The charges for mail theft in Texas range from a class A misdemeanor to a first-degree felony, and some people think the penalties are too extreme. Depending on the details of an alleged mail theft, an individual could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and...
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How a wrongful arrest happens, and the damage it can do
Many people assume that whenever the police arrest somebody, the arrested person did the crime. After all, Hollywood cop movies and television shows teach us that the police never make mistakes. They always get their man (or woman). But here in the real world of the...
Supreme Court considers warrantless search issue
The United States Supreme Court agreed to consider whether a police officer's belief that a person committed a misdemeanor crime is sufficient to support a warrantless entry into the home. Legal professionals in Texas and throughout the country are interested in the...
Wrongful conviction is a real threat in Texas
We all want to believe that the justice system works. We rely on the integrity and honesty of those involved in law enforcement and prosecution. But still it happens that innocent people are convicted of crimes they did not commit. In fact, according to Innocence...
What does police misconduct look like?
The video of protests that have erupted around the country since the death of George Floyd include scenes of police using force that is excessive and unlawful. Numerous lawsuits have been filed against police forces nationwide. More are expected. Civil lawsuits...
Interrogations and mental illness may lead to false confession
Police interrogations are meant to be overwhelming. Putting pressure on suspects is often how officers get people to confess, though sometimes those confessions are false. Now, research is showing that suspects with mental illnesses are much more at risk of being...
3 things to know about mental illness and juvenile crime
If your child has struggled with substance abuse, mental illness or personality disorders, it can be a daily challenge. You may worry that these struggles will put them at odds with the law, and you may wonder what options would be available to you. What might your...
Eyewitness errors a factor in many wrongful convictions
Since as far back as the 1930s at least, researchers have chronicled inaccuracy issues related to eyewitness identification. For people in Texas who are charged with crimes, a misidentification by an eyewitness can be difficult to overcome at trial. A theme among...
Study looks at the effect of pretrial detention on criminal cases
Texas residents may be aware that the United States has a high level of incarceration. However, they may not know that more than 20 percent of those behind bars have not been found guilty of committing a crime. While some of these prisoners are incarcerated while they...
Authorities seek to overturn sex assault conviction
On Dec. 18, a Texas judge recommended that a man who was convicted on child sexual assault charges have his conviction be overturned due to mistakes that were made during the criminal investigation process. The man was accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old boy...