Criminal Law FAQs
Below are questions criminal lawyers are commonly asked by their clients. If you do not
see an answer to your legal question, please contact us. We will be more than happy
to answer any legal questions you may have.
Do you handle both felonies and misdemeanors?
The law office represents clients on all types of felony and
criminal offenses. Among the most common cases we handle are: expunging of records,
sealing of records, orders of non disclosures, occupational driver's licenses,
theft by check or bad check cases, DWI, public intoxication, drug possession cases,
unlawful carrying of a weapon, , disorderly conduct, probation, bond settings and
reinstatements, walk throughs, warrants, criminal mischief and assault.
What counties do you practice law in?
Mr. Dassow handles legal cases in the Tarrant County, Dallas County, Denton
County, Collin County, Parker County, Wise County and the surrounding metroplex areas
in the state of Texas.
Are payment plans accepted for your legal services?
Yes, we try to be very flexible with regard to establishing payment plans for our
clients. We accept Mastercard, Visa and American Express.
Can you expurgate my criminal record?
Yes, as long as you qualify!
criminal expunction is our specialty. If your criminal
case resulted in a dismissal decline, or not guilty verdict, you are eligible to have your
record expunged or expurgated.
Why would I need to expunge my record if my case was dismissed?
Even if your case was dismissed or you were found not guilty, your criminal
history will show you were arrested and charged with a crime. Expurgating or expunging your
record will erase this criminal history from your record.
Do you handle non disclosure orders?
Yes, we handle records in need of an order of non disclosure. A
non disclosure order will seal your criminal record. This order is
also referred to as Sealing the criminal record. Sealing your record is an excellent
way to limit the discovery of your past criminal history.
Who will my record be Sealed from?
A non disclosure order, seals your record and will prohibit criminal justice agencies from
disclosing your past arrest and charge from the public. However, if your particular offense
calls for a waiting period, you may lose your eligibility for this Order if you
receive a subsequent conviction or deferred adjudication. Except for traffic violations.
Do juvenile records need to be sealed or expunged?
Sealing or Expunging of juvenile records does NOT happen automatically! You must seek
the sealing of your records through the courts and can do so only at a certain time. Each case is
different and will be decided individually by the Court.
How can I get an Occupational License to drive?
It will depend on your criminal record and Texas driving record. You can almost
always get an occupational driver�s license allowing you to drive to work
or drive for necessities such as for groceries or medical circumstances.
If I am arrested for DWI in Texas, will my license be
suspended automatically?
If you refused to provide a sample of your breath, blood, or if your breath sample
results in an alcohol concentration of .08 or greater, and a hearing is not requested to
fight a Texas DWI suspension, it will be suspended.
Can I represent myself in a court of law?
There is an old saying: "A person who represents himself in court has a fool for
a client.". Yes, you can represent yourself in court. However, you will be expected to
know and adhere to the same rules of law, evidence, and procedure that attorneys spend
years learning in law school, and perfecting in the courtroom.
If you are being prosecuted for a criminal offense, the
prosecuting attorney will, due to his or her training and experience, have a
tremendous advantage over you. Acting as your own attorney can have didisastrous
consequences (jail time, probation, hefty fines, court costs, permanent loss of
civil liberties, permanent criminal record, etc.) that might otherwise have been
avoided or minimized had you simply hired a lawyer.
What is an Administrative License Revocation Hearing (ALR)?
In order to preserve your right to drive in Texas, you must request an ALR hearing
within 15 days of the date you were served with a Notice of Suspension to fight to
keep your Texas license from being suspended. Requesting this hearing in a timely
manner will allow you the ability to continue driving until the hearing. If you lose
at the hearing, you will not be able drive after the hearing. If your license is
suspended at the hearing, you may be able to secure a
Texas
occupational driver's license.
The Texas Administrative License Revocation Program, was created to provide an
efficient and fair process for suspending the driver�s licenses of the people who choose to drive on Texas
highways while intoxicated.
An ALJ (Administrative Law Judge ) from SOAH (the State Office of Administrative Hearings) is
assigned to conduct the Texas ALR hearing. He listens to both sides to make rulings on preliminary
matters and makes the final decision in the ALR case.
If the Administrative License Revocation Hearing finds the DPS (Department of Public Safety) has
proved it's case, the Texas ALJ will issue an order which authorizes the suspension of the driver's
license. If the Texas ALJ finds that the DPS has not proved it's case, the drivers license will
not be suspended.
Do you handle jail release?
Yes. The legal process involved in jail releases varies, depending upon your
particular circumstance. Please contact our office for further information.
How do I get someone out of jail?
It depends on why the person is in jail in the first place. In most situations,
the quickest way to free someone from jail is by bonding him or her out. If a person
is charged with a state crime, he can be bonded out by a professional bondsman. A
professional bondsman has entered into an agreement with the County of incarceration
to guarantee the appearance of the accused at future court dates.
The County will release the accused on a bondsman's guaranty. A professional
bondsman normally charges 10-20% of the bail amount for his service. Be aware,
however, if you post a cash bond, it may take the County Sheriff several weeks
after the case is over to return the money you have paid.
How do I find out if there is a warrant for my arrest?
Call the sheriff's department of the county in which you suspect that a warrant
has been issued.
What do I do if there is a warrant out for my arrest?
If bail has already been set in your case, you may post bond, via a "walk tthrough
procedure, without being placed under arrest. This can be done by posting a cash bond
or posting a bond through a professional bondsman. Plan on spending about four hours
to complete this process.
Why do I have a "no bond" in my case?
A "no bond" means that the accused cannot be bonded out of jail until bail is set
by the assigned judge in his case. Reasons for receiving a "no bond" are that the
accused is on probation or on bond for another criminal offense, the accused is
charged with a particularly violent crime and/or the accused has previously been
sentenced to prison two or more times.
Sometimes, the "no bond" designation was made mistakenly. On more than one occasion,
the law firm of Larry Dassow has had to rectify these mistakes. If your case is a "no
bond", the lawyer needs to request a bail amount from the judge. Unfortunately,
this usually means that bail will not be set until the next day or the following
Monday (if the arrest occurs on the Weekend). Judges do not normally set a bond until
the accused is formally in custody.
Do you handle jail release?
Yes. The legal process involved in jail releases varies, depending upon your
particular circumstance. Please contact our office for further information.
Your website states "Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal
Specialization". What does that mean?
The State Bar of Texas requires this disclaimer to appear in all advertisements
for all Texas attorneys who have not chosen to seek certification in a particular
area of law (e.g., criminal law, family law, etc.).
Attorney, Larry Dassow is licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas to practice all
areas of law in all Texas state courts. He has received a Bachelor of Arts degree
from The University of Texas, and awarded a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from The
Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, which is fully accredited by the American
Bar Association.
By choice, Mr. Dassow has not specialized in any particular area of law, in as much
as he prefers to practice several different areas of law.
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