Year: 2017
Courts and juries place credence on forensic evidence in cases. However, this is not always reliable and can be subject to human errors. Recently, misleading testimony from a Texas crime lab analyst led to changes in how this evidence is treated in court. The Dallas Morning News reported how unreliable testimony from a state crime…
Getting charged with a crime is always a scary experience, but being charged with a felony can be especially terrifying says Clint Broden a reputable criminal defense lawyer Anyone who is facing a felony charge should be well-informed about the differences between a misdemeanor and a felony, as well as the possible consequences of a…
Under federal law, it is a crime for anyone with a domestic violence conviction to buy or own a gun. The system broke down with tragic consequences on Nov. 5 when Devin Patrick Kelley killed 26 worshipers and injured 20 more at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs in Texas. Kelley, 26, was convicted…
One in three people has a criminal record, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidance forbids discrimination against people based on their records, but Texas has sought to set this aside. An article in The Nation noted how Texas wants to make the process of firing people with criminal records…
Sex crimes are among the most difficult and problematic offenses for prosecutors, victims and defendants alike. People charged with sex offenses typically suffer serious social stigma even before conviction. However, these offenses are often based on uncorroborated statements of young victims which are not always reliable. In one Texas city, the role of the police…
A series of proposed executions in Texas have been delayed or derailed over the last year due to legal appeals or other circumstances. The latest death row inmate to face an 11th hour reprieve was Houston serial killer, Anthony Shore, who was just hours away from execution when the process was halted. Officials stopped the…
Media reports state that police in Texas have been very active in targeting online predators. Using the internet to arrange or ask for sex or sexual contact with an underage individual is a serious crime under both federal law and Texas state law. Many people view the internet as a sort of Wild Wild West,…
Police stops in Texas have proved controversial in recent years. In a high profile case, Sandra Bland, an African American woman, took her life after a routine traffic stop with a state trooper led to an argument. The Sandra Bland case and other controversies led to a new law in Texas that will provide training…
Cybercrime is one of the fastest-growing areas of criminality in the United States and Texas. It’s an area of expertise for Dallas’ likely new top federal prosecutor who has spent her career battling cybercrime, the Dallas Morning News reported. Erin Nealy Cox is a former federal prosecutor in Dallas and a cybersecurity expert. She was…
Violent crime is increasing in Texas at a rate that outstrips the rest of the nation, according to recently released statistics. Violent crime in the Lone Star State is above the national average, although lower than a decade ago. Statistics released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in September found Texas outpaced the rest of…