Category: News

dna

During police investigations, many other people often give DNA evidence to be eliminated from an inquiry. However, a new study compiled this summer points to widespread errors in how laboratories analyze DNA and dangers for people who provide samples. Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology provided 105 laboratories with the same DNA…

White-Collar Crime in Dallas: What You Need to Know About Wire Fraud

Lawyers for white-collar crime in Dallas must find strong defenses to help clients accused of wire fraud. Learn about these defense strategies. White-collar crimes in Dallas don’t get as much attention as violent felonies because they don’t involve physical injury or physical damage, so the public tends to be less interested in these offenses. But…

What Does the Supreme Court's Cell Phone Privacy Decision Mean?

Can Police Access Cell Phone Location Data Without a Warrant? In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down what digital privacy experts are hailing as a landmark case in Carpenter v. United States. If you own any kind of mobile phone, including a smartphone, you’ll want to read on to learn what Carpenter…

gavel and sounding block on desk

Bail hearings are coming under fire across the country. In Dallas County, the secretive nature of the process is the subject of a lawsuit. Last month, the Texas Tribune reported bail hearings are open to the public in much of the country. The idea is the process should be transparent. However, in Dallas County people…

Jail Informants Can Send Innocent People to Prison

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…

deathrow

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…

Hate Crime

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…

Defending Different Types of Federal Conspiracy Charges

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…

Distinctions Between Assault and Aggravated Assault in Dallas

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…

Common Questions About Probation in Texas

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…