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Many individuals are surprised to learn that they can be arrested for a drug offense even if the drugs aren’t theirs. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to get arrested and face criminal charges even if they know for a fact that the drugs did not belong to them.   According to a report by the Texas Department of Public Safety, the rate of drug possession arrests in the state stood at 255.2 for every 100,000 persons in 2020. It is unclear how many of those arrests were for drugs that did not actually belong to the defendant.

If you are facing criminal charges in Texas, it is important that you understand what an arraignment is and what to expect during this court proceeding so that you can adequately prepare yourself for this first step in the criminal process.

Being charged with a crime in Texas can be an overwhelming experience, but understanding what needs to be done before, during, and after trial takes some of the stress out of it. If you are facing criminal charges and await trial, seek the legal counsel of our criminal defense lawyers at Madson Castello Law.

The rights of inmates while they are under the care of a correctional institution can be complex. Inmates have the right to humane conditions, freedom from discrimination and harassment, nutrition, adequate medical care, and counsel, among other rights.

Immigration and criminal law are two distinct legal fields, but they can intersect in several ways. If you are a non-citizen facing criminal charges, it is important to understand how the outcome of your criminal case could lead to deportation.

In Texas, post-secondary institutions — colleges and universities — use Title IX hearings to investigate and remedy allegations of sexual misconduct involving students and faculty members. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 11,800 total reported forcible sex offense incidents on campuses of tertiary institutions throughout the United States in 2019, which constituted 43 percent of all criminal incidents.

When you get offered a plea bargain in your criminal case, do not accept it just yet. Whether or not you should agree to a plea bargain depends on the specific circumstances of your case. With any issues with the law, your first step should be to talk to an attorney.

People arrested for crimes are often required to stay in jail while awaiting trial. In most cases, the only way to get out of jail before the trial date is to post bail. If you are arrested and taken into custody, you may not have to spend hours or days behind bars if you understand how bail works in Texas.

DNA can significantly affect the outcome of a criminal case. DNA could be the most valuable piece of evidence in your case when facing criminal charges—evidence provided by DNA can either connect you to the crime or prove your innocence.

Many Texans know that crimes in the state are divided into misdemeanors and felonies. But most do not understand that a criminal offense can also be a “wobbler” and can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.