In Texas, a criminal investigation starts either by an individual filing a complaint about a crime or a crime occurring. If an individual files a police compliant, they allege someone committed a crime against them such as stalking or assault. The alleged victim may name the person they know or believed committed the crime. The […]
Many people ask, “What is probable cause?” Probable cause in Texas is a legal term that, in its simplest form, means that a certain circumstance occurred more probably than not. For instance, to arrest an individual, law enforcement must believe that it’s probable that he or she committed a crime. Probable cause is the standard […]
Facing a police investigation can be one of the most frightening and confusing experiences that a person can have. It can be easy to forget that in the United States anyone accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty. It is important to remember that the rights of people who are being investigated by […]
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 […]
You have the right to a fair trial with an impartial jury as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. An impartial jury is made up of a cross-section of the public. However, a 2012 study of 700 felony trials published by The Quarterly Journal of Economics suggested that juries without at least one member of the […]
