What is the first thing I should do if I’ve been arrested in Houston?

If you or someone close to you has been arrested or charged with a crime, it is imperative to consult a Houston criminal defense attorney who can assess the merits of your case. Whether you have been charged with a misdemeanor, such as shoplifting or simple assault and battery, or a felony such as burglary, family violence, sex crimes, or drug offenses, or any other crime under Texas law, a criminal defense lawyer can help protect your rights.Every accused individual in the United States, including Texas has certain constitutional rights. Some of these rights include the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty; the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures; the right to remain silent; the right to a fair trial; and the right to be represented by a lawyer.

Am I entitled to a presumption of innocence even if there is evidence I committed a crime?

Every person is presumed to be innocent and cannot be convicted of a crime unless the government proves every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. This is the highest standard in the legal system since a person’s freedom is at stake. Reasonable doubt must be rooted in logic and reason based on all the evidence or lack thereof presented at trial.

How can I get incriminating evidence excluded from my trial?

The right to be free from unreasonable searches means the police cannot search for evidence on your person, papers, home, and effects without a warrant based on probable cause, with certain limited exceptions. This also means that the police cannot enter your house without a valid search warrant. Under this general rule, evidence obtained without a proper search warrant may not be admissible at trial. An experienced Houston criminal defense lawyer can assess the government’s case against you and identify areas of weakness to mount a strong defense if your case goes to trial. Alternatively, if the government offers you a plea bargain, an attorney can advise you whether you should take it and the factors that affect your decision.

Houston Lawyers

Browse By Practice Areas

Find Houston Attorneys by Practice Area

Sponsored Listings

PREMIUM

Jimmy Doan

Lawyer Serving Houston, TX

(832) 835-0000
Free Consultation

Houston, TX Attorney with 19 years of experience

The National Trial Lawyers and American Institute of Trial LawyersState Bar of Texas and American Bar Association

View Profile

Free Consultation

View Website View Profile Call Email Lawyer Email Lawyer

PREMIUM

Ryan Zapalac

Lawyer Serving Houston, TX

(832) 390-2949
Free Consultation

Texas Attorney

Martindale HubbellTexas State Bar

View Profile

Free Consultation

View Website View Profile Call Email Lawyer Email Lawyer

PREMIUM

Kyle Robbins

Lawyer Serving Houston, TX

(713) 673-8957
Free Consultation

Texas Attorney

Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Super Lawyers, Three Best Rated...Travis County Bar Association and Estate Planning Council of Central Texas

View Profile

Free Consultation

View Website View Profile Call Email Lawyer Email Lawyer

PREMIUM

Paul Danziger

Lawyer Serving Houston, TX

(800) 864-4000
Free Consultation

Houston, TX Attorney with 31 years of experience

American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, BBB, National Trial Lawyers and Houston GeneralNew York State Bar and American Association of Justice

View Profile

Free Consultation

View Website View Profile Call Email Lawyer Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&A

Patrick Mason Dennis

Houston, TX Attorney

(713) 554-9076

University of Texas - AustinUniversity of Houston - Main CampusTexas, 5th Circuit and ArizonaSuper Lawyers, Super Lawyers and AvvoState Bar of TexasRecent Developments in Products, General Liability, and Consumer Law, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ALII Gold

Paul Danziger

Houston, TX Attorney

(800) 864-4000

Northwestern UniversityUniversity of Texas - Austin and University of Texas - AustinU.S. Supreme CourtAmerican Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, BBB, National Trial Lawyers and Houston GeneralNew York State Bar and American Association of JusticePuncture The Movie

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer Profile

Stephen Lyle Hamilton

Houston, TX Attorney

(888) 977-4055

Oklahoma City UniversityTexasAvvo, College of the State Bar of Texas, Texas' Top Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell...Texas State BarWhat Every Texas Tech Student Should Know if They Get in Trouble with the Law, A Citizen's Guide to a Domestic Assault Arrest in Texas...

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileLII Gold

Peter Walter Weston

Houston, TX Attorney

(602) 641-2931

South Texas College Of LawTexas Tech University - Texas Tech UniversityU.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern & Western District of Texas, U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern & Western District of Texas and TexasMartindale-Hubbell, Better Business Bureau and Lamar Magnet School of BusinessNational Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, Houston Association of Debtors Attorneys...Fair Debt Collection and Bankruptcy and Truth in Lending Rescission Rights in Bankruptcy

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&AResponsive Law

Kate Thorne

Houston, TX Attorney

(713) 655-1200

Baylor Law SchoolTexas A&M University - College StationTexasJunior League of BeaumontNational Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association...Pro Tips: Estate Planning

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileLII Gold

Tesha M. Peeples

Houston, TX Attorney

(713) 766-5355

University of Houston Law CenterUniversity of Houston - DowntownTexasSuper Lawyers, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys and American Institute of Family Law AttorneysHouston Bar Association, Family Law Chapter, Young Lawyers Association...The Cutting Edge Issue: Whether as a Matter of Law a Statutory Partnership Exists Between Separate Property Entity and the Community Estate

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileLII Gold

Joseph Manuel Ruiz

Houston, TX Attorney

(281) 300-8695

St. Mary's University School of LawVanderbilt UniversityTexasThomson Reuters, Martindale-Hubbell, Houstonia Magazine, National Trial Lawyers Association...National College of DUI Defense, National Trial Lawyers Association...Persuading Jurors to Accept a Disconnect Defense and Less is More: Simplicity & Reasonable Doubt

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer Profile

Michael E. Clark

Houston, TX Attorney

(713) 286-7169

University of Houston - Main Campus, University of Houston - Main Campus and South Texas College of LawUniversity of Texas - ArlingtonTexas, 5th Circuit and U.S. Supreme CourtCorporate LiveWire Global Awards, Best Lawyers, Superlawyers , Corporate LiveWire Global Awards...University of Houston Law Center, Criminal Justice Institute, ABA Section of Health Law...Insights Into the SEC's Whistleblower Program, Internal Investigations and Other Tools...

