JON P. ERICKSON

Jon Erickson, known formally as Jonathan Parker Erickson, is a Decatur native and attended Decatur public schools through 12th grade.  He graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1991 and completed his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice Sciences at Illinois State University in 1995. He received his Juris Doctorate from Southern Illinois University in 1999. He was admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois in 2000. He is a proud supporter of law enforcement and served the community for many years as an Auxiliary Police Officer for the City of Decatur. He later became an instructor at the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center (MCLETC), teaching new police recruits from various agencies throughout the State of Illinois. Jon is married and has two sons, Freddy and George.

Jon worked as an Assistant State's Attorney for Macon County and later joined the law firm of Erickson, Davis, Murphy, Johnson, Griffith & Walsh, LTD. in Decatur, Illinois, in December of 2000.  He soon became a partner of the firm and practiced alongside his father, Fred, for nearly 17 years. On August 1, 2017, Jon started his own practice as a sole practitioner.

Jon's practice is heavily concentrated in the areas of divorce law and family law, including Orders of Protection, Civil No-Contact Orders, juvenile and adoption cases. During his 26+ year career, he has represented thousands of clients and conducted thousands of trials and hearings involving custody disputes, child support, parenting/visitation issues, maintenance/alimony, and property division issues.

Jon has also handled virtually every type of criminal case, from petty traffic violations and juvenile cases to various misdemeanors and serious Class X felonies, including murder. As a former prosecutor and auxiliary police officer, Jon possesses a uniquely powerful, duel perspective on the criminal justice system that bridges the gap between police tactics, evidence handling and courtroom strategy. Jon knows exactly what is required to turn a street-level incident into a legally sustainable prosecution and, in turn, how to prepare the best defense. He understands exactly where gaps in evidence occur and how the state must prove charges. He understands statutory due process and police procedures. Jon can quickly and rigorously evaluate if the arresting officer's actions were compliant and can quickly spot flaws in case handling and chain of custody. Jon also knows the internal pressures and dynamics of police departments and prosecutors’ offices, making him highly effective in negotiating and understanding the realities of plea deals and trial preparation. Jon’s extremely unique and diverse background in law enforcement gives him a one-of-a kind perspective and decisive edge over virtually all other criminal defense lawyers.

Jon is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Decatur Bar Association and was an accredited member The National Trial Lawyers organization. Although his office is located in Decatur in Macon County, Jon routinely accepts cases and travels to virtually all neighboring counties as well.