Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Understanding the limits of police authority is critical if you’re facing criminal charges in Chicago or the surrounding counties. The difference between reasonable suspicion and probable cause may seem like legal jargon, but that difference can determine whether the charges against you are legitimate—or completely unconstitutional.
Every day in Cook County courts, we see cases built on street stops, traffic encounters, and so-called “consensual” conversations that evolve into full-blown arrests. The turning point in nearly every case is the justification behind the officer’s decision to approach and search someone. That’s where the legal standards of reasonable suspicion and probable cause come into play.
As criminal defense attorneys in Chicago with decades of courtroom experience, we know how to examine the moment a case truly began: not at the arrest, but at the stop. And we use that to build powerful defenses for our clients.
