The Lasting Repercussions of a Criminal Conviction on Your Record: Navigating Life’s Challenges

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A criminal conviction is a life-altering event that can have far-reaching consequences. Beyond the immediate legal penalties, a mark on your criminal record can cast a long shadow on various aspects of your life. In this article, we delve into the lasting repercussions of a criminal conviction and explore the challenges individuals may face as they navigate the aftermath.

1. Employment Opportunities:

One of the most significant repercussions of a criminal conviction is the impact on employment prospects. Many employers conduct background checks, and having a criminal record can limit job opportunities or even lead to automatic disqualification. Certain industries, such as finance, education, and healthcare, have stringent regulations regarding criminal records, making it particularly challenging to secure employment in these fields. A criminal conviction often becomes a barrier to accessing stable and fulfilling career paths, resulting in financial difficulties and hindering professional growth.

2. Professional Licensing and Certifications:

For individuals pursuing careers that require professional licensing or certifications, a criminal conviction can present significant hurdles. Licensing boards may impose strict regulations or outright denials based on criminal history, particularly for professions involving public safety or fiduciary responsibilities. This can impede individuals’ ambitions and limit their ability to work in their desired fields, even after completing the necessary education and training.

3. Housing and Rental Applications:

Securing suitable housing can be another challenge for individuals with criminal records. Landlords and property management companies often conduct background checks on potential tenants, and a criminal conviction can be a red flag that raises concerns about safety and liability. As a result, finding decent housing, especially in competitive rental markets, can be challenging. This may lead to housing instability, limited options, or facing discrimination and stigma.

4. Educational Opportunities:

A criminal conviction can also hinder educational opportunities. Many colleges and universities ask applicants about their criminal history, and some institutions have policies in place that may restrict admission or financial aid eligibility for individuals with certain convictions. This can limit access to higher education and impede personal and professional development.

5. Social Stigma and Relationships:

Beyond the tangible consequences, a criminal conviction often carries a social stigma that can affect personal relationships and community integration. Friends, family members, and acquaintances may respond differently to the news, leading to strained relationships or social isolation. Rebuilding trust and regaining acceptance within communities can be a challenging and lengthy process.

6. Travel Restrictions and Immigration Consequences:

A criminal conviction can have serious implications for international travel and immigration. Many countries have strict entry requirements, including background checks, and individuals with certain criminal records may be denied visas or entry altogether. Additionally, for individuals who are not citizens, a criminal conviction can have severe consequences on their immigration status, potentially leading to deportation or denial of naturalization.

The lasting repercussions of a criminal conviction extend far beyond the legal consequences. They can impact various facets of an individual’s life, from employment opportunities and housing to education, relationships, and personal aspirations. It is important to recognize the challenges that come with a criminal record and seek support in navigating these hurdles. Rehabilitation, seeking legal advice, pursuing education and skill development, and connecting with support networks can help individuals mitigate the long-term effects of a criminal conviction and move forward toward a brighter future.

Contact The Law Office of Alex Tyra, P.C. for your Free Consultation when you need assistance from an experienced Criminal Defense Attorney in Texas or if you need to better understand you legal options, contact The Law Office of Alex Tyra, P.C., at (903) 753-7499. All initial consultations are free. Phone calls are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Longview Criminal Defense Attorney Discusses the Job-Related Consequences of Criminal Convictions

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It is common knowledge that a criminal record can significantly impact your ability to gain employment. Tragically, many people do not understand that having one or more criminal convictions on their criminal record has far-reaching consequences far beyond jail time, fines, court fees, and a damaged reputation. In fact, criminal convictions can affect every aspect of a person’s life for years after the criminal conviction.

Ordinarily, when people commit crimes, and they have paid their penalties and learned from their mistakes, they choose to live their lives as upstanding citizens. Many people live their lives without breaking the law. Unfortunately, the effects of a criminal conviction will follow a person well into the future, ruining everything that they have worked hard to accomplish.

