Dallas Texas Criminal Defense Blog

Why you need to know about your 4th Amendment rights

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Wednesday, April 8, 2020.

Facing criminal charges is a daunting prospect for many, and if you find yourself in this position, you may wonder what you should do next. Whether it's a misdemeanor offense or a felony charge, it is in your interests to build a strong defense and protect your future. One important factor of the defense process is to identify whether you experienced a violation of your constitutional rights.

Every person has rights, even when suspected of a crime. The United States Constitution outlines the rights of citizens, including rights regarding searches and seizures. The Fourth Amendment specifically addresses personal privacy and the right to be free from government intrusion in personal property. This means the police cannot retain you, search your car, take your property or search your home without cause.

Did police officers act appropriately during your arrest?

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Friday, March 6, 2020.

If police officers in Texas recently took you into custody on suspicion of criminal activity, you may understandably feel worried. After all, officers may have accused you of drunk driving or drug-related activity, and you know that a conviction could have negative effects on your future. As a result, you undoubtedly want to handle the situation to the best of your ability.

You may already be considering your criminal defense options, and that is wise. Planning ahead and determining which options may work best for you could help your case. It is also prudent to go over every detail of what happened before, during and after your arrest.

Do you have to answer questions from police officers?

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Friday, February 7, 2020.

Talking to police officers can bring about mixed feelings in some Texas residents. If an officer stops your vehicle, you may wonder whether you have to answer any questions posed to you. Because police officers can often make individuals feel intimidated, you may think that answering any questions truthfully will lessen the likelihood of an officer charging you with a crime.

While the truth typically is a good option, it is important to remember that police officers can sometimes take even innocent-seeming answers and use them against you. For example, if an officer asks where you have been, you may not think twice about saying you went out with friends. However, the officer may then ask if you had any alcoholic beverages, which could lead to additional questions about drinking and possibly bring up suspicion of DUI.

Are you wondering how to get your loved one out of jail?

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Thursday, February 6, 2020.

When you started your day or went out in the evening, you likely anticipated it being like any other. You may have had plans with friends, your spouse or loved ones and intended to do some fun activities. What you may not have anticipated, however, was having an officer take your loved one into custody.

An officer may have stopped your vehicle and considered your loved one driving under the influence, or maybe you all found yourselves involved in an altercation with another person and your loved one ended up accused of assault. Whatever the reason, an officer placed him or her under arrest.

Has your social media presence landed you in trouble?

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Thursday, January 9, 2020.

These days, almost everyone has some sort of social media presence. Even if you only post occasionally or use the sites to mostly stay in contact with friends and family, you still end up putting a lot of information about yourself and your activities out into the world of the internet. You may think that your activities have protection because you have all the available privacy settings in place, but that may not be the case.

Social media can become the bane of your existence if you come under suspicion for any unseemly activity. Try as you might to keep your personal affairs online private, ways exist to access that information, and if you end up facing criminal charges, the prosecution could use it against you in court.

Should you talk to the police without a lawyer?

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

Ending up in jail is scary. Even if you are innocent, the police obviously believe you committed a crime, and you need to be cautious about how you proceed. From the moment the cops arrest you, you need to start planning your defense.

Whether you are innocent or guilty, there is never any reason to talk to the police without a lawyer present. You have nothing to gain by accepting an interrogation from law enforcement without legal representation. In fact, you could end up making things a lot worse. At the time of arrest, you need to provide the police with your name and a copy of your driver's license and registration if the cops caught you driving at the time.

Did you inadvertently commit tax fraud?

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Tuesday, November 12, 2019.

Today’s tax system is undeniably complex. If you are like many people across Texas, you may have concerns about whether you are doing everything “by the book” when filing. Unfortunately, there are many areas in which you may make errors when filing your taxes. In some cases, mistakes made during filing can lead to allegations of tax fraud.

Tax fraud is a serious offense that can bring with it serious consequences. Thus, the more you understand about what could potentially constitute tax fraud, the more likely you will be to avoid making errors that attract the attention of the IRS. Just what are some of the ways Americans commonly find themselves facing tax fraud charges?

Do you have to let the police search your car?

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Monday, October 14, 2019.

Under the Fourth Amendment, people have a right to reasonable search and seizure. This prevents the police from getting into anyone's home and searching for evidence of crimes. The police need a warrant to search a residence, but slightly different laws exist for searching vehicles.

The cops do not necessarily need a warrant to search inside a car, but they do need a reasonable cause. There may not be time to obtain a warrant from a judge, but as long as the cops have probable cause to assume there is evidence of a crime inside a vehicle, then they can look inside. However, it is paramount for drivers to be aware of their rights and when they can deny a cop access to a vehicle.

Does the product you offer qualify as mail fraud?

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Monday, September 16, 2019.

Let us suppose you developed an advertising campaign for a healthcare super product. As part of that campaign, you mail postcards describing the benefits of the product along with ordering instructions.

Customers have complained that the product does not work. It has no perceivable value, and they lost their money. This is what sparked a federal investigation into the possibility of mail fraud.

Drug trafficking versus distribution charges

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Monday, August 19, 2019.

While certain areas around the country work to decriminalize the use of marijuana, there are still certain drug activities deemed unacceptable across the board. The distribution of drugs is one of them.

For those caught in such interactions, facing drug charges is quite frightening. There are a few things to understand about such charges, particularly the differences between drug trafficking and distribution.