Law Office of Brett A. Podolsky - Criminal Defense Attorney

Getting arrested isn’t something that we usually plan for, but unfortunately, it seems to happen to many individuals. In fact, the New York Times reported on a study that found that around 30 percent of American citizens get arrested before they even turn 23. This statistic is staggering, so in reality, it’s important for everyone […]

Anyone who has been involved in any type of case, from civil to criminal, has likely heard of a deposition. According to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, a deposition is basically a sworn statement that is taken from a party to a lawsuit, criminal case or legal claim as to what their side of […]

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.  

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.