Getting charged with a crime is a distressing event. But everyone has the right to a fair trial, regardless of the nature of the charges they’re facing.
When you’ve been charged with a crime, asserting your right to legal counsel should be your top priority. A Tarrant County criminal lawyer can help you build a robust legal defense.
It’s possible for you to be charged with a crime before you are arrested in Texas. In these cases, a judge will issue a warrant for your arrest and you will be brought to jail for processing. Other times, an officer may arrest you without a warrant.
In both scenarios, you will typically be held for a short period of time before you can make an initial appearance in court. After an initial hearing, you might be appointed legal counsel and a decision will be made about bail.
The physical location of the court where you are processed depends on the jurisdiction in which you are alleged to have committed the crime.
For example, if you are arrested in Tarrant County, you will be processed at the criminal justice center in Fort Worth.
Once in court, you will be read your charges at an arraignment. You will also later be asked to enter a plea—guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
You can enter a plea of not guilty even if you feel that you are guilty of the crime for which you are being charged based on a lack of evidence. The question of how to plea is one that is best addressed in consultation with a trusted criminal defense lawyer.
At trial, a jury composed of peers from Texas will consider all evidence before making a decision on your guilt. If you are found not guilty, then you will be released from police custody and can resume your life normally. If guilty, then a date for a sentencing hearing in front of the judge will be set.
At this point, a judge will consider all factors relevant to the case before making a decision on sentencing. If your crime is of a lesser nature, you may even be sentenced to time served and be made free to go—but serious crimes may be addressed with more time in jail, fines, and other forms of punishment.
Have you been charged with a crime? Don’t wait to take action to defend your rights in the Texas criminal justice system.
Contact a criminal defense lawyer with The Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy by calling 817-605-1010.
