False accusations can derail a person’s reputation and life in multiple ways. You can face anything from social isolation and job loss to prison time if you don’t defend yourself. Even the accuser can’t always undo the damage after making a false accusation due to the structure of our laws.
The criminal justice system is a labyrinth of laws and practices that must be expertly navigated from the moment you are charged with a violent crime. Because of their violent nature, these crimes come with harsher punishments that can keep you behind bars for decades.
In Texas, restraining orders and protective orders are not quite the same thing. You may be familiar with restraining orders, which are not usually associated with criminal cases. Protective orders are issued against those guilty of violence, stalking, or sexual abuse.
On September 1, 2021, soliciting prostitution went from a Class B misdemeanor to a felony with one stroke of the Texas governor’s pen. The state is now the first to treat buying sex as a felony.
Over 90% of criminal convictions result from plea bargains. Why so many? Because the US criminal justice system is inefficient and overwhelmed with cases.
