Is making verbal threats a crime in Texas or protected speech? There are many reasons a person could make a verbal threat against the other. In some instances, a verbal threat could be made as a joke; in others, it could be a means of self-defense with no real intention of causing bodily harm or […]
An Affirmative Defense Against Injury to a Child by Omission Charges in Texas
If you’ve been charged with causing injury to a child by omission in Houston, it’s important to take immediate action to protect your rights. Houston family violence defense attorney Lisa Shapiro Strauss is here to defend you. Injury to a child by omission is a felony in Texas; if found guilty, you could face stiff […]
Fighting Family Violence Charges While Going Through Divorce
Being charged with family violence charges in Texas could have a big impact if you’re going through a divorce. In Texas, family violence is also sometimes known as domestic violence or domestic abuse. It occurs when an adult family member threatens or harms another family member. The adult family member may include: A partner or […]
Protective Order Violations in Texas: What Is Considered “Threatening or Harassing”?
If you’ve been charged with domestic violence in Houston, chances are a judge has issued a restraining order, also known as a protective order, in your case preventing you from having contact with the alleged victim or their family. Protective orders are meant to prevent or reduce the likelihood of future harm to a victim […]
What to Do If You are a Woman Charged with Domestic Violence in Texas
For a long time, domestic violence was considered to be a crime committed by a man against a woman. Women were routinely treated as the victim in a case of domestic violence; any situation where violence was perpetrated against a man by a woman was routinely dismissed as an act of self-defense against a more […]
Why Was I Charged with Felony Continuous Family Violence Assault Instead of a Misdemeanor?
Under Texas Penal Code §25.11, a person can be charged with continuous violence against the family if he or she is accused of committing assault against a family or household member two or more times within a 12 month period. This includes incidents that happen over a few days or weeks, as well as in […]
Breakdown of an Assault Family Member Case
Whether you’ve been charged with felony or misdemeanor, here is what to expect from the process of an assault family member case. Posting Bond The Defendant (person charged) must first post bond before we can begin to speak to any of the parties at all about the case. The process is slightly different depending on […]
When Family Gatherings Lead to Domestic Violence Charges During the Holiday Season
The holiday season is upon us once again. Many of us are looking forward to holiday get-togethers with friends and family. And it’s not uncommon for alcohol to play a big part in the celebrations. Unfortunately, the holiday season often brings with it great financial and emotional stress. Sometimes these stresses, especially after heavy alcohol […]
How is Bodily Injury Defined, and How Does It Impact a Houston Assault Case?
Being charged with assault in Houston or Harris County is bad enough, but being charged with assault for causing bodily injury to another could mean jail time and steep fines. If you’ve been charged with bodily injury assault in Houston, your best chance to avoid these penalties is being represented by an experienced Houston assault […]
Will the District Attorney Drop Assault Charges If the Victim Asks Them To?
If you’ve been charged with assault in Harris County and think the Harris County district attorney’s office will drop the charges against you at the victim’s request, you need to speak to a lawyer. While this might have been true in the past, Texas laws have changed, particularly for some types of assault, such as […]
