Protective orders are used in Texas to provide immediate protection to victims of family violence and other persons in harm’s way. Someone accused of violation of a protective order could owe fines and even be sentenced to time in jail. This article summarizes the three different types of protective orders, so you’ll be prepared if … Read more
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 … Read more
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, … Read more
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 … Read more
What is a federal proffer? A proffer is a written agreement that occurs after a meeting with federal authorities during which the defendant provides valuable information in hopes that this cooperation will result in a more lenient sentence. A federal proffer can take at least three forms, as discussed below. In the federal system, punishment … Read more
