Legal Question in Criminal Law in Illinois

First of all, who is "they"? You do not identify who "they" is. As to a joint checking account, it would be better if the checking account simply required two signatures, but I would also check with the nearest Social Security office because as long as the money is separate if he runs into trouble creditors generally can't attack SS benefits, but if someone else has access to them or you add other funds occasionally to help him out that protection may go away and advice from the SSA is free too. A joint checking account means that if he and another family member own the account, if he overdraws either owner can be liable for the overdraft. You ought to talk to a bank and see what the options are. As to his behavior as an adult in independent living, is this a HUD subsidized housing under a Section 811 program, or a group home, or what? Are services bundled with the housing or just available "off campus". If he's in a diagnosis specific facility it's one thing. And when you say "unsupervised" it's yet another. I think you need to have a family member who understands what is going on assist here, or designate one to become more familiar, or have someone who is knowledgeable accompany you and him until all these issues are laid out and understood. Yes he will be responsible as an adult; in Illinois diminished mental capacity is a statutory factor that mitigates against a death penalty in a murder case, but unlike Law & Order I can not say whether a person who suffers from schizophrenia and could be OK on meds can take advantage of the defense if he or she fails to stay on the meds -- for that I defer to a criminal law attorney and if nobody here can answer that I suggest spending the time for a brief consultation with one because it could be your brother's life at stake. OK?

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