By way of example, a man who finished law school and was later arrested for a crime could be denied practicing law. The man, who has invested years and tens of thousands of dollars in his education and did not commit any other crime, could be denied a law license. Moreover, the law school graduate may be denied entry into his state bar association. Although the law school graduate has paid for his crime, the conviction could prevent him from fulfilling his dream to be a lawyer since obtaining a law license may be permanently denied. No amount of good behavior can change what he has done. It is possible that the law school student could pursue getting licensed through the legal system, it is unlikely that he would be permitted to obtain a law license. 

Unfortunately, there are many professional licenses that are denied or revoked when the license holder is convicted of a crime. One mistake can cost a person hundreds of thousands of dollars in past, present, and future income. Under Texas law, there are about two hundred Texas laws related to employment that bar people from certain types of work following a criminal conviction. Tragically, these laws don’t provide rehabilitation options for convicts to be reinstated. Simply put, a crime is a permanent barrier to several types of employment in the State of Texas. 

If you have been arrested for any crime, call Longview Criminal Defense Attorney Alex Tyra without delay. Attorney Alex Tyra works hard to defend the accused. If your criminal record prevents you from pursuing the work that you want to do, a Longview Criminal Defense Attorney might be able to help you. Call Attorney Alex Tyra, at (903) 753-7499, or contact us through our website by using our online contact form.

Understanding Sexual Assault Criminal Charges in Texas

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Sexual assault is a legal term that includes unsolicited sexual contact, rape, certain types of harassment, exploitation by a person of authority, sexual advances toward a child, or molestation. Many different things are involved in sexual abuse criminal cases, and these criminal offenses are very serious. Sexual assault affects both the sex abuse victim and the accused. For many years, the number of sexual assault arrest have been increasing throughout the state of Texas and the United States. These charges range from men attacking women to sexual abuse against children.

Sexual abuse against children is usually brought to light several years after the sex abuse has taken place, which makes these cases harder to pursue by the state. Every sexual abuse claim involves testimonies, and an experience sax abuse defense lawyer can challenge these testimonies to raise doubts about the legitimacy of the claims.

When a sex abuse witness has a shaky testimony, that witness can have several inconsistencies in their story. This is especially true as time goes by and memories grow short. A lot of time, sex assault cases are brought many years after the alleged act. That is why it is so important to question the validity of witnesses.

Tragically, despite how the Defendant’s case turns out, people who are accused of a sex crime can be permanently branded with those criminal charges. That is why you need an attorney to investigate the alleged sexual assault. Never take criminal charges, epsecially sex crimes, lightly.

Contact The Law Office of Alex Tyra, P.C. For a Free Consultation When you need assistance from an experienced attorney or if you need to better understand you legal options, contact The Law Office of Alex Tyra, P.C., at (903) 753-7499. All initial consultations are free. Phone calls are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Texas’ Implied Consent Laws and Refusing Breathalyzer Tests

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If you or a member of your family have been pulled over due to suspicion of driving while under the influence DWI), it is important to know your legal rights. Texas’ DWI laws are intricate and continue to develop. When a law enforcement officer asks you to submit to a roadside breathalyzer test or field sobriety test, you might not know if you are required by law to do so. Here are the facts you should understand concerning your legal rights and whether you can refuse a breathalyzer test in Texas.

The Implied Consent Laws in Texas

Until November 28, 2014, Texas had implied consent laws in place. Under these traffic laws, an individual who has been pulled over for suspicion of driving while intoxicated was obligated to provide a breath sample or blood chemical test if asked to do so. According to those laws, if a driver refused to submit to chemical testing would be forced to comply. However, the Supreme Court ruled on this issue and stated that it is unconstitutional to take a breath or blood sample from a person without a warrant- unless the driver has provided consent. 

What Are the Penalties in Texas for Refusing to Submit to a Breathalyzer, Urine, or Blood Test?

