When you drink alcohol, it can be hard to tell if you have reached the legal limit for blood alcohol content. In Texas, it is illegal to drive once your BAC reaches 0.08% or higher. If you drive with a BAC level above this level, according to the Texas Department of...
Criminal Defense
What is the difference between the terms “assault” and “battery”?
You often hear “assault” and “battery” lumped together in a single term. Although often used simultaneously, these are separate charges with different meanings. What is the difference between the two? Major difference In the simplest terms, assault is psychological,...
What constitutes probable cause?
A police investigation involves various moving parts. When an officer tries to get the ball moving and wants to conduct an interview or a search, probable cause is a critical element that the Constitution requires. What constitutes probable cause and how the police...
Do your Miranda rights apply to police interviews?
Most people have heard of their Miranda rights at least in passing, especially due to the prevalence of the “right to remain silent” in films involving law enforcement. However, very few people actually know what these rights protect, or whether they should invoke...
4 aggravating factors to an assault charge
Assault is an offense that involves intentionally inflicting or threatening someone else with bodily injury. A simple assault is usually a misdemeanor, but an aggravated assault is a felony. Aggravating factors are those that make the offense worse than a simple...
What “determinate sentencing” means for a Texas juvenile
When your child faces a criminal charge in Texas, the severity of the penalties he or she may face, if convicted, depends on several factors. Some states have laws in place that mean some juveniles face prosecution as adults when charged with certain offenses. Whether...
How eyewitness misidentifications lead to wrongful convictions
Many people in Texas believe that eyewitness testimony is among the most compelling forms of evidence available against someone accused of a crime. For this reason, you may feel anxious if you are facing a criminal charge and have one or more eyewitnesses planning to...
When do authorities have legal grounds to search your car?
During a Texas traffic stop, the law enforcement officer who pulls you over may try to encourage you to allow him or her to look through your car. While in some cases, the officer may have valid grounds to search your car, in other instances, you may have the right to...
Is there an officer at your door?
It can always feel unnerving when a police officer comes knocking. Many people may even panic and give up some of their precious rights because they do not know how to handle the situation. This is why it is important to understand in advance how to handle any...
Are you at risk of falsely confessing to a crime?
When members of law enforcement suspect individuals may have committed crimes, they usually try to gather as much evidence as possible. While different types of evidence weigh differently during trial, prosecutors love to introduce confessions. After all, confessions...