By Kevin L. Collins | Published May 1, 2022 | Posted in Criminal Law | Tagged Tags: drug courts, DUI, DWI courts, specialty courts | Comments Off on Drug/DWI Specialty Courts Offer Alternatives to Criminal Penalties
Drug abuse and drunk driving are serious problems in Texas, just as they are throughout the nation. While state criminal laws seek to address the issues by adopting stiff penalties, most people who violate these laws do so because of physical and/or mental conditions, not due to criminal intent. One strategy for dealing with the Read More
Read MoreChildren may end up on the wrong side of the law while growing up. Juvenile delinquency is partly attributable to immaturity and lack of life experience. Most offenses committed by juveniles are isolated incidents of youthful indiscretion. However, minors can also be charged with serious and sometimes violent offenses. Such charges should be met by Read More
Read MoreCongress enacted Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to prevent gender discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funding, including academic, athletic and social programs. As years passed, a series of court decisions expanded the scope of Title IX to include protection against sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape and other acts of sexual Read More
Read MoreOn September 1, 2021, a variety of new and revised firearm laws went into effect in Texas. The most significant new statute is the “permitless carry” law. Also known as “constitutional carry,” it means that a person who is 21 years or older and not otherwise prohibited by law is allowed to carry a handgun Read More
Read MoreProsecutions for white-collar crimes like fraud are often brought against people who work for corporations or other organizations. Even though the fraudulent activity may not have been authorized, the company that employs the individual might also be exposed to criminal liability under federal or state law. However, this liability is not automatic and requires a Read More
Read MoreTexas has become the first state to make the crime of soliciting prostitution a felony. The new law, which took effect on September 1, 2021, is part of a legislative effort to crack down on human trafficking. It also increases the criminal penalties imposed for recruiting victims from shelters or certain residential treatment centers for Read More
Read MoreTexas has toughened its laws on sex offenses by adding to the types of conduct that can be prosecuted as sexual assault or sexual abuse. The statutory changes, which took effect on September 1, 2021, address a broad range of conduct and target people in certain professions that involve close working relationships with potential victims. Read More
Read MoreOver the past decade, the nationwide push for law enforcement transparency has led police departments, including many in Texas, to adopt body camera technology to record the actions of officers in the field. Video evidence can be extremely valuable to defense counsel in analyzing the propriety of police conduct during investigations and arrests. This is Read More
Read MoreTitle IX of the federal Civil Rights Act prohibits educational institutions from discriminating on the basis of sex. Discrimination can take multiple forms, including sexual misconduct, which is also a potential crime. When an educator or a student is charged with sexual misconduct, they may face not only on-campus disciplinary proceedings but also criminal prosecution Read More
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