
(720 ILCS 5/12-3.2). You can be charged with domestic battery if the victim is: a family member related by blood (i.e. mom, dad, sister, brother, cousin), a girlfriend or boyfriend (regardless if you live together), a person with whom you had a child (regardless if you are still romantically involved), a spouse or ex-spouse, a roommate or a child or step-child.
Domestic battery is typically considered a Class A misdemeanor where the judge can sentence you up to a year of imprisonment and fine you up to $2,500 in fines. However, if you have a prior domestic battery conviction or other specified charges, the charge may be considered a felony which carries possible prison time and higher fines.
It is critical to understand that domestic battery charges differ from regular battery charges because domestic battery charges do not afford an individual the ability to receive a sentence of supervision (which can be removed/expunged from their record). Rather, if you are found guilty or plead guilty to domestic battery (even with no criminal background), you will receive a conviction that will permanently stay on your public record.
You must speak to an experienced criminal attorney about your matter and any possible defenses to your case. As a former Cook County ASA turned defense attorney, Ms. Cohen not only brings you 20 years of experience, but also the care, skill and judgment in beating your domestic battery charge. Protect yourself and do not allow one mistake, one moment of bad judgment, or an unsubstantiated charge to haunt you for the rest of your life. Contact Skokie criminal lawyer Debbie Cohen now so she can begin preparing your domestic battery defense and fight for you. Also, if you need assistance with a divorce or an order of protection, Skokie Family lawyer Debbie Cohen will fight for you in your divorce case.
Drug/Narcotic Offenses
In Illinois, drug charges range from misdemeanors to felonies and include anything from possession of marijuana, controlled substances, prescription drugs, to possession with intent to deliver, manufacturer or distribute. Regardless if the drug crime you’re charged with is minor or major, you may be at risk of facing jail time and creating a permanent criminal record. Drug defense attorney Debbie Cohen provides help to those charged with:
- Marijuana
- Cocaine and crack cocaine
- Heroin
- Prescription drugs
- Opiates
- Methamphetamines
- Acid or LSD
- Ecstasy
- Drug paraphernalia
- Possession with intent to deliver, manufacture, or distribute
You must speak to an experienced criminal lawyer about your matter and any possible defenses to your case. Ms. Cohen spent years prosecuting drug crimes for the State’s Attorney. She now uses her experience from being a prosecutor to help defend her clients. Additionally, she brings you 20 years of legal experience combined with her care, skill and judgment used in beating criminal drug charges. Protect yourself and contact Skokie criminal defense attorney Debbie Cohen now so she can begin preparing your drug defense and fight for you.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs– DUI
Driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, (625 ILCS 11-501), also referred to as DUI, is a common charge in Illinois. Many people believe they are capable to legally drive after consuming a drink or two or after ingesting marijuana. However, if a police officer pulls you over after you consumed any alcohol or drugs, you are at stake for being charged with a DUI. It does not matter if you don’t feel buzzed, you "only" had 2 drinks or if you barely smoked any weed - the police officer is able to make observations about your driving abilities, your behavior/demeanor, and your physical appearance in order to determine if you appear to be impaired by alcohol and/or drugs. A DUI can follow and haunt you for the rest of your life, so make sure you have the best Skokie DUI lawyer ready to defend your rights.
Ms. Cohen understands how stressful it is to be arrested for DUI. You must speak to an experienced DUI attorney about your matter and any possible defenses to your case. As a former Cook County ASA who prosecuted hundreds of DUI cases, Ms. Cohen not only brings you 20 years of experience, but also the care, skill and judgment needed to beat your driving under the influence charge. Protect yourself and do not allow one mistake, one moment of bad judgment, one time of drunken stupor or an unsubstantiated charge to haunt you for the rest of your life. Contact Skokie DUI lawyer Debbie Cohen now so she can begin preparing your DUI defense and fight for you.
Theft
Theft involves the taking of another’s property without the consent of the owner. In Illinois, there are multiple ways a person can be charged with theft. Theft is either charged as a misdemeanor or felony offense and the gravity of the charge and related penalties depends on the value and type of property stolen and other factors including the location in which the theft took place. For example, Illinois law sees a difference between theft that occurred by breaking into a person’s residence versus a theft that occurred by taking an item from a retail store. Criminal defense lawyer Debbie Cohen is committed to defending you in any type of theft charge, including but not limited to:
- Retail Theft, shoplifting, price-switching, tag-switching
- Employee theft
- Burglary
- Robbery
- Residential Burglary
- Motor vehicle theft / auto theft/ car theft and carjacking
- Fraud
- Identity theft
Illinois law is very strict when it comes to penalties for theft and you therefore, must speak to an experienced criminal attorney about your matter and any possible defenses to your case. Ms. Cohen spent years prosecuting theft cases for the State’s Attorney. She now uses her experience from being a prosecutor to help defend her clients and combines her 20 years of legal experience with the care, skill and judgment needed to beat a theft charge. Protect yourself and contact Skokie criminal defense attorney Debbie Cohen now so she can begin preparing your defense and fight for you.
