In the United States local, state, and federal governments establish penal codes to punish crimes. A ‘‘crime’’ is any act or omission (of an act) in violation of a public law forbidding or commanding it.

Crimes are classified by the degree of seriousness, and the state, through a prosecutor, initiates the lawsuit to seek punishment for criminal offenses. Persons convicted of a crime may be incarcerated, fined, or both.

Crimes are either felonies or misdemeanors. A misdemeanor carries a penalty of up to one year in jail, while a felony, a more serious offense, carries a maximum sentence of more than one year, and depending on the charge, can carry a life sentence or even the death penalty.

Felonies are generally classified by degree of seriousness. In Texas the law designates three degrees, first, second, third, plus two other categories, one is a state jail felony, which is the least serious type of felony, and the most serious type of felony punishable by execution, is called capital felony and is intended only for premeditated murder,

Crimes commonly designated as felonies include, but are not limited to:

Aggravated Assault
Burglary
Sexual Assault
Murder
Arson
Grand Theft
Kidnapping
Human Trafficking

Arson
Treason
DUI
Racketeering
Federal Gun & Drug Offenses
Fraud
Embezzlement
Computer Crime

Felony punishments range in severity from probation to imprisonment to execution, for premeditated murder and other serious crimes. Other consequences felons face include loss of professional licenses or exclusion from particular lines of work such as nursing, teaching and law enforcement. Loss of voting rights, ineligibility for public office and prohibition from purchasing or possessing firearms or ammunition, which means never being allowed to get a hunting license or even being in a hunting camp. In Texas, imprisonment or conviction of a felony is also grounds for divorce. And individuals who are not U. S. citizens are subject to deportation after a felony sentencing.

When you are facing felony allegations, your life and your liberty are at stake. Trusted legal advice and the expertise of a skilled criminal defense attorney will make a significant difference in whether the charges against you are dismissed or the allegation leads to conviction, acquittal, or favorable settlement.

Call our nearest office for prompt HELP:

Bedford Ph 817.868.5500 | Dallas Ph 214.252.9099 : 866.378.4705 | Ft. Worth : Ph 817.263.3000 | Houston : Ph 281-335-7744 : 866-715-1529 | Arlington : Ph
817.276.6000 : 877.345.6767 | Grand Prairie : Ph 972.642.7900 : 866.380.3369 |
Irving Ph 972.256.6300 | Weatherford: Ph 817.594.5428 | Harlingen: Ph 956.440.0534 | Brownsville 866-678-1900 | Mesquite: Ph 972.682.7868

Bailey & Galyen are Texas Criminal Defense Attorneys defending individuals charged with DUI/DWI, Traffic Violations, White Collar Crimes, Assault & Battery, Weapons Charges, Internet & Computer Crimes and Felonies such as Murder in Dallas, Irving, Fort Worth, Houston, Katy, McAllen, Harlingen, Brownsville, the entire Rio Grande Valley and other cities throughout Texas.