Austin Criminal Defense Law Blog

When a person is accused of a crime in Texas, they are often forced to remain in jail while waiting for trial. In most cases, people wait in jail because they cannot afford to pay bail. The bail system in Texas is not meant to punish people simply for not having a high income, but that is often the effect of it.

Facing a police interrogation is very intimidating. Often, people want nothing more than to cooperate with police so they can be released from custody and forget the entire ordeal. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to forfeit their rights when they do this.

Whether you have been charged with driving while intoxicated, assault, or another crime, you likely have many questions. One of these may be whether you can handle your case on your own without a criminal defense attorney.

Every state has its own data regarding the crimes that are committed within the area. As the second largest state in the country, Texas has everything from the fourth largest city in the nation to expansive rural areas.

There are a number of reasons why your driver’s license may be suspended. In the majority of cases, these include traffic violations and a DUI conviction. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) suspends driver’s licenses to prevent unfit drivers from injuring other people and to ensure the roads remain safe.

The laws regarding driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Texas are very clear. They are also very strict. As in most other states, you may be convicted of a DWI if you operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or greater.

Instances of hate crimes are becoming more common in the United States, reaching a level that has not been seen in over a decade. With hate crimes becoming so common across the country, state and federal governments have regularly been expanding and updating their laws on hate crimes.

Stalking is a very serious offense in Texas. Stalking is a form of harassment in The Lone Star State, but it is more serious.

Being charged with a felony is scary. You are likely worried about your future and you may be imagining the worst. Fortunately, being charged with a felony does not necessarily mean you will be convicted.

Indictments are complex matters in Texas. When a person has been accused of a serious crime, the court may indict them. The indictment process is complex.

A criminal record can have very serious consequences. Even after your jail time, probation, or community service is complete, your criminal record will still follow you. It can make it more difficult to gain employment, academic opportunities, professional licenses, and even housing.

While there are times when a jury decides a person’s fate after conviction, it is almost always the judge that determines the sentence. Judges have many options when making the decision including probation, community service, and jail sentences.

In Texas, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is formally known as ‘driving while intoxicated,’ commonly abbreviated to DWI. Being charged with a DWI can upend your life.

Being arrested for any type of theft is extremely stressful. You likely feel uncertain about what will happen in the upcoming days, weeks, and months.

Texas is strict when it comes to drug crimes. The state takes a no-nonsense approach to these crimes. Even a small amount of certain drugs can lead to felony charges.

In the past several years, there has been increased concern about fentanyl use in Texas and all over the United States, for that matter.

With tax time quickly approaching, the IRS is getting ready to process tax returns. They are also looking out for signs of fraud. Tax fraud and evasion are common crimes costing $1 trillion a year

One of the most common types of financial fraud is the use of counterfeit money. Sometimes, it is hard to earn enough money to survive, so some people make their own money — literally.

Many people like to go to the bar once in a while and have a few alcoholic drinks. However, you need to be careful because being drunk in public can be a crime.

The Austin Police Department has encountered staffing challenges for the past few years, with officers quitting and retiring in droves.

Whereas federal law categorizes controlled substances among five schedules, Texas law classifies them into four penalty groups according to the abuse potential and medical usefulness, if any, of the drug.

If a police officer is trying to arrest you, but you are sure that you have not done anything wrong, it is only human to protest and try to set the record straight.

Sometimes police departments are made aware of a crime, but they do not have the evidence to arrest someone. However, they may be given the name of a key suspect.

Not all crimes are the same. In Texas and all throughout the United States, there are two main types of crimes you need to know about: misdemeanors and felonies.

If you have been arrested for a crime, you know that case proceeds beyond the arrest. There are court hearings, sentencing, and possibly even jail time to go through.

Some theft cases, such as shoplifting crimes, are often seen as minor, but they can result in stiff penalties. This will depend on the evidence against you.

Young people frequently make errors in judgment that can cause them to engage in reckless and illegal behavior. Despite their age, they can face serious criminal charges in Texas.

Travis County hosts a variety of activities and events throughout the year, drawing in large numbers of visitors from other states.

If you are accused of possessing counterfeit money, you may be able to argue that you never meant for it to represent real money or that you did not know that the money was fake.

At a deposition, witnesses answer lawyers’ questions under oath; you should answer truthfully, but do not speculate, and talk to your lawyer beforehand about how to avoid incriminating yourself.

Many people still drink and drive, even though it is clearly illegal in Texas and all 50 states. If you have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08, then you can be arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Texas.

There are many crimes that a person can commit. Stalking is an offense that has a victim who may be fearing for their life.

Texas is one of the biggest states in the nation. With so much land area and millions of people, you can expect that lots of criminal activity will occur.

Many drivers get pulled over for intoxicated driving. While DWI charges are typically misdemeanors, they often come with harsh penalties.

In Texas, an individual may be arrested for driving while intoxicated with a .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

When a person is accused of committing a crime, one of the most important aspects of the criminal justice process is determining the consequences they will face if found guilty.

In Texas, if an individual has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, they can be arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI). BAC measures the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood at the time of the breathalyzer, blood test, or urine test.

Restraining orders are serious legal matters, and it can be overwhelming to know that you are the subject of such an order. If you are facing charges for violating a restraining order in Texas, it is important to seek assistance from our qualified criminal defense attorneys.

Being arrested is a serious and frightening experience, it can be confusing trying to determine the best next step in the situation.

When a juvenile is charged as an adult in Texas, it is a serious matter. 1,995 juveniles are arrested in the United States each day, and approximately 4% of those are incarcerated in Texas.

If you have been charged with a crime in Texas, you may have to go through a criminal trial. The thought of a trial is scary, particularly for people who have never been through it before and do not know what to expect.

Criminal offenses in Texas are classified as minor offenses, misdemeanors, and felonies. Of these three, misdemeanors and felonies are the most serious and can result in jail or prison sentences, as well as high fines and other consequences.

Public intoxication is a very common criminal offense, but it is also largely misunderstood. Contrary to what many people believe, public intoxication is not a minor offense, and the effects of a conviction can remain with you for the rest of your life.

Drug possession is taken very seriously in Austin and all throughout Texas. The penalties vary depending on the type and quantity of substance one was found in possession of, but they are all serious.

Bail gives people the opportunity to remain out of jail while they await their trial.

The penalties for grand theft auto in Texas are harsh, but there are defenses available.

In Texas, defendants accused of nonviolent drug offenses can participate in drug court, including court-ordered treatment for substance use disorder, as part of a pretrial diversion program or as a condition of their probation.

If you do not have any prior convictions or pending criminal cases against you, the chances are greater that you can avoid jail time or even participate in pretrial diversion programs that can result in the state dropping the charges against you.

The criminal court considers all 17-year-olds adults, but defendants ages 15 and up can be charged in adult court if they are accused of felonies, and 14-year-olds can also face adult criminal charges for the most serious crimes.

It is legal to participate in protest demonstrations, but the police can arrest you for protesting in places and at times when demonstrations are not allowed, as well as for engaging in illegal actions such as theft, vandalism, or assault during a protest.