Recent Blog Posts
Hack a Computer, Pick a Pocket, or Falsify Information: No Matter How You Do It, Credit Card Fraud is a Major Felony
Once again, a major retailer has announced that it has been hacked and the credit card and personal information of its customers put at risk. Home Depot has become the latest in a long list of companies who have had their customer’s credit card and other payment information stolen and then sold to others… Read More »
What is a Grand Jury? Perry Indictment Puts Process in the Spotlight
As you likely know, Texas Governor Rick Perry was recently indicted on two felony charges of abusing his official powers. The indictment was made by a grand jury after four months of looking at evidence and hearing testimony from members of the governor’s staff.
Texas Sex Offender Registration: A Life-long Consequence of Many Convictions
In June of this year, the national conference of RSOL met in Dallas. RSOL stands for Reform Sex Offender Laws, and the participants from across the country were there to push for changes in sex offender registry laws which they argue do not make the public safer while at the same time imposing burdens… Read More »
New Texas Criminal Laws Take Effect September 1st
A number of new criminal laws that were passed by the Texas legislature and signed by Governor Perry take effect on September 1st, 2014. These laws address a number of issues from drugs to sex crimes, establishing new offenses and imposing stiffer penalties. Here are a few of the changes to Texas criminal law:
Entrapment as a Defense in Texas: When Being “Set Up” Goes Too Far
It is a staple of movies and TV shows: the police undercover operation or “sting.” From “To Catch a Predator” to “American Hustle,” we see law enforcement actively creating scenarios designed to catch a perpetrator in the act of committing a crime. Law enforcement officials throughout Texas regularly conduct undercover operations geared toward arresting… Read More »
False Confessions by Juveniles: New Study Proposes Changes to Prevent Grave Injustices
Earlier this year, Daniel Villegas of El Paso was released after 18 years in prison. Villegas lost almost two decades of his life after being convicted of two murders he did not commit; a conviction that was based largely on a false confession he made when he was 16 years old. He made that… Read More »
You Are Entitled to a Public Defender. Why You Should Hire a Private Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Instead
The constitutions of the United States and the state of Texas provide that if you can’t afford a defense attorney when facing criminal charges, you are entitled to an attorney at no cost to yourself at every stage of a criminal proceeding. Attorneys that are appointed to represent you under those circumstances are referred… Read More »
U.S. Supreme Court: If You’ve Been Arrested, Police Cannot Search Your Phone Without a Warrant
Given that 90% of Americans now carry cell phones, it is likely that the overwhelming majority of the 12 million people arrested in the U.S. every year have their phones on them at the time of their arrest. If you find yourself in that situation, the U.S. Supreme Court recently held that the police… Read More »
Leaving the Past Behind: Non-Disclosure of Criminal Records And Expunction in Texas
Every day in Texas, citizens with criminal records are denied employment because of their criminal history. According to a recent study, 88% of employers conduct criminal background checks on applicants. Even misdemeanor convictions for acts as minor as petty theft or vandalism can cause a current or potential employer to pass you over for… Read More »
Prescription Drug Abuse and Criminal Prescription Drug Possession in Texas
Prescription Drug Possession Prescription drug possession is a serious criminal offense in Texas when you are in possession of a prescription drug and it isn’t prescribed to you. Most people associate drug crimes with street drugs, such as cocaine and heroin. Although these illicit substances make up a large portion of drug-related criminal activity,… Read More »
