How do I qualify for indigent care in Texas?
How do I qualify for indigent care in Texas?
The program is available to anyone who:
- Lives in Texas.
- Has an income level at or below 21 percent of federal poverty guidelines .
- Has resources less than $2,000.
- Isn’t eligible for Medicaid.
What happens during a court arraignment?
An arraignment is a court proceeding at which a criminal defendant is formally advised of the charges against him and asked to enter a plea to the charges. In many states, the court may also decide at arraignment whether the defendant will be released pending trial.
Can more charges be added after arraignment?
Arrests and prosecutions are separate functions. Prosecutors can add charges or dismiss charges pursuant to the criminal rules at arraignment or at any point while the case is pending, but whatever a police officer charges someone with when they arrest them will be their initial charges in court.
What are the 5 pleads that a person can enter?
As a defendant, you should understand the criminal process, and the various types of pleas available to you. These pleas include: not guilty, guilty, and no contest (nolo contendere).
Is pleading guilty Better?
Sentencing can mean years in prison. Even if a long sentence is not in the cards for the criminal defendant, a conviction may change the person’s life. Therefore, pleading guilty could wind up causing a criminal defendant to lose a potential plea bargain that would offer better terms than a simple guilty plea.
Do judges usually accept plea bargains?
They can accept the plea agreement as it is, or they can reject it outright. If a judge rejects a plea agreement, they usually must state a justification on the record. In other cases, a judge may accept only certain terms of the agreement, while rejecting other terms, such as the proposed sentence.
What do judges consider when sentencing?
A judge must impose a sentence that is sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to: reflect the seriousness of the offense; promote respect for the law; provide just punishment for the offense; adequately deter criminal conduct; protect the public from further crimes by the defendant; and provide the defendant with …
Can the judge overrule the prosecutor?
The answer is yes. The judge is the official who sentences the defendant. Not the prosecutor.
Are judges more lenient on first time offenders?
For both types of offenders, the judge or jury will usually incur greater penalties when the victim of the crime suffers injury. For a first offender, he or she may see some leniency if there was no intent to cause the injury.
How do lawyers get charges dropped?
The first way your attorney can get the charges against you to be reduced is by having them dropped or dismissed. Even if your attorney can’t have the charges against you dropped or dismissed, he or she may be able to have them reduced. One of the most common ways this is done is through a plea deal.
