Experienced Lake County Illinois Criminal and Juvenile Defense Attorney

FORMER CHIEF OF THE JUVENILE DIVISION FOR THE LAKE COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE DEFENDING JUVENILES CHARGED WITH CRIMES IN LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS EXPERIENCE IN APPEALS OF INDICATED FINDINGS OF NEGLECT OR ABUSE BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS) DEFENSE OF UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR CHARGES CHAIRMAN - LAKE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION'S CRIMINAL LAW COMMITTEE DEFENSE OF JUVENILE COURT ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES

EXPERIENCE COUNTS - CHOOSE A LAWYER WITH THE EXPERTISE YOU NEED FOR JUVENILE COURT

When a child under the age of 18 years old is charged with a felony (or under 17 years old on a misdemeanor offense), the court proceedings are controlled by the Illinois Juvenile Court Act.  This set of statutes is extensive and contains many provisions that an experienced juvenile trial attorney can use to successfully defend your son or daughter. Steve McCollum has many years of experience both defending and prosecuting juvenile court cases.  He was previously the Chief of the Juvenile Trial Division of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.  In that position he prosecuted the most serious Juvenile Delinquency, Juvenile Abuse and Neglect, and Termination of Parental Rights cases. As the supervisor of all Juvenile prosecutors and the division that handles all juvenile prosecutions, Steve McCollum became extremely familiar with all parts of the Lake County Juvenile Court system, including the Juvenile Court Services Department, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and the staff of the Juvenile Intake and Detention facility.  Since leaving the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, Steve McCollum has maintained an extensive practice defending children and teenagers charged with criminal offenses in Lake County Juvenile Court which is located in Vernon Hills, Illinois. Steve McCollum has successfully defended minors charged with Battery, Criminal Damage to Property, Residential Burglary, Child Pornography, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, Criminal Sexual Assault, Criminal Trespass, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance or Cannabis (marijuana), vandalism, and many other offenses.  His knowledge of the juvenile court system in Lake County has been instrumental in ensuring that his clients make it through the juvenile court process without any long-term or permanent damage to their lives.  It is essential that a lawyer know all the participants in Lake County's juvenile court, and the many specialized programs and procedures used by that court. Attorneys who don't regularly practice in the Lake County Juvenile Court can be at an extreme disadvantage. Steve McCollum has many pending cases in the Lake County Juvenile Court system. The defense of a minor in Lake County Juvenile Court is a specialized area of practice that has many differences from adult criminal court.  Unfortunately, there are many attorneys who appear in Juvenile Court without having the background and experience necessary to competently defend a Juvenile Court case.  The attorney you choose to represent your son or daughter should be someone with that specialized experience.  The difference between adult criminal court and Juvenile Court can best be illustrated by reviewing the many specialized rules and procedures in the   Illinois Juvenile Court Act.  While some cases involving minors, such as ordinance violations for Unlawful Possession or Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor, may be heard in Lake County Branch Courts along with adult cases, most cases involving minors will be heard in Juvenile Court in Vernon Hills, Illinois. Most lawyers who practice in adult criminal courts will not have the necessary background and experience to effectively defend your son or daughter in a Juvenile Delinquency case because the laws, procedures and court personnel are different in these cases than in adult criminal cases.  To properly defend a Minor charged in Juvenile Court, it is necessary that your attorney know the local court rules, the different resources and agencies that are only available in the juvenile court system, and the personnel and procedures used by the Lake County Juvenile Court.  The Lake County Juvenile Court facility is located approximately two miles South of Illinois Route 60 on Illinois Route 21 in Vernon Hills, Illinois. The two Courts at this location handle three types of cases: juveniles charged with crimes (Juvenile Delinquency cases), adults accused of abusing or neglecting their children (Juvenile Abuse and Neglect cases), and Termination of Parental Rights cases. As a father of three children, Steve McCollum understands the importance of effectively defending a minor charged with an offense.  He understands that the future of a young person's life is at stake.  If your son or daughter has received a summons for Juvenile Court, or has been placed in the Lake County Juvenile Detention Center, or is being investigated by the police for a possible criminal offense, please call the Law Offices of Steven P. McCollum, P.C., at 847-662-2474.  There is no fee for the initial consultation and we accept all major credit cards.  Thank you.

