If you have watched crime shows on TV or read about famous criminal cases in the newspaper, you have likely seen the term “bail” with an astronomical dollar amount tied to it. A bail is a form of security given by the accused party that he or she will appear before the court for the alleged crime. Along with bail comes a bail bond or personal bail, each of which requires the accused party to put down a certain amount of money to hold him or her accountable for showing up to a scheduled court date. After showing up to the allotted court date, the defendant will be given his or her bail money back with a small court fee taken out. However, if the accused fails to show up to the listed date, he or she could risk losing that bail amount and face additional charges in Texas.
Bail Bond Violations
When receiving bail, the document will have all of the legal requirements and details enclosed to inform the accused party of his or her rights and restrictions. If the bail is violated, he or she could face a fine of up to $4,000 and/or face incarceration for up to one year. If the act committed is a separate offense, aside from just violating the terms of bail, the prosecuted party will be charged with a separate misdemeanor or felony charge in addition to the violation of the order. The violating party also runs the risk of losing the money that was put down for the bail and depending on where he or she got the bail money as well as how high the amount was, losing bail funds can be detrimental to his or her financial security.
Finally gaining the ability to drive is an exciting time in every teen’s life. You have spent the last year or so behind the wheel with your parent in the passenger seat, telling you where to turn, reminding you to slow down, and panicking anytime you have to stop abruptly. Gaining experience behind the wheel with your parents by your side is a right of passage that every teen goes through. When you are finally handed the keys to drive on your own, the freedom is exciting, but can also lead to traffic violations if you are not careful. Coming home with a traffic ticket in hand is most teens’ nightmare. You should know what to do if you ever find yourself being pulled over by an officer to avoid exacerbating the situation.
Talk to Your Parents
It is never a good idea to try to hide the traffic ticket from your parents. Some teens may attempt to do this and wind up making the consequences of the speeding ticket much worse than it would have been if they were honest upfront. It is critical that you discuss the situation with your parents so that they can provide you with guidance on how to move forward. Most may assume that getting a ticket means you are guilty of the listed offense; however, you can challenge the ticket with the help of your parents and an attorney.
Being convicted of a crime at any age can be a terrifying experience. Not knowing how the court system works or not having a good understanding of the possible consequences of your conviction can make the months of your criminal trial feel like years. For minors, the process can be even more daunting. Your crimes may take you away from your home and family, and in some cases, warrant that you are tried as an adult. The state of Texas allows some juvenile cases to be tried in adult court depending on the details of the charge. No matter the severity of your crime, it is always advisable to work with a reputable criminal defense attorney to be fully informed on the legal process and have a trained defender on your side.
Trying a Juvenile as an Adult
The state of Texas has two separate courts -- juvenile and adult courts. Those who are between the ages of 10 and 17 fall within the juvenile court system. Once minors reach the age of 18, they are no longer eligible to be tried in juvenile court. The age restrictions of these courts, however, are not fully set in stone and those who are 14 years or older may be tried in an adult court if their criminal charge is serious enough to warrant this harsher jurisdiction. Known as a certification or transfer hearing, the Texas juvenile court may waive its right to the minor’s case, transferring the child to stand trial in an adult criminal district court.
Getting pulled over, arrested, and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) may leave you assuming that your charges will lead to a conviction. You likely blew into the breathalyzer, received above a 0.08 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reading, and believe that the prosecutor has an air-tight case against you. While this reading may be enough for some cases, working with a reputable DWI defense attorney can significantly alter the results of your case. Some drivers may presume that this 0.08 BAC means they are automatically guilty and falsely believe that hiring an experienced defense attorney is not worth their time. Regardless of the evidence against you, your criminal defense lawyer’s experience with cases like yours can change your future for the better.
Defense Strategies
What criminal defense attorneys bring to the table is well-thought-out, past-proven defense strategies. These strategies can change depending on the criminal charges and evidence involved in your case. The following are three strategies that a reputable attorney will likely utilize for DWI cases:
In the past few years, many states have begun to navigate the divisive waters of marijuana legalization. Some states have accepted the change and have legalized all forms of marijuana use, including recreational, while others have remained strict on the matter. Texas is one of the few states that has stayed headstrong in the fight to keep marijuana out of the hands of citizens. While medical use has been legalized for certain conditions, recreational use is strictly forbidden throughout the state. Drug laws can seem convoluted to the average citizen and even to law enforcement, as some forms of the cannabis plant have been accepted by Texas lawmakers.
What Is Legal?
Since the signing of the Texas Compassionate Use Law in 2015, medical cannabis is legal for a limited number of medical conditions. These include epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), and Parkinson’s disease. If you do not have any of these conditions, medical marijuana treatments remain out of the question for your prescriber.
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