# Criminal Defense FAQs | The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates - [Criminal Defense](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/criminal-defense/) - [Drug Crimes](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/drug-crimes/) - [Dwi](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/dwi/) - [Elder Abuse](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/elder-abuse/) - [Family Law](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/family-law/) - [Misdemeanors](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/misdemeanors/) - [Personal Injury](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/personal-injury/) - [Sex Crimes](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/sex-crimes/) - [Violent Crimes](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/violent-crimes/) - [White Collar Crimes](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/white-collar-crimes/) [![Houston Arrest: What to Do Before Court](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/houston-arrest-what-to-do-before-court-768x511.jpg) Houston Arrest: What to Do Before Court What to do if Arrested for a Criminal Charge in Houston The flash of red and blue lights in your rearview mirror...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/houston-arrest-what-to-do-before-court/) [![What to Do After an Arrest in League City](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/what-to-do-after-an-arrest-in-league-city-768x455.jpg) What to Do After an Arrest in League City Getting arrested is a very stressful and daunting experience. Ignoring your rights, however, can spell the difference between the success and failure...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/what-to-do-after-an-arrest-in-league-city/) [![What Is Criminal Restitution?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/what-is-criminal-restitution-768x512.jpg) What Is Criminal Restitution? Being convicted of a crime in Texas comes with serious penalties. The most common are jail or prison sentences, as well as...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/what-is-criminal-restitution/) [![Can Fingerprints Convict You of a Crime?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/can-fingerprints-convict-you-of-a-crime-768x512.jpg) Can Fingerprints Convict You of a Crime? Are Fingerprints Important in Galveston County? Fingerprint evidence is still central to many investigations, even after the rise of DNA testing. In...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/can-fingerprints-convict-you-of-a-crime/) [![What Is Criminal Attempt in Texas?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/what-is-criminal-attempt-in-texas-768x513.jpg) What Is Criminal Attempt in Texas? Criminal attempt is a “preparatory offense” under Texas law where a defendant tries to commit a crime but doesn’t follow through. For...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/what-is-criminal-attempt-in-texas/) [![What Is Swatting?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/what-is-swatting-768x433.jpg) What Is Swatting? Swatting is a form of harassment where a person makes a false report to the police to get an emergency response, usually...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/what-is-swatting/) [![Charged With a Hate Crime?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/charged-with-a-hate-crime-768x455.jpg) Charged With a Hate Crime? A hate crime in Texas is any crime motivated by bias or hatred of someone due to their race, color, national origin,...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/charged-with-a-hate-crime/) [![Can Firing a Gun in Public Lead to Charges?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/can-firing-a-gun-in-public-lead-to-charges-768x577.jpg) Can Firing a Gun in Public Lead to Charges? Texas residents enjoy strong gun rights, and many people have multiple firearms which they carry openly as is allowed by law. Nonetheless,...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/can-firing-a-gun-in-public-lead-to-charges/) [![What to Do Right After an Arrest](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/what-to-do-right-after-an-arrest-768x511.jpg) What to Do Right After an Arrest An arrest for DWI, DUI or any other criminal charge is usually followed by anxiety and an uneasy feeling about the future....](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/what-to-do-right-after-an-arrest/) [![Is Practicing Medicine Without a License a Crime?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/is-practicing-medicine-without-a-license-a-crime-768x512.jpg) Is Practicing Medicine Without a License a Crime? In Texas, you need to be a licensed physician to engage in the “practice of medicine.” Without an active medical license, you...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/is-practicing-medicine-without-a-license-a-crime/) [![Can Failing to Stop and Help Lead to Prison?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/can-failing-to-stop-and-help-lead-to-prison-768x455.jpg) Can Failing to Stop and Help Lead to Prison? Most of us know to stop and exchange insurance information with another driver following a car accident. This is not just a...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/can-failing-to-stop-and-help-lead-to-prison/) [![Can Texas Try You at the Jailhouse?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/can-texas-try-you-at-the-jailhouse-768x512.jpg) Can Texas Try You at the Jailhouse? In every Texas criminal trial, the accused is entitled to a presumption of innocence. This presumption includes the right to have a...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/can-texas-try-you-at-the-jailhouse/) [![Threatening a Witness in a Criminal Trial](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/threatening-a-witness-in-a-criminal-trial-768x511.jpg) Threatening a Witness in a Criminal Trial If you are accused of a criminal offense in Texas, the last thing you should ever do is try and influence any...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/threatening-a-witness-in-a-criminal-trial/) [![When the State Tries a Different Crime](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/when-the-state-tries-a-different-crime.jpg) When the State Tries a Different Crime In Texas felony cases, such as those involving sexual offenses against children, a grand jury is charged with reviewing the available evidence...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/when-the-state-tries-a-different-crime/) [![Criminal Trespass vs. Criminal Mischief](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/criminal-trespass-vs-criminal-mischief-768x502.jpg) Criminal Trespass vs. Criminal Mischief Texas protects the rights of property owners to enjoy their property without interference. If you end up damaging someone’s property or even...