Year: 2018
According to a recent report, information gathered from jailhouse informants is used in 23 percent of death row cases in which the convicted individual is later exonerated. In Texas, a 2017 law made the state one of the most progressive concerning how prosecutors must disclose their use of jailhouse informants, including informing the defense when…
Breathalyzers have been used for decades across the country to bring charges against drunk drivers. Many Texas motorists who fail a breath test make the mistake of believing it is foolproof and they should plead guilty. However, there are many factors that can skew a breath test and invalidate a charge. Breath tests in Texas…
Any charge of murder is serious, but the type of murder charge has an impact on your case. Find out the difference between murder and felony murder in Texas. Criminal offenses that coincide with the loss of life result in charges that are among the most serious a person can face. In the state of…
Intoxicated manslaughter in Dallas is a serious charge, but attorneys have several defense strategies they can use to help their clients. Manslaughter in Dallas is a felony charge under Texas Penal Code, Title 5, chapter 19, and defendants convicted of this crime can face a significant prison sentence. But Texas has upped the ante with…
In recent years, many forensic techniques have been discredited as new information cast doubt on their reliability. Texas has a trailblazing state law allowing courts to overturn convictions in cases where the scientific evidence that led to the original verdict has since changed or been discredited. Although the law is not often used, it has…
Texas has had a hate crime statute since 2001. However, the law is used sparingly and many people who are arrested for hate crimes are not eventually convicted. Hate crime charges can also be brought by the federal authorities. Last month, a 26-year-old man was convicted of a federal hate crime for burning down a…
Federal conspiracy charges are tough to defend. Learn about the charges and how to prepare the best defense. Federal prosecutors are often faced with the challenge of presenting difficult cases. One of their favorite tools to help seal a win and maximize sentencing is by adding federal conspiracy charges to the mix. Federal conspiracy is…
What Defendants Should Know About Assault and Aggravated Assault in Dallas There are many different kinds of assaults in Dallas, and the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor often comes down to the severity of the assault. In 2016, there were 4,529 assaults in Dallas, which was a sharp increase from the 3,943 assaults…
Dallas Criminal Lawyer Discusses – Common Questions About Probation in Texas When you commit a crime in Texas, you may be ordered to serve probation. To avoid confusion, it’s important to acknowledge that in Texas, probation is also referred to as community supervision. Probation can seem like a scary thing when you don’t know anything…
Many of the forensic analysis techniques used to secure convictions in the 1980s and 1990s have been debunked as ‘junk science.’ Blood-stain pattern forensic analysis is the latest technique to be undermined in a case involving a Texas educator. Joe Bryan, a former school principal from Texas, has spent more than 30 years in prison…