Dallas Texas Criminal Defense Legal Blog

What are the most common probation violations?

On behalf of Sally Goodman Law posted in probation violations on Friday, June 14, 2019.

If you have been charged with a crime, you may have been ordered to be on probation for a certain amount of time. Probation is often a more lenient alternative to jail time; therefore, you should make sure that you complete probation successfully in order to avoid adverse legal consequences.

Many people are confused about what they can and cannot do when that is subject to probation. Every probation is different, therefore you will need to do research into your own specific probation. However, there are several very common actions that lead to a probation violation. By becoming aware of these, you can avoid making these mistakes and facing the consequences.

How a felony conviction affects your immigration status

On behalf of Sally Goodman Law on Monday, June 3, 2019.

If you are an immigrant in the United States, your right to reside in the country is not guaranteed under all circumstances. Therefore, if you are accused of a felony, you may be at risk of facing deportation. This is why it is especially vital that you take a criminal accusation very seriously as an immigrant. By successfully defending yourself, you may be able to prevent deportation to your country of origin.

If you have been convicted of a felony, the consequences that it will have on your right to remain in the United States will depend on your immigration status. The following are the implications that immigrants face according to their status after a felony conviction.

Is failing to report a crime punishable?

On behalf of Sally Goodman Law posted in federal crimes on Sunday, June 2, 2019.

If you have witnessed an event that you believe was a crime, you may be unsure of what action to take. You may be fearful in reporting the crime that you will become involved in the investigation or that you will be wrongfully accused.

It is important that you understand how the law works when it comes to reporting a crime. You may face legal consequences if you are aware of certain criminal behavior but fail to report it to law enforcement.

Is tampering with evidence a crime?

On behalf of Sally Goodman Law on Friday, May 31, 2019.

When law enforcement officials suspect criminal activity in any context, it is common for a criminal investigation to be initiated. This means that effort is made to gather all relevant information relating to the crime. In order to maintain the integrity of the investigation, it is vital that all evidence is maintained and preserved in its original state.

This is why law enforcement does everything that they can to disincentivize the destruction of evidence during a criminal investigation. It is common for evidence to be unintentionally destroyed or contaminated. For example, if a person burgled your home, you may unintentionally destroy evidence by going through your home after the incident to try to learn what was taken. However, it is also common for those with a vested interest in the investigation to tamper with or otherwise contaminate evidence intentionally.

Reasons eyewitnesses get it wrong after violent crimes

On behalf of Sally Goodman Law posted in weapons crimes on Friday, May 17, 2019.

Studies have found that eyewitnesses have a tendency to make mistakes after violent crimes. They give accounts of the event that don't reflect what really happened. They think that they remember things correctly when they have forgotten crucial details or gotten things wrong. They make mistakes that put innocent people behind bars.

Why does this happen? There are a lot of potential reasons, including:

Many of these events happen after dark, so it's hard to accurately see what is happening in low light and with reduced visibility.
These events tend to happen very quickly, and they're usually unexpected. Witnesses may not be paying attention or may not realize what they actually saw until later.
Some people hold biases or racial prejudices that impact their recollections. Others just make mistakes in identification when dealing with suspects that are not of their same race.
Memories change over time, and memories of surprising and traumatic events may be selective to begin with. People often think of their memories like a video recording, but that's not how the brain works.
With weapons crimes, people often get distracted by the weapons themselves. They may look at a gun or a knife and not at the person's face.

Multiple cases dismissed by Dallas prosecutor

On behalf of Sally Goodman Law posted in drug charges on Friday, May 3, 2019.

On Sept. 6, 2018, a female police officer with the Dallas Police Department shot and killed an unarmed man. She stated that she thought the man was burglarizing her apartment, but the man was actually in his own apartment. She was charged with murder and fired from the police department.

As a result, the Dallas district attorney has filed numerous motions with the court asking for at least nine cases to be dismissed. In those cases, the investigating or arresting officer was the female officer.

The consequences of cocaine possession for Texas students

On behalf of Sally Goodman Law on Monday, April 29, 2019.

Texas is one of the strictest states in the country when it comes to the possession and sale of illegal drugs. If you are a student who has been accused of possessing or trafficking cocaine, you need to take swift action to protect your future.

Everyone has the right to defend themselves from criminal charges. You should look into the possible options at your disposal that relate to your situation. You should also look into the seriousness of the charges if you are found guilty.

Eyewitness testimony suffers from changing memories

On behalf of Sally Goodman Law posted in federal crimes on Friday, April 19, 2019.

Eyewitness testimony often contributes heavily to criminal cases. In situations where the event was not caught on video or otherwise recorded, what someone saw at the scene may be the only account of what took place -- at least, the only account that does not come from the person accused of breaking the law.

But is that testimony reliable? Can you count on it? That may be a bit less clear.

What happens if I lose my green card?

On behalf of Sally Goodman Law on Thursday, April 11, 2019.

Being an immigrant is difficult, but if you’ve been awarded your green card, you can count on a measure of stability.

But what happens if your green card is lost or stolen?

Defending yourself against a probation violation

On behalf of Sally Goodman Law posted in probation violations on Friday, April 5, 2019.

If you have been accused of violating your probation, it is likely that you will face jail time or a heavy fine as a result. Probation violation accusations can be false, or there may be an adequate defense that you can use in your situation. This is why it is important to consider challenging the accusation.

If you break the terms of your probation or appear to, you could face consequences. These terms will differ depending on your specific circumstances, but they will likely include avoiding visiting certain people and places, being home before a certain time in the evening and avoiding using, possessing or selling drugs. Sometimes, that prohibition includes alcohol as well.