Although the Supreme Court decided that warrants may be required to take a person’s blood, urine, or blood does not preclude legal consequences for refusing to submit to a urine, blood, or breath test. While drivers in Texas may refuse to submit to chemical testing, there are stiff legal repercussions for refusals, including:

  • 180-day driver’s license suspension for a first-time refusal.
  • Two-year driver’s license suspension for a second-time refusal.
  • Two-year driver’s license suspension for a third or subsequent chemical test refusal.

When deciding to refuse a chemical test, one thing to consider is that it may be more difficult for the prosecutor to convict you of a DWI since there will be no breath or blood alcohol content evidence. If you are arrested for DWI, contact our firm at (903) 753-7499 for your free consultation and legal advice. 

Can I avoid a driver’s license suspension?

When a driver refuses to submit to a chemical test and/or field sobriety tests, it’s probable that your driver’s license will be automatically suspended. However, there is a 15-day window in which you may request an administrative hearing to prevent your driver’s license from being suspended. Failure to request a driver’s license hearing within the 15-day period will cause your right to a hearing to be forfeited. You may request the hearing even if you submitted to a breathalyzer and failed. It is important that you retain an attorney as soon as possible and you and your DWI attorney prepare for the driver’s license hearing. 

Contact Our Longview DWI Defense Attorney Immediately

Since you only have fifteen days to request a driver’s license hearing and present your defense, you must seek legal counsel as quickly as possible. To meet with our experienced DWI attorney today, call (903) 753-7499. 

The Law Office of Alex Tyra, P.C.
211 E. Tyler Street #521
Longview, TX 75601
(903) 753-7499

Texas’ Implied Consent Laws and Refusing Breathalyzer Tests

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If you or a member of your family have been pulled over due to suspicion of driving while under the influence DWI), it is important to know your legal rights. Texas’ DWI laws are intricate and continue to develop. When a law enforcement officer asks you to submit to a roadside breathalyzer test or field sobriety test, you might not know if you are required by law to do so. Here are the facts you should understand concerning your legal rights and whether you can refuse a breathalyzer test in Texas.

The Implied Consent Laws in Texas

Until November 28, 2014, Texas had implied consent laws in place. Under these traffic laws, an individual who has been pulled over for suspicion of driving while intoxicated was obligated to provide a breath sample or blood chemical test if asked to do so. According to those laws, if a driver refused to submit to chemical testing would be forced to comply. However, the Supreme Court ruled on this issue and stated that it is unconstitutional to take a breath or blood sample from a person without a warrant- unless the driver has provided consent. 

What Are the Penalties in Texas for Refusing to Submit to a Breathalyzer, Urine, or Blood Test?

Although the Supreme Court decided that warrants may be required to take a person’s blood, urine, or blood does not preclude legal consequences for refusing to submit to a urine, blood, or breath test. While drivers in Texas may refuse to submit to chemical testing, there are stiff legal repercussions for refusals, including:

  • 180-day driver’s license suspension for a first-time refusal.
  • Two-year driver’s license suspension for a second-time refusal.
  • Two-year driver’s license suspension for a third or subsequent chemical test refusal.

When deciding to refuse a chemical test, one thing to consider is that it may be more difficult for the prosecutor to convict you of a DWI since there will be no breath or blood alcohol content evidence. If you are arrested for DWI, contact our firm at (903) 753-7499 for your free consultation and legal advice. 

Can I avoid a driver’s license suspension?

When a driver refuses to submit to a chemical test and/or field sobriety tests, it’s probable that your driver’s license will be automatically suspended. However, there is a 15-day window in which you may request an administrative hearing to prevent your driver’s license from being suspended. Failure to request a driver’s license hearing within the 15-day period will cause your right to a hearing to be forfeited. You may request the hearing even if you submitted to a breathalyzer and failed. It is important that you retain an attorney as soon as possible and you and your DWI attorney prepare for the driver’s license hearing. 

Contact Our Longview DWI Defense Attorney Immediately

Since you only have fifteen days to request a driver’s license hearing and present your defense, you must seek legal counsel as quickly as possible. To meet with our experienced DWI attorney today, call (903) 753-7499. 

