IF
YOU'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT - YOU NEED AN ATTORNEY WHO HAS EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT
OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES STEVE
McCOLLUM HAS THE EXPERIENCE YOU NEED: |
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| Steve McCollum |
- Former Chief
of the Juvenile Trial Division of the Lake County State's Attorney's Office
- Former
Chief Deputy State's Attorney for Lake County, Illinois
- Former Chairperson of
the Criminal and Juvenile Law Committee for the Lake County Bar Association
- Extensive
Experience Representing Parents Accused of Abuse or Neglect
- Extensive Experience
in Appeals of Indicated Findings of Abuse or Neglect by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
- Extensive Experience in Presenting Expert Witnesses in Hearings
- 16 Years of Experience as a Prosecutor
- 20 Years of Experience as a Defense
Attorney
- President of the Lake County Bar Association (2013-2014)
- Board Member of the Lake Bar Foundation (Currently)
- Appointed
Member of the Lake County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
- Appointed Member
of the Lake County Sexual Assault Coordinating Council
- Extensive Experience in
Defending Adult and Juvenile Sexual Assault Allegations
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If you have been
accused of child neglect or abuse and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, (commonly known as D.C.F.S.)
has either started an investigation or has made a finding of abuse or neglect concerning your children, it is imperative that
you have an attorney who has experience in all relevant areas, including DCFS investigations and appeals, Juvenile Court proceedings
and adult criminal defense. Very few attorneys have that experience and expertise. Steve McCollum has successfully defended
clients who are being investigated by DCFS and has successfully appealed indicated findings of abuse. He has also been
the Chief of the Juvenile Division of the Lake County State's Attorney's Office and defended people in Juvenile Court accused
of neglect or abuse of their child. He also has an extensive background defending adults charged with offenses against
children, including sexual assault allegations. Steven P. McCollum practices law in Waukegan, Illinois, and handles all aspects of cases involving investigations
and appeals of findings by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. He was previously the Chief Deputy State's
Attorney for Lake County. In that capacity, he worked with DCFS on many cases involving allegations of neglect or abuse of
children. Since becoming a defense attorney, he has developed an extensive practice defending people who are under investigation
by the police or DCFS concerning their children. Since entering private practice in 1995, Steve McCollum has represented mothers and fathers who have
been accused of abusing or neglecting their children. This has included representing parents who have been investigated but
where Steve has successfully aided them in obtaining a finding by the DCFS investigator that there was no abuse or neglect
(an unfounded report). It has also included cases where an indicated finding of abuse by DCFS was successfully appealed in
a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge assigned by DCFS.
An appeal of a DCFS finding of neglect or abuse
can be extremely important to people who work with children, such as teachers, daycare workers, and professionals of all kinds.
If an indicated finding of abuse is not overturned on appeal, it can result in a teacher or other professional not being able
to work in their profession. Teachers and other professionals will often have additional rights concerning the investigative
process that your attorney should be aware of to enable him to fully defend you.
Steve McCollum has represented
many different types of professionals who have been faced with a DCFS investigation, including doctors, lawyers, teachers,
daycare workers, and others. He has successfully appealed DCFS findings of abuse.
If you want to know about general
procedures and what to expect concerning a DCFS investigation or appeal, please visit DCFS's website: DCFS
If you have any matter involving an investigation of abuse or neglect by the Illinois Department of Children
and Family Services, please call immediately to ensure that your rights are protected. There is no fee for the initial consultation.
Please call (847) 662-2474.
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For more information
about the background and experience of Steve McCollum, please continue here: General Information
Steven P.
McCollum
Law Offices of Steven P. McCollum
415 Washington Street, Suite
103
Waukegan, Illinois 60085
Ph - (847) 662-2474
Email: StevenPMcCollum@aol.com
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