The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees defendants the right to a speedy trial. This right is granted so that an individual will not be arrested and then placed in jail indefinitely. It also helps people avoid having charges hanging over them if they are released on bail. No specific length of time is […]
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees individuals the right to be told of the charges against them. In Texas, this is done through the arraignment process. An arraignment is basically a court hearing in which the accused is formally charged with a crime, thereby invoking his or her right to counsel.
Rather than send someone to jail, judges sometimes hand down suspended sentences. This is normally done for first-time offenders accused of relatively minor crimes. There are different types of suspended sentences that can be used, and the type suggested by a judge will generally depend upon the totality of the circumstances.
During a traffic stop, an officer may ask a motorist to take a breath or blood test if there is reasonable suspicion that the motorist is drinking and driving. Refusing to submit to field sobriety tests can result in severe consequences for Texas motorists.
Not all criminal offenses result in incarceration. In some instances, the courts believe that justice is best served whenever the defendant is ordered to pay a monetary fine. In other cases, fines may be assessed in addition to jail time, probation or community service.