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileBlawg Search

David W. Miller

Houston, TX Attorney

(832) 925-4571

University of Houston Law CenterVanderbilt University4th Circuit, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, Texas and FloridaAvvo, Lawyers Best, Super Lawyers and FINRAHouston Young Lawyers Association, State Bar of Texas...https://www.mcmfirm.com/files/david_miller-never_run_out_of_money.pdf

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ABlawg SearchResponsive Law

Samuel B. Edwards

Houston, TX Attorney

(800) 259-9010

Georgetown University Law Center and University of Houston Law CenterUniversity of Texas - Austin5th Circuit, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, U.S. District Court for the Northern & Southern Districts of Texas, Texas, California and MichiganAvvo, Super Lawyers, Lawdragon and Super LawyersMichigan State Bar and California State BarPast Editor & Chief

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Sponsored Listings

PREMIUM

Peter Walter Weston

Lawyer Serving Houston, TX

(602) 641-2931
Free Consultation

Houston, TX Attorney with 49 years of experience

Martindale-Hubbell, Better Business Bureau and Lamar Magnet School of BusinessNational Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and Houston Association of Debtors Attorneys

View Profile

Free Consultation

View Website View Profile Call Email Lawyer Email Lawyer

PREMIUM

Susham Mahendra Modi

Lawyer Serving Houston, TX

(832) 514-4030

Houston, TX Attorney with 14 years of experience

The Best Lawyers of America, Avvo, Maxine Flock, Penn State Law School and Houstonia MagazineHouston Bar Association and American Immigration Lawyers Association

View Profile

Contact Now

View Website View Profile Call Email Lawyer Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer Profile

Heather McFarlane

Houston, TX Attorney

(713) 435-9258

University of Texas - Austin5th Circuit, Federal Circuit, U.S. Supreme Court and TexasTexas Super Lawyers, Texas Bar Foundation and Houston Bar FoundationAssociation of Attorney Mediators , American Bar Association - ADR Section..."Email 101" - Chapter in Essentials of E-Discovery (updated) and "Top 10 Things You Should Know About Email"

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer Profile

Eric Joe Benavides

Houston, TX Attorney

(713) 222-2828

Texas Tech University School of LawUniversity of Texas - AustinTexasHoustonia Magazine and Houstonia MagazineHarris County Criminal Lawyers Association and Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers AssociationMotions For Non Disclosure

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileLII Gold

Luis Stephen Baez

Houston, TX Attorney

(713) 703-1718

Michigan State UniversityTexas State University - Texas State University-San MarcosTexasavvo, Houston Criminal Defense Attorneys and Houston Criminal Defense AttorneysState Bar of TexasCountering Defense Attacks on the NHTSA Manual, Maintaining Critical Mass: How Fisher v. University of Texas Could Affect Diversity in Higher Education...

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer Profile

Lindsey Harris

Houston, TX Attorney

(832) 203-8750

St. Mary's University School of LawTexas A&M University - College StationTexasSt. Mary's University and CALIState Bar of Texas and American Bar AssociationWhat is an E2 VISA?

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileBlawg Search

Chelsie King Garza

Houston, TX Attorney

(713) 893-8808

The Catholic University of America Columbus School of LawSeton Hall UniversityNew Jersey, New York and TexasTexas Montly Magazine, Texas Monthly Magazine, Texas Monthly Magazine, Texas Monthly Magazine...American Bar Association, Federal Bar Association...Marketing Tips for Women Attorneys, The Innocent Seller and Foreign Manufacturer...

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ALII Gold

Ricardo Guerra

Houston, TX Attorney

(281) 760-4295

South Texas College of LawUnited States District Courts for the Southern & Western Districts of Texas and TexasExpertise.com, Expertise.com, Avvo and Super LawyersHouston Bar Association

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&A

Robert Z. Cashman

Houston, TX Attorney

(713) 364-3476

Touro CollegeState University of New York - BinghamtonNew York, US Patent & Trademark Office, Texas and US District Court for the Southern District of TexasTexas Bar and U.S. District Court for the Southern District of TexasStrike 3 Holdings Lawsuits: John Doe Subpoena Walkthrough, ISP SUBPOENA NOTIFICATION RECEIVED FOR DOWNLOADING MOVIES....

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileBlawg Search

Reese W. Baker

Houston, TX Attorney

(713) 979-2279

Southern Methodist UniversityLouisiana State University - Shreveport5th Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals and TexasTexas Super LawyerTexas Board of Legal Specialization in Business Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification in Business Bankruptcy Law...Bankruptcy Law Update

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&A

Carl J Selesky

Houston, TX Attorney

(713) 780-9595

South Texas College of LawNorth Central CollegeTexas and 5th CircuitLawyers.com, The Legal Network and H MagazineState Bar of Texas--Family Law Section

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer Profile

Shane Kadlec

Houston, TX Attorney

(281) 643-2000

South Texas College of LawUniversity of WindsorTexas and TexasMartindale - Hubbell, Elite Lawer, Super Lawyers and Texas Board Of Legal SpecializationTexas State BarHouston Personal Injury Firm, the Law Office of Shane R. Kadlec, Welcomes New Associate Attorney, Houston Personal Injury Firm, the Law Office of Shane R. Kadlec, Welcomes New Associate Attorney...

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer