Houston Criminal Defense Attorneys

This is a common question we get from our clients.

If you or a loved one were arrested and had criminal charges in Houston or elsewhere in Texas, it could be stopping you from taking advantage of certain professional opportunities, living in certain neighborhoods and apartments, and excluding you from certain educational institutions. If this is the case, contacting a criminal defense attorney that has experience getting records of criminal cases and criminal charges sealed is your best chance to get the best possible outcome going forward.

We consistently defend individuals charged with drug crimes, drug possession, DWI charges, family violence, felony cases, white-collar crimes, weapons charges, violent crimes, assault on a family member, aggravated and simple assault cases that resulted in personal injury. We also help people charged with minor offenses. Furthermore, we’ve served as the criminal defense attorney of record in cases involving federal criminal charges.

Our law firm has over 30 years of experience working in the criminal justice system in Houston and throughout Texas. We’ve provided legal representation to people with criminal charges ranging from DWI cases to sexual assault cases and other sex crimes. Our legal team can help get the criminal record of most qualifying criminal cases sealed, expunged, or completed removed from your criminal background.

If you reside in Harris County, Montgomery County, Fort Bend County, or elsewhere in the Greater Houston area and you’re interested in consulting a criminal attorney about removing a record or records of a specific criminal offense from your background, contact our criminal defense law firm today and ask for Jack or Phil. Call us at (713) 228-4607.

If your case qualifies, we may be able to assist by helping you clear up or erase your criminal history. If you’re ready to establish an attorney-client relationship or have questions for general information purposes, call Jack B. Carroll & Associates today and speak with a criminal defense lawyer at (713) 228-4607. Our office is located on Franklin Street in downtown Houston, steps away from the Harris County Criminal Justice Center.

The crime of sexual abuse of a child can be classified as either a first, second, or third degree felony, contingent on the circumstances. If the accused party receives a guilty verdict on their criminal case, the prison sentence and jail time could range from 2 years to life in prison.

Hiding Criminal Records From Public View

Whether or not a record of a criminal offense, arrest or criminal conviction can be sealed or expunged is contingent on the nature of the crime. Sealing a criminal record hides it from the general public. The general public may include corporations & employers, educational institutions and schools, and private individuals. However, various law enforcement agencies in Houston and other jurisdictions will have the ability to access records of your criminal charges.

Aggravated sexual assault is a violent offense and one of the most serious sex crimes charges, with severe penalties starting at a minimum of 25 to life. This crime is a first degree felony. If you’re facing criminal charges related to a sexual assault case, talk with a Houston sex crime attorney at Jack B. Carroll & Associates today.

Completely Erasing Criminal Records

As with sealing criminal records, expunging criminal records of a misdemeanor charge or a felony charge is contingent on the type of crime and whether or not you were found not guilty during jury trials or if the case was dismissed. Expunction is an option that’s only available to individuals who had criminal charges but later had the charge dismissed, were acquitted during a trial, or had the record of the criminal conviction overturned.

The outcome of the case is critical when trying to take advantage of your legal rights in expunction proceedings. Obviously, individuals subjected to guilty verdicts won’t qualify to have their criminal records expunged in the state of Texas.

If a case is expunged, the record of the criminal charges will be destroyed as if the criminal offense never occurred. Even some sex crimes may qualify for expunction, along with drug charges, white-collar crimes, state crimes, and some federal crimes.

If you’re eligible to have your criminal records completely erased (expunged), then you must adhere to certain procedures when petitioning the criminal courts to have the criminal charges erased. Also, you’ll be required to provide the information listed below in your petition of expunction.

• Your name, race, sex, birth date, Texas Driver License number, Social Security Number, and your address when you were arrested.
• The criminal offense you were arrested and charged with.
• The date you were arrested for the criminal offense.
• The legal jurisdiction (county or city) you were arrested in.
• The police agency of the police officers that arrested you.
• The criminal case number and the criminal court that heard your case and any information on the law enforcement agency or agencies that have information related to the criminal offense, evidence, or files related to the case or the petitioner.

Per section 55.02 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the criminal court is required to expunge the criminal record of the eligible petitioners if they’ve requested it within 30 days of their acquittal.

For the best possible results when handling legal issues of this magnitude, seek out the legal services of Jack B. Carroll & Associates and speak with one of our experienced Houston criminal defense lawyers. We have extensive experience with criminal defense cases and helping folks get their cases expunged in any Texas state courts where our legal counsel is needed. Our job is to work for the best possible outcome of your case.

For legal advice or more information on the legal process, call us at (713) 228-4607. We’ll put our best lawyers on your side.

Texas law provides options for misdemeanor criminal offenders to have records of their criminal charges sealed. A misdemeanor offender can request a Certificate of Non-Disclosure for their criminal charges immediately after the completion of their community supervision (probation) and deferred adjudication period.

Certain misdemeanor offenses require a two-year waiting period before they’re eligible for Non-Disclosure.

These offenses include;

• assault charges, harassment, interfering with an emergency call,
• minor sex crimes like indecent exposure and public lewdness,
• unlawful possession of a firearm or other weapon, deadly conduct, discharge of a firearm,
• production, possession or sale of brass knuckles and switchblades,
• abuse of a corpse, assisting with suicide,
• dogfighting, procession disruption, obstructing a highway or passageway
• terroristic threats, inciting riots, disorderly conduct, hoax bombs,
• leaving a child unattended in a vehicle or making firearms accessible to a minor,
• and various other misdemeanor criminal charges.

• Indecency with a Child, Sexual Assault, Aggravated Sexual Assault, and Other Certain Sex Crimes
• Incest, Aggravated Assault (in some cases), Aggravated Kidnapping
• Burglary with Intent to Commit Any Felony or Offense Listed Above
• Compelling Prostitution, Human Trafficking
• Sexual Performance by a Child, Possession or Promotion of Child Pornography
• Unlawful Restraint, Kidnapping, or Restraint of a Child Less than 17 Years Old
• Attempt, Conspiracy, or Solicitation to Commit Any of the Above Offenses
• Capital Murder, Murder
• Injury to a Child, Elderly or Disabled Individual
• Abandoning or Endangering a Child, Neglecting A Child
• Violation of a Protective Order or a Magistrate’s Order
• Violating the Conditions of Your Bond or Other Court Orders
• Stalking, Domestic Violence & Family Assault Offenses

If you were subject to criminal prosecution for a felony, we have considerable experience helping convicted felons to get their criminal records sealed. In general, if the offense isn’t listed above, you’ve completed any assigned community supervision or probation requirements, and five years have passed since completion, you’re eligible to have your criminal record sealed. This is helpful for individuals with drug offenses, theft crimes, white-collar crimes including identity theft, and other offenses not listed above as ineligible.

If you have any questions or concerns, and you live in or near the Greater Houston metropolitan area or any bordering counties, contact Jack B. Carroll & Associates today to schedule your initial consultation regarding your case.

We pride ourselves on our ability to provide affordable payment plans to our clients that want to exercise their Constitutional Rights.

If you qualify to have your misdemeanor or felony criminal record sealed, it’s in your best interests to immediately take advantage of the opportunity. Our law firm is located in Downtown Houston, a short walk away from the Harris County Criminal Justice Center.

To contact the Houston criminal defense attorneys at our law firm, call (713) 228-4607 or send us a message using the contact form on our contact page.

Criminal defense matters and legal disputes fall under primarily state law, meaning you need to work with a criminal defense attorney who is licensed to practice in the state that you have your criminal charges.

It is not necessary to find a lawyer in your immediate area. This is beneficial, as you can hire the best criminal defense attorney for the job, independent of their location in the state in which you have been charged.