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/criminal-trespass-vs-criminal-mischief/) [![When Can Police Search Your Smartphone?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/when-can-police-search-your-smartphone-768x433.jpg) When Can Police Search Your Smartphone? Smart phones today hold an incredible amount of information. They serve as people’s cell phones, picture albums, notepads, and digital libraries. Few...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/when-can-police-search-your-smartphone/) [![How Criminal Sentencing Works in Texas](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/how-criminal-sentencing-works-in-texas-768x512.jpg) How Criminal Sentencing Works in Texas After a person is convicted of a crime, they must be sentenced. For many people, sentencing is a confusing topic. But anyone...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/how-criminal-sentencing-works-in-texas/) [![Can You Be Prosecuted for a Pool Death?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-pool-death-768x513.jpg) Can You Be Prosecuted for a Pool Death? The drowning death of a four-year-old in a Galveston hotel pool has renewed attention on pool safety. Many homeowners in Galveston and...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-pool-death/) [![Can You Use Force to Protect Property?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/can-you-use-force-to-protect-property-768x512.jpg) Can You Use Force to Protect Property? Most people know that you can use force to defend yourself from bodily attack in Texas. But did you know that the...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/can-you-use-force-to-protect-property/) [![What Is the Best Result for a Criminal Case?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/what-is-the-best-result-for-a-criminal-case-768x512.jpg) What Is the Best Result for a Criminal Case? Many criminal defense lawyers will say that their goal is to get you “the best result” for your case. You don’t hear...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/what-is-the-best-result-for-a-criminal-case/) [![Do You Have to Report a Crime in Texas?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/do-you-have-to-report-a-crime-in-texas-768x511.jpg) Do You Have to Report a Crime in Texas? Crime is a fact of life in Houston, and most people spend time thinking of ways to avoid becoming a victim. But...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/do-you-have-to-report-a-crime-in-texas/) [![Can You Make a Citizen’s Arrest in League City?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/can-you-make-a-citizens-arrest-in-league-city-768x513.jpg) Can You Make a Citizen’s Arrest in League City? Few issues are as confusing as whether private citizens can make an arrest. In Texas the answer is surprisingly “yes.” However, the...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/can-you-make-a-citizens-arrest-in-league-city/) [![When Officers Have Reasonable Suspicion](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/traffic-stop-768x512.jpg) When Officers Have Reasonable Suspicion Under the Fourth Amendment, the police must have probable cause you have committed a crime to arrest you. However, the Supreme Court...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/when-officers-have-reasonable-suspicion/) [![What to Know About Ankle Monitors](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/what-to-know-about-ankle-monitors-768x472.jpg) What to Know About Ankle Monitors Understanding the Ankle Monitor in Galveston and Harris County For many individuals facing criminal charges, ankle monitors can offer a way to...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/what-to-know-about-ankle-monitors/) [![When Is Wiretapping a Crime in Texas?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/when-is-wiretapping-a-crime-in-texas-768x512.jpg) When Is Wiretapping a Crime in Texas? Eavesdropping is an old human activity. Who hasn’t listened in on another person’s private conversations or snooped around their email, especially if...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/when-is-wiretapping-a-crime-in-texas/) [![Is Stalking a Serious Crime in Texas?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/is-stalking-a-serious-crime-in-texas-768x431.jpg) Is Stalking a Serious Crime in Texas? Yes. Stalking is typically charged as a felony, which means defendants can face substantial time in prison if convicted. Please contact Attorney...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/is-stalking-a-serious-crime-in-texas/) [![Is Carrying a Gun on School Property Illegal?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/is-carrying-a-gun-on-school-property-illegal-768x513.jpg) Is Carrying a Gun on School Property Illegal? Each year, Texans purchase more than 1 million guns. The state also has more than 20,000 private and public schools, servicing around...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/is-carrying-a-gun-on-school-property-illegal/) [![What Is Receipt of Stolen Property?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/what-is-receipt-of-stolen-property-768x414.jpg) What Is Receipt of Stolen Property? Theft is a very serious crime in Texas, but few people really understand all the different types of theft. For many, the...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/what-is-receipt-of-stolen-property/) [![Is Refusing to Identify Yourself Illegal?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/is-refusing-to-identify-yourself-illegal-768x576.jpg) Is Refusing to Identify Yourself Illegal? It is standard practice for the police to ask for your name and identification after arresting you. But what if you refuse?...](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/is-refusing-to-identify-yourself-illegal/) [![Do Police Need a Warrant for Your Cell Phone?](https://tadlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/do-police-need-a-warrant-for-your-cell-phone-768x405.jpg) Do Police Need a Warrant for Your Cell Phone? Cell phones have changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Older cell phones were the size of bricks and had poor reception....](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/do-police-need-a-warrant-for-your-cell-phone/) - [1](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/criminal-defense/) - [2](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/criminal-defense/page/2/) - [3](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/criminal-defense/page/3/) - [4](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/criminal-defense/page/4/) - [Next Page »](https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/criminal-defense/page/2/) --- Source: https://tadlaw.com/faqs/category/criminal-defense/