The Law Office of Alex Tyra, P.C.
211 E. Tyler Street #521
Longview, TX 75601
(903) 753-7499

Texas Field Sobriety Test Laws

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Texas is tough on driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Every year Texas law enforcement officers arrest nearly 100,000 drivers for DWI. About 70% of those arrests result in convictions. When a driver is pulled over for suspicion of driving while intoxicated, the police officer will examine the driver for signs of impairment. Those signs include an odor of alcohol emanating from the driver, red eyes, slurred speech, delayed reactions, or fumbling.

Should a law enforcement officer assume that a driver is driving while intoxicated, the police officer will typically ask the driver to submit to field sobriety tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that three tests comprise the Standardized Field Sobriety Test. Those testing include:

  • the One-leg Stand Field Sobriety Test;
  • the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Field Sobriety Test; and 
  • the Walk-and-turn Field Sobriety Test.

Can a Driver Refuse to Take a Field Sobriety Test in Texas?

A law office enforcement might decide to administer field sobriety tests to affirm their belief that the driver is driving while under the influence. The accuracy of confirming intoxication increases when several tests are utilized. It is important to understand that you can refuse to perform field sobriety tests in the state of Texas. In Texas, there are no penalties for refusing to submit to field sobriety tests. However, the police officer may use this refusal to have probable cause to arrest the driver. A jury may also assume that the driver’s refusal is evidence that they were intoxicated.

Also, in lieu of field sobriety testing, the law enforcement officer might ask the driver to provide a specimen of breath or blood to ascertain the driver’s level of intoxication. A driver may refuse chemical testing in the state of Texas, but a driver who refuses to provide a breath or blood test after an arrest for DWI could lose their driver’s license from 90 days (first refusal) to 2 years (all subsequent refuses).

If you or a family member have refused or failed a field sobriety test, and have been arrested and charged with a DWI, contact our experienced DWI attorney to protect your legal rights.

Contact Our Longview DWI Defense Attorney Immediately

Since you only have fifteen days to request a driver’s license hearing and present your defense, you must seek legal counsel as quickly as possible. To meet with our experienced DWI attorney today, call (903) 753-7499. 

The Law Office of Alex Tyra, P.C.
211 E. Tyler Street #521
Longview, TX 75601
(903) 753-7499

Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Provides a Glimpse Into how the Coronavirus is Affecting the Texas Criminal Justice System

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The coronavirus has affected just about every aspect of daily life for Texas residents, Americans, and people all over the world. Individuals recently charged with crimes in Texas, and those who are incarcerated in Texas prisons, are wondering how the coronavirus will affect their ability to work through their criminal law matters towards freedom and justice. The defense attorneys who represent Texans who have been charged with crimes are also wondering how and when they will be able to pursue fair resolution of their clients’ cases. Attorneys who represent clients that are already incarcerated are concerned for the health of their clients as they remain behind bars because they are aware that disease can spread rapidly within prison walls, where health care resources may be stretched thin.

The Texas court system has put jury trials on hold and has delayed many other types of proceedings. Some hearings have been held remotely, but as court workers and judges have transitioned to working remotely, they have not been able to handle the same amount of hearings and other proceedings that they could in their regular work environment. The availability of remote or electronic court proceedings varies from place to place within the state. Defendants in some areas may be able to continue working through their criminal law matters more quickly than defendants whose cases are in districts where remote and online case management is proceeding more slowly.

Criminal defense attorneys in Texas have been able to advocate on behalf of some of their clients that justice would not be served by sending them to jail. The slowing of the state’s judicial machinery could keep people in jail indefinitely, and public health officials would like to see as few people in prison as possible during the coronavirus outbreak. Some attorneys have successfully obtained release on no-cost bonds for some of their clients who are charged with low-level offenses. Bail reduction motions and plea bargaining are other tools that defense attorneys plan to use as opportunities to use them remotely become available. These efforts are being met with varied attitudes on the part of prosecutors. Some prosecutors are willing to consider no-cost bonds and plea deals in light of pressing public health concerns. In contrast, others claim that they must continue to be tough on crime regardless of the coronavirus pandemic.

