Dallas Texas Criminal Defense Blog

Avoid prison in Texas

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Monday, May 20, 2019.

Incarceration is a fact of life in America, and Texas is certainly no exception. If you face a criminal charge that could end in a jail sentence, you should probably take the possibility of prison time seriously. Those who do not do so and assume that a judge will not put them in prison could be headed for an unfortunate surprise. Only a structured criminal defense has the best chance to minimize the consequences of any given charge.

The statistics for incarceration are sobering. According to the Texas Tribune, there are 107 prison units in the state with a total of almost 140,000 inmates. That is about half a percent of the entire population of the state. Furthermore, there is a heavier representation of certain crimes in the prison system in others, such as burglary and possession of controlled substances.

Know your rights when authorities stop or try to search you

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Friday, May 17, 2019.

As someone who has dealt with law enforcement officers one or more times during your life, you may have firsthand knowledge of the stresses that can come with doing so. Failing to understand your full legal rights has the potential to lead to considerable and serious trouble, so the more you understand about your rights, the better your chances of staying out of the criminal justice system.

So, what can you do to protect yourself in the event that authorities attempt to stop your car, search you or place you under arrest?

Are you under suspicion for selling drugs on the darknet?

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Tuesday, April 16, 2019.

People who want to escape detection for peddling illegal drugs have turned to the darknet because of its supposed ability to hide the identity of sellers. As evidence that the anonymity factor is not as advertised, four people, including a nurse, were recently indicted for making illegal sales on the darknet.

What happened

Watch what you say when making calls from jail

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Friday, March 15, 2019.

Just about anyone who has been through the Texas jail or prison system can attest that living behind bars is unpleasant. You may spend the majority of your day looking forward to the few minutes you have to speak with loved ones on the phone. You would be remiss to speak with your friends or family members from prison in the same manner that you may, say, at home, though, because doing so could come back to bite you. In fact, the things you say on a prison phone can potentially even mean the difference between a conviction and an acquittal.

Why? First, you should never assume to have any degree of privacy when speaking on a jail phone, so, a good rule of thumb is to never say anything you would not also say in front of a judge. Otherwise, you run the risk of having someone use the things you say on the phone against you in court; whatever you say during your recorded phone calls is potentially fair game. Just how might you incriminate yourself when speaking to your loved ones from a jail phone?

Benefits to abandoning your social media efforts

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Tuesday, February 19, 2019.

The digital age is upon us, making it virtually impossible to avoid certain side effects of it. The most revolutionary tool developed since the advent of the internet is social media. It changes the way people meet, keep in touch and follow up with each other.

However, when you face a criminal charge of any kind, social media may become a wealth of ammunition for the prosecution to use against you. If you have any doubts about staying plugged in, perhaps think about the benefits of disconnecting.

Do you have to tell your lawyer everything?

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Sunday, February 17, 2019.

When accused of a crime, your concern should rest in getting the best outcome possible. Hiring an attorney to do the legwork for you is a benefit since he or she knows the legal system.

Before walking into a consultation, you wonder if it is in your best interest to tell your criminal attorney everything. You understand privilege, but will what you say impact the way the lawyer views you and defends you? Here is why it is critical you tell your counsel what you know.

What can happen if you intentionally lie on your taxes?

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

Unless you list yourself among those who make their living working as accountants, chances are, you may not completely understand every aspect of filing your taxes. Tax rules are complex and constantly changing. That fact can make it tremendously difficult for average Americans to make sure they do everything right.

Taking steps to ensure accuracy is essential when filing your taxes, however, as any errors you make may attract the unwanted attention of the Internal Revenue Service. So, what can happen to you if you lie, omit or otherwise make an error on your taxes this filing season?

Has social media played a role in your embezzlement charge?

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Saturday, December 22, 2018.

You may have been a Facebook member for years, and you often connect with people using this social media site. However, law enforcement authorities have charged you with embezzlement. Did information voluntarily posted on Facebook lead the authorities to your doorstep?

Differences in social media use

Cyberstalking is a serious crime

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Monday, November 26, 2018.

Celebrating the end of a bad relationship, a woman discovered that something was wrong when she was buying groceries. Her ATM card showed insufficient funds. The bank informed her they had proof she withdrew all her money. Later that week, her bank recorded a deposit that equaled what she had lost. Confused, she wondered if the bank had caught a mistake and fixed it. The bank insisted that, according to their records, she withdrew the money and later made a deposit to replace it. It was not a bank error. This incident was just the beginning. Early on, the woman realized only her ex-boyfriend had access to the passwords and personal information to manipulate her bank account.

Next, he used software to hijack her identity on social media. He sent malicious messages to her contacts, pretending they came from her. He submitted false emails to her employer, and she nearly lost her job. She also found GPS trackers hidden in her car. A friend in IT traced the cyberstalking and social media impersonation to her former boyfriend. She obtained legal counsel to put a stop to his persistent harassment.

4 ways to exercise your right to remain silent

On behalf of Law Offices of Frank Jackson on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.

If you have ever watched a crime drama on television, you have likely heard an officer inform a suspect of his right to remain silent. After all, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in 1966 requiring officers to advise detained persons of this important right. Still, during an arrest, individuals often forget to exercise their right not to speak to investigators.

Police officers receive training on how to elicit responses from uncooperative individuals. Whether you anticipate an arrest or simply want to plan for any contingency, you should think about how to assert your constitutional right against self-incrimination. Here are four ways to remain silent during police questioning.