There are countless individuals who have seen their lives ruined because of their drug problems. Many of these people are trapped in a bad situation, unable to get the help they need to regain control over their future. They continue to find themselves being arrested for a number of different crimes, and with each conviction, it becomes even more difficult to make the changes they need to make.

I am attorney W. Scott Hanken, and I know that these are serious cases. In my 30-year legal career as a prosecutor and defense attorney, I have seen the devastating effect that drugs can have on families. I want to ensure that those who are facing these charges have options available to them to be able to protect their future.

I will work with you to review your entire situation. I want to know how best to address the problems that you are dealing with, so that you are able to finally get the help you need. I have extensive experience defending in drug crimes cases including:

• Manufacturing and delivering of controlled substances such as cocaine, crack, methamphetamines, ecstasy, marijuana, synthetic drugs, look-alike substances and prescription medications
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• Possessing or selling of controlled substances
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• Protecting property in drug-asset forfeitures, which are civil proceedings connected with the criminal cases

A large portion of the services that I provide to my clients facing drug charges concerns evaluating the possible sentencing alternatives that may be available to them in Illinois. For some offenders, it may be possible to divert the case to drug court, where they will be able to receive the treatment that they need in order to regain control over their drug problems.

Other options that could potentially be available include first-time offender probation, impact incarceration or TASC probation. TASC probation involves the expungement of the arrest from the offender's record as long as he or she successfully completes the program, which is a major benefit to those who actually qualify.

Mission Statement  

 My mission is to provide each and every client  with the highest quality representation possible in order to obtain the best result achievable in every case. I am further dedicated to vigorously and aggressively  defending you, reviewing your case and communicating with you.

The state of Illinois has decriminalized personal amounts of cannabis. A personal or small amount is 10 grams or less. This means that if you are caught possessing 10 grams or less of cannabis, you won't face jail time. Instead, you will have to pay a fine.Local areas, like cities and villages, often have their laws regarding cannabis. State law trumps city law so the city can't arrest you for possessing a personal amount of cannabis. 

Having paraphernalia, or tools, to use cannabis is also a crime. However, if you are found with 10 grams or less of cannabis the possession of paraphernalia will be treated as a civil offense. Like the possession of small amounts of cannabis, you will only be required to pay a fine ranging from $100 to $200 and will not be at risk to face jail time.

OTHER AMOUNTS 

Possession of more than 10 - 30 grams of marijuana is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense, which is punishable by a jail term of up to 1 year and a max fine of up to 2,500. For a second or subsequent offense, possession of more than 10 - 30 grams of marijuana is a Class 4 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 1 year and a maximum sentence of 6 years, as well as a fine of $25,000.Possession of more than 30 - 500 grams of marijuana is a Class 4 felony for a first offense, which is punishable by a minimum sentence of 1 year and a maximum sentence of 6 years, as well as a fine of $25,000. For a second or subsequent offense, possession of between more than 30 - 500 grams of marijuana is a Class 3 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 2 years and a maximum sentence of 5 years, as well as a fine of $25,000.Possession of more than 500 - 2,000 grams of marijuana is a Class 3 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 2 years and a maximum sentence of 10 years, as well as a fine of $25,000. Possession of more than 2,000 - 5,000 grams of marijuana is a Class 2 felony, punishable by a minimum jail term of 3 years and a maximum sentence of 14 years, as well as a fine of $25,000.Possession of over 5,000 grams of marijuana is a Class 1 felony, punishable by imprisonment of a minimum of 4 years and a maximum of 30 years, as well as a fine of $25,000.