If you have been charged with any type of crime in Texas, your health and your freedom are at stake. Fortunately, you do not have to defend your health or your freedom on your own. You need someone who can help you and walk alongside you as you pursue resolution of your Texas criminal law matter. A Texas Criminal Defense Attorney can help you protect what is most important to you, even in these uncertain and challenging times. To learn more about how a Texas criminal defense attorney can help you, call Attorney Alex Tyra today. Call us today, at (903) 753-7499, or fill out a convenient online contact form on our website.

Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Provides a Glimpse Into how the Coronavirus is Affecting the Texas Criminal Justice System

/in /by

The coronavirus has affected just about every aspect of daily life for Texas residents, Americans, and people all over the world. Individuals recently charged with crimes in Texas, and those who are incarcerated in Texas prisons, are wondering how the coronavirus will affect their ability to work through their criminal law matters towards freedom and justice. The defense attorneys who represent Texans who have been charged with crimes are also wondering how and when they will be able to pursue fair resolution of their clients’ cases. Attorneys who represent clients that are already incarcerated are concerned for the health of their clients as they remain behind bars because they are aware that disease can spread rapidly within prison walls, where health care resources may be stretched thin.

The Texas court system has put jury trials on hold and has delayed many other types of proceedings. Some hearings have been held remotely, but as court workers and judges have transitioned to working remotely, they have not been able to handle the same amount of hearings and other proceedings that they could in their regular work environment. The availability of remote or electronic court proceedings varies from place to place within the state. Defendants in some areas may be able to continue working through their criminal law matters more quickly than defendants whose cases are in districts where remote and online case management is proceeding more slowly.

Criminal defense attorneys in Texas have been able to advocate on behalf of some of their clients that justice would not be served by sending them to jail. The slowing of the state’s judicial machinery could keep people in jail indefinitely, and public health officials would like to see as few people in prison as possible during the coronavirus outbreak. Some attorneys have successfully obtained release on no-cost bonds for some of their clients who are charged with low-level offenses. Bail reduction motions and plea bargaining are other tools that defense attorneys plan to use as opportunities to use them remotely become available. These efforts are being met with varied attitudes on the part of prosecutors. Some prosecutors are willing to consider no-cost bonds and plea deals in light of pressing public health concerns. In contrast, others claim that they must continue to be tough on crime regardless of the coronavirus pandemic.

If you have been charged with any type of crime in Texas, your health and your freedom are at stake. Fortunately, you do not have to defend your health or your freedom on your own. You need someone who can help you and walk alongside you as you pursue resolution of your Texas criminal law matter. A Texas Criminal Defense Attorney can help you protect what is most important to you, even in these uncertain and challenging times. To learn more about how a Texas criminal defense attorney can help you, call Attorney Alex Tyra today. Call us today, at (903) 753-7499, or fill out a convenient online contact form on our website.

Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Says a Recently Passed State Law Expands Use of DNA Evidence in Texas

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DNA evidence can provide valuable information about a crime, including information about who may have been involved in the crime. DNA evidence has the potential to help authorities identify potential suspects more accurately than they would be able to identify them by relying exclusively on other types of evidence. A Texas law passed last year aims to increase the amount of DNA evidence available to investigators by requiring individuals who are arrested for certain felonies to provide DNA samples.

The Krystal Jean Baker Act became law last June. The law is named for a young woman who was abducted, sexually assaulted, and killed in 1996. Although authorities collected DNA evidence around the time of Krystal’s death, they were not able to solve the case. In 2010, a man named Kevin Smith was arrested for a drug-related offense in Louisiana. At the time of his arrest, his DNA was sampled and entered into the national database. That sample linked Smith to the Baker case, and Kevin Smith pled guilty to the murder.

Some of the felony offenses that now require arrestees to provide a DNA sample under the Krystal Jean Baker Act are human trafficking, robbery, sexual assault, prostitution, capital murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. The law differs from some DNA sample regulations in that a defendant need only be arrested before they are required to provide a DNA sample via cheek swabs when they are booked into jail. No conviction is required.

