Blog

The State of Texas (and the rest of the U.S.) has recently become crippled by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On Friday, March 13, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott declared a statewide emergency, as the state gears up to begin testing for COVID-19. Visits to nursing homes, prisons, and daycares are now limited. State workers are...

The penalties for an arrest in Texas aren't just limited to incarceration, fines, and probation. Having an arrest on your record can make it harder to find employment, even if you were acquitted of the charges. Arrest records may become public record in Texas. That means anyone can access information about your arrest in a...

The use of electric cigarettes and vaping products has rapidly grown among teenagers over the past few years. The National Institute on Drug Abuse conducted a 2018 survey involving more than 44,000 students. Roughly 37 percent of 12 graders reported that they used vaping products in 2018 — up from 28 percent in 2017. A...

Thousands of people in the United States suffer criminal charges or years in prison based in part on testimony from police officers who lied, a USA TODAY investigation found. The problems in many of the cases feature prosecutors in district attorney's offices nationwide failing to abide by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that requires full...

The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation.” In layman’s terms, you are always protected inside your...

Far too many innocent people fall into a trap that puts them behind bars, possibly for years. It often starts when someone is interviewed by law enforcement. He or she feels comfortable speaking to investigators without first consulting with an attorney. Despite being innocent, anyone can slip up and say the wrong thing. In addition,...

White-collar crimes are often committed for the purpose of financial gain by means of fraud or omission of fraud. Unlike many other crimes, they are nonviolent and are often committed in or against corporate, financial, or governmental establishments. If you are under investigation or facing charges for a white-collar crime, the consequences can be severe....

Life can be a challenge if you’re a convicted felon. You may be barred from certain types of employment. You no longer have the right to vote, hold office, or serve on a jury. You can’t serve as an administrator or executor of an estate. Your right to bear arms will also be restricted. There...

Having guilty friends can make you guilty, too. It’s called “guilt by association” – the assumption that you approve of a friend’s criminal behavior, so you must have engaged in it, as well. If the neighborhood gossips do not approve of the company you keep, that’s one thing. If law enforcement, prosecutors, juries and judges...

Being arrested and charged with a crime can be one of the most frightening ordeals a person can face. In cases where police overstep their bounds, innocent people may be arrested for reasons they are not even aware of at the time. In other cases, they may have known about a crime, but were wrongly...