Northern Illinois Criminal and Juvenile Defense Lawyers

At Whitted Takiff LLC, we provide experienced adult criminal defense and juvenile defense for clients the greater Chicago area, Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County, and the other collar counties, and throughout northern Illinois.

Our team of trial lawyers includes former public defenders, a former attorney for the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian, a former juvenile court probation officer, and a former judge.

We are available to provide adult or juvenile defense for people charged with any felony, misdemeanor or ordinance violation, including:

  • Drug offenses, such as drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, sales or distribution, possession with intent to deliver, or prescription drug fraud
  • DUI/DWI/drunk driving charges
  • Truancy or curfew violations
  • Underage drinking, minor in possession of alcohol, or underage smoking
  • Theft and property offenses, including auto theft, theft at school, theft of school property, credit card theft, shoplifting and vandalism
  • Assault and aggravated assault, including assaults on school staff, fights at school, and domestic violence
  • Internet harassment such as MySpace harassment and MySpace bullying
  • Bomb threats or threats of violence
  • Violent crimes

We understand the serious consequences a criminal conviction can have for parents, children, and family members, and we are committed to protecting your rights. In both adult and juvenile defense, our goal is to help you resolve your criminal charges in the most positive way possible under the circumstances.

In juvenile defense cases, our attorneys focus on protecting your child’s future and his or her right to an education. We will strive to keep his or her criminal and school records clean and to prevent or minimize the consequences of a criminal conviction, such as loss of eligibility for college financial aid. Since we are familiar with IEPs and mental health information, we can present mitigation knowledgeably and persuasively.

Personal attention and accessibility are key components of our representation. We take the time to learn about your case and to offer you practical, realistic options.

Contact us through this site or by calling 847-564-8662 to speak with an experienced and dedicated criminal defense lawyer.

Practice Areas for Parents

Every child has unique and individual needs. Due process, equal protection, and both state and federal special education law require that every student has access to an appropriate education. If your school district has failed to meet the educational needs of your child, we can help.

Are you the parent of a child who has been threatened with suspension or expulsion from school? You have a right to request a suspension or expulsion hearing through the school district, and the right to protect your child’s access to an appropriate education. The attorneys and advocates of Whitted, Takiff + Hansen, LLC, can help.

Have you received a letter in the mail from your school board requesting payment for out-of-district tuition, even though your child resides in the school district? You have the right to appeal through a school residency hearing. The attorneys and advocates of Whitted, Takiff + Hansen, LLC, can stand by your side to protect your rights and those of your child.

The Illinois School Student Records Act and the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act require school records confidentiality. This applies to all education records, including educational assessments, disciplinary records, mental health records, counseling notes, and psychiatric evaluations. If you feel your child’€™s school records confidentiality has been breached or that the record contains incorrect or inappropriate information, we can help.

Brooke R. Whitted was formerly appointed by the Superintendent of the Illinois State Board of Education to the Illinois Anti-Bullying and Harassment Task Force. This statutorily-created group will explore causes and consequences of bullying, as well as develop guidelines for school districts to most effectively address this pervasive national issue. For more information, see below, as well as the Task Force’s website.

At Whitted, Takiff + Hansen, LLC, we provide experienced adult criminal defense and juvenile defense for clients the greater Chicago area, Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County, and the other collar counties, and throughout northern Illinois.

If you are the parent of a child with special needs, whether your child has autism, Asperger Syndrome, Down Syndrome, a learning disability, a behavioral disability, a physical disability or an emotional disability, you need to protect your legal right to make educational, medical, and financial decisions on your child’s behalf. We can help you.

Mental health issues in children have reached an increasingly disturbing level in the past decade, and research has uncovered that in Illinois 1 in 10 children now suffer from a mental illness, however only 20% of those actually receive mental health services. There was such a concern regarding this increasing problem in Illinois that a task force was created and ultimately led to the creation of the Children’s Mental Health Act of 2003, a law in Illinois which now mandates school districts to address this problem through curriculum and various support services. In addition to this law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) also mandates that children who qualify for an Emotional Disability receive an appropriate education by their local school district.

WTH offers years of experience in the civil and criminal litigation arena, and our representation of professionals in the state and federal courts encompasses various areas, including contract disputes, arbitration issues, administrative hearing appeals, as well as to the areas of school, special education and mental health laws. While the firm prides itself on working to resolve disputes without litigation, we have the experience and knowledge to represent you in both civil and criminal law matters that are related to education and mental health issues.