When DNA samples are collected according to the Act, they are entered into a national database called CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System. Since the law was passed, it has enabled authorities to resolve cases that had gone cold. There are numerous reports of cases in Texas and elsewhere that have been resolved since the passage of the Krystal Jean Baker Act. For example, a recent arrest for sexual assault led to the offender’s DNA being linked to a 2019 sexual assault that had not yet been solved. A September 2019 arrest for theft led to the resolution of a homicide that happened in 2011. One arrest made in connection with a recent sexual assault led to the resolution of two other sexual assault cases.

Defendants who are facing charges for crimes they did not commit stand to benefit from the Krystal Jean Baker Act. Often, people focus on DNA evidence as a way to identify guilty parties. It is crucial that we also view DNA evidence as a way to avoid incriminating the wrong people. Many people who commit crimes are repeat offenders. As arrests for recent crimes garner additional DNA samples for the CODIS database, authorities have more opportunities to connect the correct person with each offense.

If you have been charged with a crime, your freedom is at stake. Fortunately, you do not have to defend your freedom on your own. A Texas criminal defense attorney is a powerful ally who can help you protect what is most important to you. To learn more about how a Texas Criminal Defense Attorney can help you, call Attorney Alex Tyra today. Call us today, at (903) 753-7499, or fill out a convenient online contact form on our website.

Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Says a Recently Passed State Law Expands Use of DNA Evidence in Texas

/in /by

DNA evidence can provide valuable information about a crime, including information about who may have been involved in the crime. DNA evidence has the potential to help authorities identify potential suspects more accurately than they would be able to identify them by relying exclusively on other types of evidence. A Texas law passed last year aims to increase the amount of DNA evidence available to investigators by requiring individuals who are arrested for certain felonies to provide DNA samples.

The Krystal Jean Baker Act became law last June. The law is named for a young woman who was abducted, sexually assaulted, and killed in 1996. Although authorities collected DNA evidence around the time of Krystal’s death, they were not able to solve the case. In 2010, a man named Kevin Smith was arrested for a drug-related offense in Louisiana. At the time of his arrest, his DNA was sampled and entered into the national database. That sample linked Smith to the Baker case, and Kevin Smith pled guilty to the murder.

Some of the felony offenses that now require arrestees to provide a DNA sample under the Krystal Jean Baker Act are human trafficking, robbery, sexual assault, prostitution, capital murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. The law differs from some DNA sample regulations in that a defendant need only be arrested before they are required to provide a DNA sample via cheek swabs when they are booked into jail. No conviction is required.

When DNA samples are collected according to the Act, they are entered into a national database called CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System. Since the law was passed, it has enabled authorities to resolve cases that had gone cold. There are numerous reports of cases in Texas and elsewhere that have been resolved since the passage of the Krystal Jean Baker Act. For example, a recent arrest for sexual assault led to the offender’s DNA being linked to a 2019 sexual assault that had not yet been solved. A September 2019 arrest for theft led to the resolution of a homicide that happened in 2011. One arrest made in connection with a recent sexual assault led to the resolution of two other sexual assault cases.

Defendants who are facing charges for crimes they did not commit stand to benefit from the Krystal Jean Baker Act. Often, people focus on DNA evidence as a way to identify guilty parties. It is crucial that we also view DNA evidence as a way to avoid incriminating the wrong people. Many people who commit crimes are repeat offenders. As arrests for recent crimes garner additional DNA samples for the CODIS database, authorities have more opportunities to connect the correct person with each offense.

If you have been charged with a crime, your freedom is at stake. Fortunately, you do not have to defend your freedom on your own. A Texas criminal defense attorney is a powerful ally who can help you protect what is most important to you. To learn more about how a Texas Criminal Defense Attorney can help you, call Attorney Alex Tyra today. Call us today, at (903) 753-7499, or fill out a convenient online contact form on our website.