Let Us Help You Clear Your Record! We Help With Expungements and Orders of Non-Disclosure in Harris County. Getting a job, a mortgage, applying for college or even renting an apartment often requires the applicant to have a personal background check in Houston. This includes looking at the applicant’s financial and criminal history (if they […]
Blog Category: General Criminal Defense Information
You’ve Been Charged With a Crime You Didn’t Commit — How Do You Clear Your Name?
Hopefully, you’ll never be arrested and charged with a crime you didn’t commit. But what if you are? How do you go about clearing your name after being accused of a crime you didn’t commit? Here are some words of advice from leading Houston criminal defense attorney Lisa Shapiro Strauss: Being convicted of a misdemeanor […]
I Have a Criminal Case in Harris County During the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Crisis! What Can I Do?
Do you or your family member or friends have a new criminal case in Harris County during the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic? Perhaps you’ve heard the courthouses are all closed and are worried that will mean you can’t do anything at all with your case? Houston criminal defense attorney Lisa Shapiro Strauss is here to […]
How To Choose A Criminal Defense Attorney in Houston TX
You get home from a long night in jail and are bombarded with hundreds of flyers from lawyers. Your bonding company suggested someone for you to call (which is against the law for them to do). Your friend tells you he has a great, cheap lawyer. What do you do?
Difference Between Deferred Adjudication and Pretrial Diversion
If you have a clear record and are charged with a case such as a theft or drug possession, there are two ways- deferred adjudication, and pretrial diversion- to keep these off your criminal record. There are benefits to both, and you should talk with a criminal defense attorney about which of these is right […]
Statute of Limitations for Criminal Charges
In Texas, the majority of crimes have a statute of limitations. This is a limit on the time period a prosecutor has to file formal charges against a suspect. Under most circumstances, if this time has passed, you cannot be prosecuted for the crime. Generally, the criminal statute of limitations is shorter for misdemeanors than […]
Fifteen New Laws in Texas That Affect Criminal Defense Cases in Houston
820 bills passed by the latest session of Texas State Legislature became law on September 1, 2019. Many of these laws will have a profound impact — good and bad — for those charged with criminal felonies and misdemeanors in Houston and Harris County. Here’s a list of 15 of these new laws that could […]
Should I Accept a Plea Agreement for an Assault Charge in Houston?
In a lot of assault cases in Houston, it’s not unusual for the prosecutor to offer the defendant a plea agreement for a lighter sentence or a lesser charge in exchange for a plea of guilty or no contest. But if you’re in this situation, you may be wondering if you should take the deal. […]
The Judge Ed Emmett Mental Health Diversion Center Provides Treatment Instead of Punishment for Mentally Ill Offenders
Inmates suffering from mental illnesses make up a significant percentage of the U.S. prison population. Common mental disorders among inmates include depression/manic depression, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and personality disorders. Over the past several years, there’s been a growing concern about the high rates of incarceration for individuals with mental illnesses […]
Videotaping Your Traffic Stop in Houston Is Legal and Smart
If you are being tried for a misdemeanor or felony charge in Texas, the outcome of your case will depend on the evidence presented by both the prosecutor and defense team. If your arrest followed a traffic stop in Houston, any video recordings of the event can be powerful evidence in showing what actually happened […]
