People accused of crimes often make many errors that result in terrible consequences. Avoid these 6 mistakes in your Houston criminal case. 1. Volunteering Evidence When you’ve been falsely accused of a crime, it’s natural to feel the desire to “clear your name.” Unfortunately, this feeling often causes people to make a number of mistakes that, instead […]
COVID-19 and the Reopening of Texas Criminal Courts: How Does It Affect Your Case?
If you’ve been charged with a felony or misdemeanor crime in Houston or Harris County and are awaiting trial, you’re probably wondering how the current COVID-19/coronavirus health crisis is going to affect your case. Texas Criminal Courts Adopt New Rules in Response to COVID-19 As you are probably aware, the Texas State Criminal Courts are […]
Will an Arrest in Texas Remain on Your Record for the Rest of Your Life?
Let Us Help You Clear Your Record! We Help With Expungements and Orders of Non-Disclosure in Harris County. Getting a job, a mortgage, applying for college or even renting an apartment often requires the applicant to have a personal background check in Houston. This includes looking at the applicant’s financial and criminal history (if they […]
You’ve Been Charged With a Crime You Didn’t Commit — How Do You Clear Your Name?
Hopefully, you’ll never be arrested and charged with a crime you didn’t commit. But what if you are? How do you go about clearing your name after being accused of a crime you didn’t commit? Here are some words of advice from leading Houston criminal defense attorney Lisa Shapiro Strauss: Being convicted of a misdemeanor […]
I Have a Criminal Case in Harris County During the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Crisis! What Can I Do?
Do you or your family member or friends have a new criminal case in Harris County during the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic? Perhaps you’ve heard the courthouses are all closed and are worried that will mean you can’t do anything at all with your case? Houston criminal defense attorney Lisa Shapiro Strauss is here to […]
How To Choose A Criminal Defense Attorney in Houston TX
You get home from a long night in jail and are bombarded with hundreds of flyers from lawyers. Your bonding company suggested someone for you to call (which is against the law for them to do). Your friend tells you he has a great, cheap lawyer. What do you do?
Difference Between Deferred Adjudication and Pretrial Diversion
If you have a clear record and are charged with a case such as a theft or drug possession, there are two ways to keep these off your criminal record. There are benefits to both, and you should talk with a criminal defense attorney about which of these is right for you. Deferred Adjudication in […]
Statute of Limitations for Criminal Charges
In Texas, the majority of crimes have a statute of limitations. This is a limit on time period a prosecutor has to file formal charges against a suspect. Under most circumstances, if the statute of limitations has passed, you cannot be prosecuted for the crime. Generally, the criminal statute of limitations is shorter for misdemeanors […]
Fifteen New Laws in Texas That Affect Criminal Defense Cases in Houston
820 bills passed by the latest session of Texas State Legislature became law on September 1, 2019. Many of these laws will have a profound impact — good and bad — for those charged with criminal felonies and misdemeanors in Houston and Harris County. Here’s a list of 15 of these new laws that could […]
Should I Accept a Plea Agreement for an Assault Charge in Houston?
In a lot of assault cases in Houston, it’s not unusual for the prosecutor to offer the defendant a lighter sentence or a lesser charge in exchange for a plea of guilty or no contest. This is what is called a plea bargain or plea agreement. Being charged with assault in Houston is a serious […]
