Texas Takes Crimes Seriously, Including Identity Theft
Texas has a reputation for being tough on crime. That reputation is well-deserved, and it is well-deserved whether you are talking about since-the-dawn-of-civilization crimes, such as homicide, theft, or all of the other thou-shalt-nots, or you are talking about more modern crimes not dreamed of by our ancestors, such as identity theft. Texas takes a […]
Texas Gambling Laws are Pretty Strict and Confusing
If the only thing you know about the legality of gambling in Texas comes from movies or from the fact that one form of poker is known as Texas Hold ‘Em, you probably have some misconceptions about Texas gambling laws. Just for starters, you can play Texas Hold ‘Em all you want in Texas, just […]
Simple Drug Possession Charges Might Not be Simple
Texas has a reputation for being hard on criminal offenders, including those charged with drug crimes. There is no question that the reputation is well-deserved. Texas tends to treat crime seriously and often imposes stiff sentences, including for drug crimes. However, Texas’ approach to drug crimes, particularly minor drug crimes, is changing. While fairly stiff […]
Texas is Tough on Drug Crime
Texas has a longstanding reputation for being tough on crime, and the state’s stance on drug crimes is no different. Texas has some of the nation’s harshest penalties for drug crimes, as is so often the case with other crimes in Texas. However, while Texas has a well-deserved reputation for being tough on crime, including […]
Being Under Grand Jury Investigation is Cause for Concern
Grand juries in American jurisprudence have their roots in the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury.” The purpose of a grand jury is to determine whether probable […]
Criminal Homicide Encompasses Many Crimes
You can make the argument that not all slayings are equal in the eyes of the law, but they are all serious. Homicide includes every kind of killing at the hands of another person, but criminal homicide is, by definition, always criminal. Even so, there are levels of criminal homicide based on culpability and other […]
There are Many Consequences for a Felony Conviction
If you are convicted of a felony, you might think that the immediate legal consequences are as bad as things are going to get. You would be wrong. The expense of your defense, the prison time, and any fines you might have to pay would seem to be punishment enough. While the state penal system […]
Is it Worth it to Hire a Lawyer for Check Forgery Charges?
Check forgery charges might not seem like a big deal, especially in comparison to a lot of charges you could face in Texas. Nobody got hurt, you are not looking at years upon years in prison – and certainly not a life sentence or the death penalty – and it hardly seems like its even […]
Burglary Only Seems Like a ‘Minor’ Crime
Burglary might often be considered a petty, non-violent crime, but Texas makes a point of taking all crimes seriously. Burglary at its simplest is a property crime, but it can quickly escalate into a first-degree felony, with penalties of up to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, depending upon circumstances. […]
Can Texas Police Put Up a DWI Checkpoint?
Strictly speaking, checkpoints for driving while intoxicated (DWI) are unconstitutional in Texas. No Texas statute outlaws such checkpoints, but they were declared unconstitutional by a Texas criminal court of appeals in a 1994 case. Such checkpoints were ruled constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court so long as state legislatures established reasonable guidelines for the use […]