East St. Louis Home Invasion Defense Lawyer

Home Invasion Defense Attorney in East St. Louis, IL

Your home is supposed to be a place you can go to feel safe from the world. When someone breaks in, it doesn’t just disrupt that illusion of safety. It also places you and your family in grave danger. If you acted against an intruder and are now facing criminal charges, you should hire an East St. Louis home invasion defense lawyer right away.

Our founding attorney, Jessica Koester, has decades of experience representing clients facing serious criminal charges. Our team is intimately familiar with home invasion defense laws and how to use them to build a case on your behalf. If you need an East St. Louis home invasion defense attorney, you can trust us to provide you with aggressive representation. When you are accused of home invasion, you deserve the help of The Law Office of Jessica Koester, LLC.

Illinois Home Invasion by the Numbers

East St. Louis, Illinois, has an estimated crime rate of 26.75 crimes per 1,000 residents, making it less safe than 88% of other US cities. The unemployment rate is nearly 20%, and census data indicate that 56% of families with children live in poverty. In 2019, the city had a homicide rate that was roughly 28 times the national average. It should come as no surprise that home invasions are relatively common.

Hire a Home Invasion Defense Lawyer

Illinois law allows for the justifiable use of force against home invaders. However, residents still face legal issues when exercising their right to defend their homes. If you’ve found yourself in this position, you should hire a home invasion defense lawyer to defend your rights. Your lawyer can evaluate the evidence and come up with an effective defense strategy, improving the chances of a positive outcome in your case.

Understanding the Illinois Castle Doctrine

Even in areas with lower crime compared to the rest of East St. Louis, such as Claremont/Fairlawn, homeowners and renters need to be on guard against burglars and other home invaders. In some cases, that requires the use of force, which is where Illinois’ Castle Doctrine comes into play.

To be considered self-defense, your use of force against an intruder must be:

• Perceived as necessary to prevent the person from unlawful entry or attack
• In response to violence or the reasonable assumption of violence
• Necessary to prevent the commission of a felony within the dwelling

If you used deadly force in this context, you should not be held criminally liable for your actions. Your lawyer can help you construct a defense under the Illinois Castle Law that protects your right to protect your home.

East St. Louis Home Invasion Defense Lawyer

You have the right to defend your property against intruders. If you injured or killed someone who was breaking into your home illegally, an East St. Louis home invasion defense lawyer can help you prove that you should not be held criminally liable for those acts. The Law Office of Jessica Koester, LLC, has the knowledge and experience you can count on.

Attorney Jessica Koester has decades of experience with home invasion defense cases. She can help with yours, too. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.