Understanding Court Supervision as a Sentence for Crimes in Illinois

 Posted on February 28, 2021 in Criminal Law

It can be a scary experience when you or a loved one has been charged with a crime. There are many parts of the criminal justice system that are confusing, overwhelming, and at times just downright frustrating. Much of this frustration and anxiety stems from the initial uncertainty of the outcome of the situation and how it will affect the rest of your life. Certain criminal offenses carry stigmas with them and a conviction on your record could mar it forever. Some crimes even result in consequences that could impact you for the rest of your life, such as if you were convicted of an offense that will never be eligible for expungement. Fortunately, your fate is not set in stone when you are charged with a crime. There are also a variety of sentencing options that are available for the judge to choose from in many cases, including court supervision.

What Is Court Supervision?

In Illinois, the courts allow judges to sentence certain misdemeanor criminal offenders to court supervision, which then suspends the judgment in the case for a specified amount of time. Felony offenders are not eligible for court supervision and must be sentenced to conditional discharge, probation, or prison. Rather than immediately doling out a conviction, court supervision basically puts the case on pause until your period of supervision has concluded. Court supervision also functions very similarly to probation, as the judge can choose to include certain provisions in the order for supervision that you must follow or face further punishment.

Conditions of Court Supervision

When a judge puts conditions on a person’s order for court supervision, the conditions are mainly there for the person’s own benefit. Unlike most other criminal outcomes, the successful completion of a court supervision sentence ends with your case being dismissed and prevents a conviction from appearing on your criminal record.

Court supervision is seen as a type of rehabilitation program, in which the stipulations of the supervision all relate to the person’s treatment or to their offense. Common conditions of court supervision include:

• Making regular, scheduled appearances in front of the court, person, or social service agency as designated by the court

• Paying fines and court costs associated with the case

• Undergoing psychological, medical, and/or substance abuse evaluation and treatment

• Continuing to go to work or attend school

• Performing acts of community service

• Refraining from owning a firearm and/or using drugs and/or alcohol

Speak With Our Arlington Heights, IL Criminal Defense Attorney Today

If you have been charged with any type of crime, the first step that you should take is contacting a reputable Rolling Meadows, IL criminal defense lawyer for help. Scott F. Anderson, Attorney at Law has more than 25 years of experience in the field and will put vast legal knowledge to work for you. To schedule a free consultation, call our office today at 847-253-3400.

Sources:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073000050K5-6-3.1

http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/pdf/ResearchReports/Policies_and_Procedures_of_the_Illinois_Criminal_Justice_System_Aug2012.pdf