Category Archives: General
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:
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 »
Sex With a Minor: Consent Won’t Spare You From Serious Felony Charges
With a few exceptions, if you are an adult in Texas and you have sex with someone under 17, you are a sex offender. It doesn’t matter if the sex was supposedly “consensual” because Texas law says that those under 17 don’t have the capacity to consent. You face serious prison time, registration on… Read More »
Choosing the Right Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Make All The Difference. Here’s What to Look For.
Choosing the Right Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Experience, Cost, and Results When you are caught up in the Texas criminal justice system, you’re faced with many choices that can impact the course of your ordeal: Should I speak with the police? How should I plead? Should I negotiate with prosecutors? Should I take the… Read More »
Social Media Posts and Pictures Can and Will Be Used Against You in a Court of Law
It has been said by parents all over the country to their teenagers using the Internet and posting on social media sites: presume that everything you post can be seen by everybody and that it will be seen forever. Nevertheless, as social media use has exploded over the past decade, teenagers and adults alike… Read More »
What Should I Do If a Policeman Asks To Search My Vehicle?
The U.S. Constitution Protects You From Unreasonable Vehicle Searches The Fourth Amendment guards citizens against unreasonable search and seizure. This means that a police officer needs permission to search your body and your property, including your vehicle unless he has sufficient and trustworthy facts suggesting that you are involved in criminal activity.
