What is the difference between Probation and Deferred Adjudication in Texas? Probation and deferred adjudication in Texas are similar but have a very important difference. Both are forms of community supervision  authorized by the Texas legal system, and both often include conditions set by the court, such as behavioral programs and sanctions. If you’re facing criminal […]

What is a nolo contendere plea in Texas? Nolo contendere is a relatively rare plea from a criminal defendant in Texas. Nolo contendere is often referred to as no contest, and means the defendant neither accepts nor denies responsibility for the crime but accepts any punishment as if they pleaded guilty. The critical point to

What are the open container laws in Texas? Open container laws in Texas refer to statutes prohibiting the possession of open containers of alcohol in certain areas, most commonly within motor vehicles. An open container violation can be confirmed if the individual has an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a vehicle,

What is a federal safety valve in criminal cases? The federal safety valve refers to federal law 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f) , which allows a sentencing court to disregard a statutory minimum sentence if a defendant meets specific criteria. The law benefits nonviolent offenders who cooperate with prosecutors. In theory, the federal safety valve provision was