ABOUT JUVENILE PETITIONS FOR ADJUDICATION OF WARDSHIP - MINORS CHARGED WITH CRIMES

The Illinois Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (705 ILCS 405/1-1 et seq) codifies specialized rules for Juvenile Delinquency Cases. These rules are different than those which apply to adult offenders. The Juvenile Court has jurisdiction and control over any person charged with a criminal offense who is under 17 years of age (except for certain statutory exceptions for extremely serious offenses committed by a person 15 years of age or older). There are special rules that apply to Juvenile cases concerning confidentiality, pretrial procedures, procedures and rights at trial, sentencing, registration as a sex offender, and other critical areas. Parents of Juveniles charged with a crime are required to hire an attorney to represent their child if they can afford to do so. If they seek the Public Defender, and can show that they are financially unable to hire an attorney, the Court will generally charge fees for the Public Defender's representation of their child. Steve McCollum’s experience as a juvenile court prosecutor included trials of sex cases, burglary, criminal damage to property, theft, reckless homicide, robbery, armed robbery, assault, battery, aggravated battery, unlawful use of weapons, and other offenses. In addition, he prosecuted a double First Degree Murder case of a 16 year old who was prosecuted as an adult. As a defense attorney Steve McCollum has defended all types of Juvenile Delinquency cases. Those cases have included charges of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, Burglary, Arson, Theft, Robbery, Child Pornography, Domestic Battery, Aggravated Battery, Unlawful Use of Weapons, Armed Violence, Criminal Damage to Property (vandalism), Involuntary Manslaughter, and other cases. It is important to note that many people are under the false impression that Juvenile Court cases cannot result in long-term problems for the minor charged. That is untrue. Not only do all Juvenile criminal cases hold the possibility of a sentence to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (prison for minors), in certain instances the Juvenile will be required to give DNA samples to be kept in a criminal database. In addition, Juvenile Sex Offenders are required to register as a sex offender in the town where they live, the town where they attend school, and the town where they work. Steve McCollum strongly believes that young people who are charged with crimes should be treated differently than adults. He has successfully fought cases where Juveniles have been charged with sex offenses, preventing them from having to register as sex offenders. He does everything possible to protect his Juvenile clients from having any long-term effects that might cripple their chances to lead successful, productive lives as adults. He has the experience in Lake County Juvenile Court to help your child through a difficult time.   JUVENILE CASES OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT In addition to Juvenile Delinquency cases, the Lake County Juvenile Court also hears cases involving petitions against parents or guardians for alleged abuse or neglect of their children.  These cases will usually be accompanied by a finding of abuse or neglect by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, known as DCFS.  These cases require an understanding of both the Juvenile Court Act provisions concerning abuse and/or neglect AND the rules and regulations of DCFS. Generally, DCFS will initiate an investigation of the alleged abuse or neglect.  They may seek to place your child in "protective custody", which will cause a Juvenile Court case to be initiated by the Lake County State's Attorney.  The Court will then conduct a "shelter care hearing" during which the Judge will determine whether your child must live outside of your home. If DCFS finds that there is credible evidence of abuse or neglect, they will issue an "indicated finding" of abuse or neglect.   Your first step is to find a lawyer who has extensive experience handling both Juvenile Court cases involving neglect or abuse allegations and appeals of DCFS findings.  If the Juvenile Court case is lost, the corresponding Appeal of the Indicated Finding of abuse or neglect cannot proceed. Steve McCollum previously handled many neglect and abuse cases both as a prosecutor and a defense attorney. In addition, this office regularly handles appeals of indicated findings of abuse or neglect before the Administrative Law Judge appointed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. If you need an attorney for this type of case, please call our office to discuss whether we can help you through this difficult situation.

Steve McCollum Law Offices of Steven P. McCollum, P.C. 415 Washington Street, Suite 103 Waukegan, Illinois 60085 Ph.:  (847) 662-2474 Fax: (847) 360-9100                               Steve McCollum is a well respected Lake County, Illinois criminal defense and juvenile defense lawyer, with over 25 years of experience as a prosecutor and defense attorney representing both adult and juvenile clients concerning cases throughout Northeastern Illinois, including the cities of Antioch, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Fox Lake, Grayslake, Gurnee, Highwood, Highland Park, Lake Villa, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Lindenhurst, Long Grove, Mundelein, Round Lake Area, Spring Grove, Vernon Hills, Wauconda, Waukegan, Zion, and all other areas of Lake County, Illinois in the areas of felony and misdemeanor criminal defense, DUI defense, and Juvenile Law.