You've received a call you never thought you would—your child has been caught shoplifting. Now, you might feel angry, confused, frustrated and disappointed. It's also normal to worry about the next steps your child might face with the legal system. Let us give you some peace of mind during this trying time. Juvenile Shoplifting: The First Steps First, do your best to remain calm. Your child will need your support through the process. Most shoplifting occurs on sheer impulse; the consequences aren't necessarily considered in the moment. Your child may now feel fear and guilt for committing the crime. Try to go in with a level head. Was It an Accident? Sometimes, stores will question your child based on what looked like shoplifting but was, in fact, an accident. For example, did an item slide under the shopping cart where it wasn't seen before leaving the store? When you arrive at the store location, it's important to advocate on your child's behalf. If an accident occurred, your child also must be able to explain it…Read More
Unfortunately, it's increasingly easy for a juvenile to obtain drugs such as marijuana. Even the vape pens popular with those under the legal age for purchasing cigarettes can have traces of THC inside. In Texas, law enforcement cracks down on the use of drugs and the possession of drug paraphernalia by juveniles. What Is Juvenile Possession of Drug Paraphernalia? According to the Texas Health and Safety Code, a possession of drug paraphernalia offense is committed when: “The person knowingly or intentionally uses or possesses with intent to use drug paraphernalia to plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, manufacturer, compound, convert, product, process, prepare, test, analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, or conceal a controlled substance in violation of this chapter or to inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce into the human body a controlled substance in violation of this chapter.” For a juvenile charge, the individual must be under the age of 18. Some common types of drug paraphernalia include: Vape pens Capsules Mixing decides Pipes Plastic containers (972) 427-5473 – Is your child facing a juvenile possession of drug paraphernalia…Read More
In Texas and across the country, a conversation has developed about excessive prosecution and incarceration. As a result, there is wide support for criminal justice reform, including proposals to decriminalize or legalize cannabis and end criminal prosecution and incarceration for related offenses. This conversation comes as statistics show that the violent crime rate has gone down for decades, and people are safer than potentially ever before. However, arrest rates continue to rise. Dealing with high arrest rates can be a significant concern because people may find their employment, education and housing prospects hindered by criminal arrests, charges and convictions. Most people want to have as few interactions with the police as possible and stay out of the criminal justice system. However, despite the lower crime rate, Americans are more likely to be arrested before age 26 than at any time in the past. While 6.4% of Americans born before 1949 have been arrested, that figure jumps to 23% for those born between 1979 and 1988. Because violent crime is on the decline, many of these arrests involve…Read More
Texas residents likely think of serious crimes like murder and arson when felonies are mentioned, and they may be surprised to learn that dozens of acts that would barely raise an eyebrow also fall under this designation. Calling in sick to spend a day in front of the television is actually a felony in some situations, and making a scene in a post office is always a federal crime. This is important because the consequences of a felony conviction often continue for years after an offender is released from prison or jail. Felons are not permitted to vote in state or federal elections and are barred from owning firearms. They will also be automatically rejected if they apply for certain jobs and could even lose custody of their children. This may seem fair for a murderer or rapist, but it could be considered a little excessive for an individual whose only crime was getting lost in the woods or forgetting to put on waterproof shoes before picking up a crate of foreign primates. When the…Read More
For many people in Texas, a wrongful conviction is one of their worst nightmares. With the advent of computer surveillance technology and DNA testing, many might hope that wrongful convictions are less likely than they were in the past. However, many cases, especially for more minor crimes like shoplifting, theft or drug possession, continue to rely on standard types of evidence that are particularly prone to mistake or error. According to one criminologist who studied the prison population, up to 6% of prisoners could be wrongfully jailed for crimes they did not commit. Famous DNA exonerations have drawn widespread attention to the problem of wrongful convictions. In some of these cases, police or prosecutors were corrupt or hid evidence that could exonerate the defendant. In other cases, early forensic scientists were prone to mistakes, while other false convictions simply rested upon the fallibility of eyewitness testimony. Statistics have shown that DNA has led to exonerations in 3 to 5% of convictions in capital cases like those involving murder and rape. Because of the severity of the sentences…Read More
