In Texas, statutory rape occurs whenever an individual penetrates another who is less than 17 and not his spouse. Statutory rape is one of the few crimes of strict liability, which means that a person is absolutely responsible for his or her behavior without the need to show intent. As such, it is common for […]
The crime of prostitution is taken very seriously here in Texas. In order to combat prostitution, there have also been strict laws enacted against pimping. Section 43.03 of the Texas Penal Code defines the act of promoting prostitution to happen whenever an individual: Receives money or property with “an agreement” to participate in the proceeds […]
In Texas, Child Protective Services (CPS) is responsible for overseeing all investigations of child abuse. These investigations are often initiated after school counselors, healthcare workers or mental health providers make reports as to suspected incidents. After receiving such a report, the agency is required by law to conduct an investigation in short order, normally within […]
Murder is a serious charge that is only compounded when it is premeditated. In order to show that a murder was not premeditated, individuals sometimes use the “heat of passion” defense. This defense attempts to show that the defendant was inflamed in some manner, and the resulting anger caused him or her to be unable […]
Good parents can find themselves the target of a child abuse investigation the same as abusive parents can. A number of people ranging from teachers to medical workers could report “suspicious” accidents, thereby prompting an investigation. An extremely negative stigma surrounds allegations of child abuse, which means that finding a legitimate defense is extremely important […]
