Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Warrantless Arrests Are Legal—But Not Always Lawful
If you’ve been arrested in Chicago without a warrant, you’re not alone. Every day, people are taken into custody by police or federal agents without ever seeing a warrant signed by a judge. It happens in neighborhoods from Little Village to Lincoln Park, and it often leads to serious felony charges. But not every warrantless arrest is legal under the Constitution or Illinois law.
I’ve spent decades as a Chicago criminal defense lawyer handling cases where the entire foundation of the state or federal government’s case rests on an arrest made without prior judicial approval. Some of those arrests were perfectly legal—others weren’t. If you don’t understand your rights, you may not realize the government overstepped until it’s too late.