Texas residents who use apps such as Ring or Lyft may not have full control of their data. Only three states require that police get a warrant before accessing information about an individual from those or other popular apps. Companies such as Ring readily hand over information to police officers who ask to use it as part of an investigation if individuals won't do so willingly themselves. It is also possible that tech companies will provide personal information to authorities after being served with a subpoena. This is the general policy of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Unlike a warrant, there is no need to establish probable cause to obtain a subpoena. Therefore, an individual's name, address and other data could be given to outside parties even if that person hasn't been charged with a crime. A representative from the R Street Institute says that more transparency is needed as it relates to how data is used. This person says that companies should be more forthcoming with how a user's data is shared with authorities and other…Read More
On Aug. 6, “Love After Lockup: Life After Lockup” star Tracie Wagaman was arrested for alleged drug possession in Texas. The incident took place in Tarrant County. According to media reports, Wagaman, age 39, was taken into custody by officers from the Bedford Police Department and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance. Her bond was set at $5,000. In her mug shot, she looked unkempt and upset. She also had one side of her head shaved. If convicted, she would normally face between two and 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. However, because she has a previous criminal record, she could face between five and 99 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine under the Texas three strikes law. “Life After Lockup” follows the lives of prison inmates after they get released from prison. In the WE TV series, Wagaman fell in love and married Clint Brady after doing time in the Texas prison system. The reality TV stars had been very active on social media until recently.…Read More
A Texas attorney faces spending up to 99 years in prison on felony drug charges after quantities of methamphetamine and other illegal drugs were allegedly found in his vehicle during a routine traffic stop on the night of July 20. The 50-year-old man was released from the Williamson County Jail on July 21 after posting a $50,000 bond. He has been charged with a first-degree felony count of manufacturing a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. Court documents and police reports suggest that he could face additional drug possession charges. The man's evening took a turn for the worse at approximately 9:26 p.m. when a Williamson County Sheriff's Office deputy pulled his BMW M6 sedan over on Anderson Mill Road near Round Rock. The deputy says that he initiated the traffic stop because the man failed to signal before changing lanes. A search of the vehicle was ordered after a K-9 unit alerted to the possible presence of drugs during an air sniff. During the search, deputies say that they found three canisters that contained marijuana,…Read More
Being a parent isn't an easy job-especially during the teen years. You know your teenager is bound to make mistakes and get into trouble, but what do you do if get a call one night that your teen has been cited for DWI (driving while intoxicated) and is waiting for you to pick them up at Collin County Jail? It's every parent's nightmare, but it does happen. Zero tolerance underage DWI laws Texas is one of many states with zero-tolerance laws for drivers under 21 who are cited for drunk driving because auto accidents are still the number one cause of death for 15- to 20-year-olds, with 28% related to alcohol consumption. With zero tolerance laws, drivers under 21 can have a .01 blood alcohol content (BAC) in their system and still receive the following consequences with a DUIA (driving under the influence of alcohol) offense: A $500 fine A 60-day license suspension 20 to 40 hours of mandated community service Mandatory alcohol-awareness classes For those who are 17-20, drivers with a .8 BAC face even…Read More
Jurisdictions in Texas and throughout the country have tried to raise money through fines and fees. This allows them to generate revenue without having to increase taxes. However, if a person cannot pay a fine, he or she may spend time in jail or on probation until the issue is resolved. That could make it harder for a person to get a drivers license, find work or obtain adequate housing. In some cases, those who are put in jail are required to pay a fee to cover costs related to their stay. The Vera Institute of Justice in New Orleans is trying to convince the city to do away with cash bail. It found that New Orleans pays nearly $3 million more to lock people up than they collect in fees and bail. Authorities in Memphis have also decided to stop prosecuting people for driving on a license that was suspended because of an outstanding debt. However, Tennessee did not get rid of a law that allows the state the take drivers licenses away from people who…Read More
