Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Why Online Restrictions Can Become A Felony Criminal Case In Illinois
A registered sex offender in Chicago may face a new criminal case because of an online account, a message, a profile name, a dating app, a gaming identity, a blog, or a social media post. These cases often begin quietly. A probation officer may see an app on a phone. A registry compliance officer may compare a public profile to registration paperwork. A detective may receive a complaint from a parent. A platform may send information to law enforcement. A family member, employer, school employee, or neighbor may report an online interaction. Once police believe an account was not properly disclosed or that a prohibited communication occurred, the situation can move from a compliance concern to a felony prosecution.
Illinois law requires registered sex offenders and sexual predators to provide accurate registration information, including all email addresses, instant messaging identities, chat room identities, other internet communications identities used or planned for use, URLs, blogs, and other internet sites maintained by the person or used by the person to upload content or post messages. The law also requires a current photograph, address, employment information, phone information, school information, and other identifying details. This is why a Chicago criminal defense attorney must review the exact account at issue, not just the name of the platform. A person may believe that a Facebook account, Instagram handle, TikTok username, YouTube comment identity, gaming chat name, or private messaging account is too informal to matter. Illinois prosecutors may take the position that the identity should have been reported.
