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What trends do you see in the prosecution of violent crimes in Illinois?

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In Illinois, the current trend in prosecuting violent crimes involves increased collaboration between state and federal authorities. Unlike the past, where they often operated independently, today they are working together to address the rising incidence of violence in the state. The federal government and state prosecutors now cooperate, and if certain criteria are met, the federal government may take on the prosecution.

Typically, federal involvement requires the alleged crime to be exceptionally heinous or the individual to have an extensive history of violent or gun-related offenses. Recently, the federal government has been targeting violent gangs in Chicago. They employ the RICO conspiracy, asserting that these gangs function like organized corporations or companies, benefiting mutually from criminal activities such as drug trafficking and other crimes.

In the Northern District of Illinois, the federal government has indicted several gangs, varying in size, including smaller groups associated with specific streets. The charges under RICO conspiracy encompass multiple offenses, including murders, assaults, attempted murders, and drug crimes. Consequently, individuals, often young kids aged 19 to 40, now face the prospect of life imprisonment due to this collaborative approach between state and federal authorities. This marks the prevailing trend in Chicago’s current approach to addressing violent crimes.


Chicago, IL criminal defense attorney Gal Pissetzky discusses the trends he sees in the prosecution of violent crimes in Illinois. In Illinois, the contemporary approach to prosecuting violent crimes involves enhanced collaboration between state and federal authorities. Unlike the past, where these entities operated independently, they now work together to address the escalating incidence of violence in the state. Cooperation between the federal government and state prosecutors has become more prevalent, allowing the federal government to assume prosecution under specific criteria.

Typically, federal involvement necessitates the alleged crime being exceptionally heinous or the individual having an extensive history of violent or gun-related offenses. In recent times, the federal government has focused on targeting violent gangs in Chicago, utilizing the RICO conspiracy. This legal strategy posits that these gangs function similarly to organized corporations or companies, mutually benefiting from criminal activities like drug trafficking.

Within the Northern District of Illinois, the federal government has brought indictments against various gangs, ranging in size from larger organizations to smaller groups associated with specific streets. The charges under the RICO conspiracy encompass a spectrum of offenses, including murders, assaults, attempted murders, and drug crimes. Consequently, individuals, often young adults aged 19 to 40, now confront the possibility of life imprisonment due to this collaborative state and federal approach. This reflects the predominant trend in Chicago’s current strategy for addressing violent crimes.

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