If you’ve been charged with a crime, you are in a crisis. Chances are you are not in the kind of state of mind that will lead to you making the best decisions about how to deal with your situation. At the very least, you aren’t likely to appreciate the nature of the consequences that could result from each decision you make.
Any area of law is complicated, but when you are facing criminal charges the potential repercussions may not be limited to just a hit to your pocketbook, as bad as that might be. No, your very freedom is at stake.
That’s one reason why the law requires police to read you your rights when you are arrested. When you hear the words, you have a right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, it’s information you should take seriously and follow.
For example, if you are booked on a felony charge, chances are you don’t have a clue as to what it could mean if you are convicted. That’s because the penalties differ depending on the specific nature of the crime alleged.
There are five felony classifications under Texas law. All are serious, but the one that tops the list is a capital felony. Murder falls into this class. The death penalty or life without parole are possible sentences.
At the bottom of the list is the state jail felony. You won’t face life in prison, but you could spend up to two years in jail and face a $10,000 fine.
And then there are the different types of felonies. There are so many of them that it’s not possible to describe them in detail here.
Clearly, with the future at stake, it is essential for a person facing felony charges to understand exactly what the state is alleging and what evidence it has. An experienced attorney is in the strongest position to provide you with what you need to pursue an optimal outcome of your case.