SALE OF CANNABISSelling or possessing with the intent to sell, 2.5 grams or less of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 6 months imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1,500. Selling or possessing with the intent to sell, more than 2.5 - 10 grams of marijuana is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum sentence of 1 year in prison and a maximum fine of $2,500. Selling or possessing with the intent to sell, more than 10 - 30 grams of marijuana is a Class 4 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 1 year and a maximum sentence of 6 years, as well as a maximum fine of $25,000.Selling or possessing with the intent to sell, more than 30 - 500 grams of marijuana is a Class 3 felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 2 years and a maximum sentence of 10 years, and a maximum fine of $50,000.Selling or possessing with the intent to sell, more than 500 - 2,000 grams of marijuana is a Class 2 felony, punishable by a minimum jail term of 3 years and a maximum sentence of 14 years, and a maximum fine of $100,000.Selling or possessing with the intent to sell, more than 2,000 - 5,000 grams of marijuana is a Class 1 felony, punishable by imprisonment of a minimum of 4 years and a maximum of 30 years, and a maximum fine of $150,000.Selling, manufacturing, or possessing with the intent to sell, more than 5,000 grams of marijuana is a Class X felony, punishable by a minimum sentence of 6 years and a maximum sentence of 60 years, and a maximum fine of $200,000.

EXPERIENCED AND AGGRESSIVE DEFENSE IS NECESSARY IF YOU ARE CHARGEDIf you have been charged with the Possession, Sale, Trafficking of Cannabis or driving under the influence of medical cannabis, you deserve competent representation from an experienced and aggressive attorney with many years of experience. As a former DUI and Cannabis prosecutor with approximately 30 years of experience I can provide the defense you need to battle Cannabis related charges. Call my office at 217 544-4057 to schedule an appointment or learn more at my website, www.hankenlaw.com.

5.0 stars

Scott is the BEST!

HE HAS GOTTEN ME OUT OF MORE STUPID STUFF THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE.

5.0 stars

Posted by anonymous
January 15, 2019

I've used him on numerous occasion and every time he has surpassed my expectations. In fact, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be out right now. THANK YOU SCOTT!!!

5.0 stars

Posted by anonymous
September 26, 2018

We were faced with a situation and criminal charge that was non- probationary and had a best case sentence of 6 years in Prison. Scott was able to get everything worked out for probation and NO CONVICTION. He was able to change the course of my son’s life and I’ll be forever grateful.

5.0 stars

Posted by anonymous
April 16, 2018

I was facing 3 class x felony charges and Scott got my a deal for time served and probation. I would reccomend him to anybody in Sangamon county facing any type of criminal charge.

5.0 stars

Posted by Tom
February 14, 2018

Scott has been amazing to work with despite my unfortunate situation. He has handled my case very professionally, honestly and he has treated me with dignity and compassion.
I was petrified after my dui charge but Scott brought things to a reasonable resolution at a reasonable price.
I had recommended Scott to others prior to using him myself and I will definitely continue to recommend him in the future.
If Scott can’t help you out then you are in deep trouble.
If you want the very best then just hire Scott.
Thank you Scott for doing a great job!

5.0 stars

Posted by anonymous
January 26, 2018

I was arrested for DUI, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia by the Illinois State Police. I had heard many good things about Scott and scheduled a quick appointment. When I me t with Scott he explained everything in a straightforward manner and told me no attorney could “guarantee” an outcome. He did however guarantee me that if there was any possible defense, mistake of law or other issue with my case, he would find it and make the most of it. True to his words, he argued that the Trooper who stopped me did not have probable cause and as a result all charges were dismissed with prejudice and I never lost my driving privileges. I highly recommend W. Scott Hanken!

5.0 stars

Posted by Lori  
June 6, 2017

Scott Hanken was recommended by some very good friends of mine. Although my situation was very serious and stressful, he always made me feel that he had things under control and was on top of my case. He definitely put my mind at ease and his staff was always extremely friendly and helpful as well, which made it easier when he was unavailable. Scott is a very talented attorney and extremely knowledgeable about the law and the court system. He is very passionate about what he does and he cares more about his clients than he does the money. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a lawyer who knows the law, truly cares about protecting the rights of his clients and getting them the most favorable result possible. He has proven that he is by far one of the best criminal defense attorney's in Sangamon County and the surrounding areas.

5.0 stars

Posted by Shawn
April 27, 2017

You may know the phrase guilt by association. Well when you hire Scott I would the phrase not guilty by association. He's just a pro's pro. You can see that everyone in the room, especially the man or woman wearing a robe, respects his knowledge of the law and all sides of the system. He does the little things too like easing your mind, lows the temperature in the room when you are in the place you never wanted to be, a courtroom. You don't get pie in the sky promises, instead he often underpromises and overdelivers at the end of the legal process. It was a very pleasant experience.

5.0 stars

Posted by Casey
January 24, 2017

Scott Hankens is by far the best lawyer in Illinois and possibly the country. He not only cares for his clients, but is passionate about his work and stays up hours after regular working hours to ensure his clients have the best possible outcome with their case. When Scott says don't worry about something, then you shouldn't worry. Believe me, I was looking at 6 years until I hired Scott. When he told me not to worry, I felt relieved knowing that I chose the best lawyer my case. He truly knows the law, and that is why he got all charges against me dropped. He not only saved my military career, but my life as well. Thank you Scott. I am forever thankful that you never gave up on me like the public defender did.

5.0 stars

Posted by Joy
April 26, 2011

W. "Scott" Hankin P.C. was actually referred to us by a mutual friend. I had contacted a different attorney at a big law firm initially. He also gave me Scott's name & number, due to a conflict of interest. Since Scott's name came up on two seperate recommendations, I "went for it." THANK God~
Our (then 20 year old) son was caught up in a legal matter with a hundred different "issues" that COULD have went a MILLION different ways, through no fault of his! Our world as we knew it had been turned completely upside down within a matter of minutes. Not knowing WHAT to expect, nor what was possibly going to happen was terrifying!
After callling Scott, he set up a (consult) appointment that was quite timely & much appreciated. Within seconds of meeting Scott in person, immediately we felt confident Scott was THE one to represent our son, 20 years of age at that time. We felt very comfortable talking to him. Scott was just one of those guys....he seemed like someone we had known our entire life, rather than having just met him.
Scott was VERY knowledgeble of the law. He spent a great amount of time asking specific questions and gave us a wealth of information at our "free consultation" before we even told him "you're hired!" That was not only amazing to me, we all were very impressed. Our family was overwhelmed with worry, anxiety, etc. as is anyone (and/or their child) when facing possible criminal charges.
We have done business with other attorneys, but never because our son's future was on the line! Scott went above & beyond the call of duty. He informed us of all things that may or may not happen. We were kept abreast throughout the case of all of the updates and all that was CURRENTLY going on. Although it seemed like forever-only because of all of the "oh my God, what if's".... at the end of the case our son IS still a free man, free to continue as a full time student, free to continue working at his job that he loves. Thanks so much to Scott Hanken, for taking the time & having the knowledge as well as expreience that was needed to get the charges cleared.

Experience With Illinois Drunk Driving Law

Each state handles DUIs differently. Your most valuable tool in fighting a drunk driving case is an attorney with experience handling these cases in Illinois. I am defense attorney W. Scott Hanken, and I regularly handle standard DUI cases, as well as felony DUI and aggravated DUI cases. Some of my knowledge of the system comes from my time prosecuting these cases for Sangamon County.

Every DUI charge is a serious case, and I give my personal attention and focus to every client. Because I have fought so many drunk driving charges on behalf of my clients, I know the best approach to take on each case. I develop a personalized plan for clients based on their criminal history and the particular facts of their case.

Being charged with drunk driving poses a risk to your freedom. Even your first DUI can result in up to a year in jail. The secondary effects of a DUI charge are huge as well. You will face a statutory summary driver's license suspension, which goes into effect automatically in 45 days if you do not challenge it.

The costs of a DUI charge range from hefty fines to lost wages for court appearances to missed work as a result of a license suspension. If you are required to have a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID) installed in your car, you will be responsible for all the costs associated with installation and maintenance of the device.

