FAQs: Violent Crimes

Is $1 Million Bail for Murder Too High? Is $1 Million Unreasonably High for a Texas Murder Charge If you are charged with a serious felony in Texas, a qualified...

Unlawful Restraint and Kidnapping Charges People have the right to move about freely, so it’s not a surprise that Texas criminalizes any restraint of a person against...

What Is Attempted Murder? The criminal law punishes those who attempt crimes, even if they aren’t successful at following through. Under Texas law, you could face...

Can You Fight Houston Carjacking Charges? Carjacking continues to surge in Houston, and police have vowed to crack down on those who take another person’s vehicle. Although carjacking...

What to Do Under a Protective Order One way Texas responds to allegations of domestic violence is to issue a protective order. This order applies to the alleged abuser...

Assault vs. Aggravated Assault In Houston, a person can face assault charges for many different types of alleged criminal behavior, including offenses that would constitute “battery”...

How Domestic Violence Affects Child Custody Whether you have been accused of domestic violence in Texas or you believe your ex has engaged in acts of domestic violence,...

Falsely Accused of Domestic Violence? Domestic violence is taken extremely seriously in Texas, and there are many circumstances in which spouses, partners, and others can suffer immensely...

Accuser Immunity in Domestic Violence Cases Domestic violence cases often come down to the word of the accuser against that of the defendant. This means that it is...

Can Contradictory Witnesses Still Prove Abuse? Once police respond to a report of possible domestic violence, any evidence they legally obtain may later be used to prove that...

Do I Need a Lawyer for Domestic Violence Charges? Whether you are going through a breakup or a divorce and domestic violence allegations have arisen out of your split with your...

Texas Protective Orders: What to Know Those who have been the victims of domestic violence in Texas can legally protect themselves by requesting a protective order. These orders...

Can One Accuser’s Testimony Mean Life in Prison? Sex crimes involving child victims often draw the harshest penalties under Texas law. For example, the offense of continuous sexual abuse of...

Can a Parent Be Charged for Failing to Stop Abuse? When it comes to sex offenses and sex crimes, Texas prosecutors may look to charge someone other than the actual perpetrator. By...

When Is Hearsay Allowed in Domestic Violence Cases? A criminal domestic violence case does not necessarily mean jail time. The trial court has the discretion to instead sentence a defendant...

Is Burning Someone With a Cigarette Assault? Simple assault is a misdemeanor offense in Texas. Assault is defined as “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another” person....

When Domestic Violence Becomes a Felony Domestic violence can elevate a misdemeanor charge into a felony offense. For example, under Section 22.01 of the Texas Penal Code, assault...

What Is Texas Rape Shield Law? In a criminal trial, the defendant has the right to introduce evidence that may serve to undermine the state's case against them....

Bad Jury Instructions in Domestic Violence Cases Every Texas criminal defendant has the right to a trial by jury. This includes criminal allegations of domestic violence, or “family violence”...

Can I Claim Self-Defense in a Domestic Violence Case? Domestic violence cases often start out as a fight between spouses or partners. Prosecutors may charge one party as the sole aggressor....

Do Police Need a Weapon for Domestic Violence Charges? Domestic violence allegations can lead to serious felony charges, especially if the accuser states the defendant used or exhibited a deadly weapon–such...

Civil Commitment for Sexually Violent Predators When a person is convicted of sex offense or sex crime in Texas, their sentence does not necessarily end when they are...

Is Attacking a Roommate Domestic Violence? Evidence of domestic violence is often used to enhance a criminal case against a defendant in Texas. For example, Section 22.02 of...

Is an 8-Year Domestic Violence Sentence Legal? It should come as no surprise that Texas law is not sympathetic towards defendants convicted of domestic violence. In many cases, a...

What Qualifies as Felony Murder in Texas? Murder normally refers to the crime of intentionally killing someone. But Texas also recognizes the criminal offense of “felony murder,” which broadly...

Penalties for Violating a Protective Order Some misdemeanor crimes in Texas involve violating a prior court order. For example, if a judge issues a protective order against a...

Juror Questions in Domestic Violence Cases Everyone charged with a crime in Texas has the right to a trial before an impartial jury. But when the defendant is...

When Can Texas Issue a Protective Order? Even when domestic violence allegations do not lead to formal criminal charges, they can still have a significant impact on your legal...

Domestic Violence Charges While on Probation A domestic violence charge is never a good thing. But such allegations are especially problematic if you are already on community supervision...

Can Changed Stories Still Lead to Family Violence? Once a domestic violence allegation is made to law enforcement, even a subsequent recantation by the accuser will not necessarily stop the...