Top Rated Dallas Criminal Defense Attorney

The Fourth Amendment protects everyone in the U.S. from unreasonable searches and seizures which means that law enforcement officers must have a search warrant to search your home and your car. There have been exceptions to the warrant requirement for both types of searches.

• Exigent circumstances: Police can search your car or your home if they determine “exigent circumstances” exist to justify the search. Exigent circumstances include things like if the police reasonably believe evidence of a crime is about to be destroyed, someone’s life is in danger, someone needs to be saved, or a suspect of a crime is about to escape.
• Probable cause. Police can search your car without a warrant if they have “probable cause” to believe the vehicle contains evidence of a crime. This can be based on police smelling an illegal substance, or if they see something in “plain view” like a gun peeking out from under the passenger seat or fresh blood somewhere in the interior.
• Driver’s arrested. If you are arrested, the police can search your car if it is relevant to the reasons for the arrest.
• Consent. No warrant is needed if you consent to the search, whether the consent is for a search of your home or your car. If you consent, you will not later be able to challenge the search in court unless you can prove the consent was coerced and involuntary.

If you are arrested, you should not talk to law enforcement until you first consult with a criminal defense attorney who will help you make important decisions that may affect your entire future.

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A bail bond is a written or verbal agreement between you and the bail bond agent which allows you to be released from jail. You pay a percentage of the amount of the bail to the bondsman who pays the full amount of the bail to the court. You must agree to make all your court dates and to meet any other conditions of release the court imposes on you. If you violate any conditions or miss a court hearing, bail will be revoked, you will return to custody, and you will owe the bondsman the entire amount of your bail.

There are different types of bonds that can be issued depending on the court requirements and your financial situation.

You absolutely need a criminal defense lawyer if you are not guilty. Every day, innocent people are charged with crimes they did not commit. Some are convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. An experienced criminal defense attorney will work vigorously for the best possible resolution of your case.

If you are accused of a felony, your trial generally should start sometime between six months and two years. The start date and length of the trial depend on the complexity of the charges. Misdemeanors are resolved much faster.

There are minor differences in the way the two counties handle criminal cases. Your attorney will explain to you any important difference. One difference is that Tarrant County requires defendants, even those charged with misdemeanors, to be physically present at every court appearance.

In Dallas County, judges realize that most of the court business is handled by the attorneys, so it does not require defendants to be physically present at every court hearing.

The first court appearance generally takes place within 48 hours of your arrest but may take longer if you were arrested on a holiday or weekend. The court will inform you of the charges against you and inform you of your constitutional rights.

The court will tell you that if you cannot afford to hire an attorney, the court will appoint one for you. If you claim you cannot afford one, there will be an analysis of your income and expenses and the court will use a formula to determine if you qualify for a court-appointed attorney.

Finally, the court will ask you if you plead guilty or not guilty. You should ask the court for more time if you have not had a chance to consult with a criminal defense attorney. The attorney will discuss with you the charges, the defense to the charges, and the likelihood of you winning your case at trial. Only after you have considered all these options should you enter your plea.

What it will cost you to hire a criminal defense attorney depends on the charges and the complexity of your case. A simple misdemeanor may cost as little as $1,500 whereas a complicated felony where the sentence is lengthy if convicted may cost you thousands of dollars. The average hourly rate of criminal defense attorneys in Texas is $215.

You have to be 18 years old with a valid ID in order to bail someone out of jail. A judge is required to set a reasonable amount of bail. There are several ways you can pay the bail:

• You can pay the full amount of the bail by cash, check, credit card, or debit card.
• You may be able to use property you own, such as your equity in real estate, automobiles, boats, jewelry, and electronic equipment as collateral for the bail.
• Contact a bail bondsman to post a bond.
• In some cases, a judge may grant OR release to a person on their own recognizance without requiring bail.

If there is a warrant for your arrest, law enforcement officers may arrest you at any time without giving you any notice. If you learn there is a warrant for your arrest, you may avoid a sudden arrest if you immediately contact a criminal defense lawyer. Your lawyer can generally arrange for a self-surrender or possibly settle the matter without you having to be taken into custody.

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