As an experienced and aggressive lawyer, I will do all I can to minimize the damage of your drunk driving charge. You cannot afford to take your case lightly.

There are situations that can result in a drunk driving case being charged as a felony. When this occurs, the skill of your criminal defense lawyer is of heightened importance. Some of the factors that can cause a DUI to be charged as a felony are:

• Prior DUI convictions
• If you had a suspended license at the time
• If you did not have insurance at the time
• If your driving resulted in great bodily harm or death

Gun crimes have received a lot of attention from police and prosecutors in Illinois lately. Weapons offenses carry strong penalties, and often, there are several defenses that may be available to refute these allegations. Those who are arrested for the crimes need to remember that police are constantly gathering evidence against them, and they need to reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible.

I am attorney W. Scott Hanken, and I have over 25 years of experience dealing with the criminal justice system. Before starting my own firm, I served as a prosecutor. This has given me valuable insight into the way that prosecutors develop their cases, and allows me to know how to attack the evidence that they may have against you. No matter what charges you may be facing, I am ready to fight for you.

When building your defense, I analyze the actions of law enforcement. I want to know how they discovered the weapons in your case. I will then be able to explain what is available to you, and begin pursuing solutions that are focused on protecting your freedom. I have helped defend clients against a number of weapons-related offenses, including:

• Battery with a firearm
• Unlawful use of a weapon
• Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon
• Armed robbery
• Armed habitual criminal
• Possession of a weapon by a felon
• Possession of a stolen weapon

Because of the serious nature of these crimes, it is likely that prosecutors will only offer deals that contain lengthy jail or prison time as part of the bargain. I am ready for trial from the very beginning of your case, so I will not be afraid to protect your rights and argue for you in court if a deal proves impossible.

• Capital Litigation Trial Bar Association, Capital Litigation Bar, 2004

• Illinois, 1989
• U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 1989
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1990

• Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, Nebraska
  • J.D. - 1989
• Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • B.A. - 1985
  • Honors: Political Science

• Gaining the Best Settlement in Auto Injury Cases, Attorney Continuing Legal Education, 2009

• Gaining The Best Settlement in Auto Injury Cases, NBI
• Aggravated DUI - Resent Developments, ICLE

• Super Lawyer - DUI, Super Lawyers
• Super Lawyer - DUI, Super Lawyers
• Super Lawyer - DUI, Super Lawyers
• Super Lawyer - DUI, Super Lawyers
• Super Lawyer - DUI, Super Lawyers
• Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers - Illinios (American Society of Legal Advocates)
• Top 200 DUI Attorneys - Illinois (National Advocacy for DUI Defense)
• Top Criminal Defense Lawyer Superb 10.0 Rating AVVO, 2010 - 2014
• Client's Choice Award - Criminal Defense AVVO
• Top Contributor - Criminal Defense AVVO

• Sangamon Country Bar Associaltion, Past President, 2004 - 2005
• Sangamon Country Defense Bar Association, President, 1993 - 2005
• Sangamon Country Bar Association, Director, 1992 - 1993
• Sangamon Country Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Past President, 1990 - 1991
• American Association for Justice, Member
• Capital Litigation Trial Bar Association, Member, 2004 - Present
• The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member
• Illinois State Bar Association, Member, 1989 - Present
• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Member
• Sangamon County Bar Association, Member, 1989 - Present

• Attorney/Partner at Rabin, Myers & Hanken,P.C., 1996 - 2011
• Public Defender at Sangamon County Public Defender, 1997 - 1999
• Associate at Long, Morris, Myers and Rabin, P.C., 1994 - 1996
• Associate at Pfeifer & Kelty, P.C., 1990 - 1994
• Assistant State's Attorney at Sangamon County State's Attorney Office, 1989 - 1990

• Springfield Criminal DUI Defense Lawyer
• Drug Crimes
• Springfield Lawyer For Driver's License Suspension Defense
• Theft Offenses
• Traffic Ticket Defense
• Violent Crimes
• Weapons Offenses