Felonies in Dallas Texas
In Texas, a felony is a crime where an individual may be sentenced from a minimum of six months in prison to life in prison without parole or death by lethal injection and can be fined up to $10,000. Further, the individual convicted may also lose his or her right to vote, to have a gun or obtain certain state occupational licenses.
State criminal laws enforced in Dallas and throughout Texas recognize five classifications of felony crimes, each involving different minimum and maximum penalties. These five are as follows:
Class 1 Felony: Capital Offense – Capital felonies include crimes such as capital murder and are punishable by life in prison without parole or death.
First Degree Felony – First-degree felonies include the crimes of murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated burglary, aggravated arson, child kidnapping and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances near a school, and are punishable by a prison sentence of not less than five years up to 99 years imprisonment in a state prison and/or a fine of not more than $10,000.
2nd Degree Felony – Second-degree felonies include the crimes of manslaughter, sexual assault, robbery, residential burglary, kidnapping, perjury, auto theft, forgery of checks exceeding $5000.00, forcible sexual abuse and intentional child abuse, and are punishable by imprisonment term of not more than twenty years or less than two years and a fine not to exceed $10,000.00
3rd Degree Felony – Third-degree felonies include certain assaults, bigamy, burglary of non-dwellings, theft of between $1,000 to $5,000, third DUI (Texas DUI Felony) possession with intent to distribute marijuana (Texas Marijuana Felony Offense), possession of controlled substances and forged prescriptions and are punishable by 2 to 10 years in state prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000.00.
State jail felonies include criminally negligent homicide and other crimes and are punishable by six months to two years in prison. State jail 180 days to 2 years in a state jail and/or a fine of not more than
$10,000
What is a Plea Bargain?
A criminal law attorney of a person charged with a crime or with multiple crimes can negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecuting attorney. For pleading guilty to a specified charge, the prosecutor will in exchange lessen the charge classification, drop associated charges, or pledge a reduced sentence.
What are Miranda rights?
If a person is arrested in Dallas, police must read Miranda rights. Although precise wording of the Miranda Rights statement is not specified in the Supreme Court’s decision, law enforcement agencies have generated a fundamental set of simple statements that can be read to accused persons prior to any questioning or conduction of an interrogation. The typical warning states: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?”