Weapons/Gun Cases
In Illinois, if you have been arrested for a weapons violation, you could be facing serious penalties, especially if you have a prior criminal record. The gun laws in Illinois tend to be stricter than several other states and many weapon charges in Illinois are considered to be felonies (not misdemeanors), which means they carry higher fines and jail sentences. Even if you possess a conceal and carry permit, there are instances when you may be charged with a violation of the gun laws. Illinois gun laws are strictly enforced, which means that if you are convicted of unlawful use, possession, or discharge of a weapon, you may be faced with a mandatory minimum jail sentence.
Criminal Defense attorney Debbie Cohen is committed to defending you in any type of weapons charge, including but not limited to:
- Unlawful Use of a Weapon (UUW) - illegal weapons include but not limited to guns, knives, machetes, switchblades, tear gas, bombs, gun silencers, bludgeons, & black-jacks
- Unlawful Use or Possession of a Weapon by a Felon
- Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon
- Aggravated Discharge of a Weapon
- Reckless Discharge of a Weapon
Ms. Cohen spent years prosecuting weapons cases as a prosecutor for the State’s Attorney. She now uses her experience from being a prosecutor to help defend her clients and combines her 20 years of legal experience with the care, skill and judgment needed to beat a weapons charge. Protect yourself and contact Skokie criminal defense attorney Debbie Cohen now so she can begin preparing your defense and fight for you.
Expungements
Skokie Expungement lawyer Debbie Cohen can help you clear your criminal background. An expungement is when a criminal arrest or disposition is permanently removed from your criminal background. It is a petition to the court to remove any and all information from the court records and law enforcement records. Even if you were charged with a crime that was ultimately dismissed or you were found not guilty, the arrest will remain on your record until it is expunged.
Having a criminal background can negatively affect you in multiple ways including denial of a job, denial of a rental application, denial of acceptance into a school program or grant, denial for financial assistance, and denial of an FOID card. For example, if you are asked on a job application or rental application whether or not you have ever been "CONVICTED" of a crime, you can legitimately answer “no” if you had been found not guilty or the charges were dismissed. However, the employer or landlord may still be able to see the "arrest" on your criminal background if it was not expunged. Even though the charges were dismissed or you were found not guilty, you can still be denied a job or credit applications. Additionally, you may face embarrassment or humiliation when having to explain the circumstances of the arrest. This is frustrating and discouraging and will seem unfair.
Skokie Expungement attorney Debbie Cohen understands the legal requirements and procedure to expunge criminal charges from your record. She can review your matter and provide an answer as to whether one or multiple arrests may be expunged from your record. Additionally, if you do not meet the eligibility requirements for an expungement, Ms. Cohen will review and determine if there is another remedy to clear your record, such as sealing or pardoning a prior conviction. Sealing your record will keep your arrest record out of public view.
Don’t let your past mistakes affect your future. Contact Skokie Expungement attorney Debbie Cohen now.
Juvenile Criminal Matters
If your child has been arrested and charged with a criminal offense, it is important to take immediate action to hire an experienced and aggressive attorney. Skokie Juvenile attorney Debbie Cohen can help your child receive a favorable outcome with his/her criminal charges. Juvenile lawyer Debbie Cohen works to protect your child’s future. Ms. Cohen’s compassionate and non-judgmental demeanor enables her to connect with teens and young adults in a unique and personalized manner. Debbie not only becomes your child’s legal advocate, but also many times becomes your child’s mentor and confidante. Attorney Debbie Cohen is passionate about assisting kids who are at a crossroad in life and helping them choose the correct road to pursue. Your child deserves an attorney who can help prevent a criminal record from following and haunting them for the rest of his/her life.
Teens and children under the age of 17 who commit criminal acts are typically charged with Juvenile charges. The Illinois criminal court system recognizes that children and teens interpret and comprehend things differently than adults, and therefore they are treated differently than adults. However, there are instances when a juvenile over the age of 15 can be charged as an adult based upon the seriousness of the crime or the juvenile’s prior criminal background. Ms. Cohen can help your child who is charged with the following:
- School crimes
- Drug crimes
- Weapon charges
- Illegal intoxication
- Retail theft or shoplifting
- Burglary or Robbery
- Assault and Battery
Your child’s future can be destroyed by one criminal act. Juvenile Attorney Debbie Cohen’s focus is to diligently represent your child and mitigate any punishment and/or detention. She emphasizes alternatives to detention, including community service, diversion programs, rehabilitation and education. Ms. Cohen truly cares about her client’s mental and physical well-being and does all she can to protect her client's future. She recognizes that the criminal system is scary for both parents and children and takes the extra time and compassion to work with both you and your child. Ms. Cohen not only focuses on the here and now, but also works to prevent your child from having a permanent criminal record and from committing any future criminal acts. Contact Skokie Juvenile attorney Debbie Cohen today if your child has been accused of a crime.
Cohen Law is Here to Help
As a former Cook County Assistant State's Attorney turned defense attorney, Ms. Cohen not only brings you 20 years of experience, but also the care, skill and judgment in beating your criminal charge. Protect yourself and do not allow one mistake, one moment of bad judgment, or an unsubstantiated charge to haunt you for the rest of your life. Contact Skokie Criminal Defense attorney Debbie Cohen now so she can begin preparing your defense and fight for you.
Contact Us
Contact experienced attorney, Ms. Debbie Cohen,
today for legal help via contact form or by calling her directly at
(312) 835-2996
COHEN LAW LLC
1363 Shermer Road, Suite 228, Northbrook, IL 60062
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