Latest and Greatest – Texas Criminal Procedure and the Offender with Mental Illness: An Analysis and Guide

By Brian D. Shannon & Daniel H. Benson

NAMI Texas (2016)

KFT 1766.6 .S52 2016

First published as an educational tool, Texas Criminal Procedure and the Offender with Mental Illness: An Analysis and Guide informed those involved in the criminal justice system of the issues and obstacles faced by persons having a mental illness. Now in its fifth edition, this book, made possible through a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation, continues its mission of promoting justice for mentally-ill individuals by analyzing some of the key issues that arise in criminal cases. The authors devote much of the book to a general discussion of the standards and legislation concerning the competency to stand trial for both adult and juvenile defendants and in cases involving the death penalty. They also examine the insanity defense as it relates to both types of defendants while also looking at various proposals for reform. Lastly, the authors focus on post-conviction issues, such as community supervision, prison or jail mental health care, and completion of the criminal sentence. The book includes detailed and extensive analysis of the pertinent legislation as well as the actual text from the statutes.

Latest and Greatest - Expunction and Nondisclosure

By Andrea Westerfeld

Texas District and County Attorneys Association (2016)

KFT 1792.5 .W47 2016

The Harris County Law Library is excited to have received the 2016 edition of Expunction and Nondisclosure published by the Texas District and County Attorneys Association. This new edition incorporates the many changes that the Texas Legislature made to the nondisclosure laws during the 2015 session. As a result of these changes, there are different requirements for offenses prior to September 1, 2015 and those after September 1, 2015. In addition, the author also documents modifications made to the expunction statute owing to expansions made through case law.

Expunction and Nondisclosure guides you through the process of evaluating whether you or your client is entitled to an expunction and if so, the steps to follow when applying for the expunction. With respect to nondisclosures, the author sets forth the requirements to petition the court for an order of nondisclosure for offenses prior to September 1, 2015 and highlights the new laws applicable to offenses after September 1, 2015. In addition, Ms. Westerfeld also provides the nuts and bolts of the nondisclosure application process. Be sure to look at the appendices as they contain the necessary forms for both expunctions and nondisclosures.

Written in understandable language, this book is useful for both attorneys and pro se litigants. If you’re interested in seeing what the changes are, simply come to the library and ask for Expunction and Nondisclosure at the front desk.

Latest and Greatest - Texas DWI Manual

Picture this: You are comfortably seated in your office with your cup of coffee sorting through your email when the telephone rings. On the other end of the line is a hysterical woman. She has been arrested for DWI. What do you do?

By Deandra M. Grant and Kimberly Griffin Tucker

James Publishing, Inc. (2015)

KFT 1497.8 .G73

For starters, you can visit the Harris County Law Library. It is, after all, Criminal Defense Law Resource Month, and we recently acquired the most recent edition of the Texas DWI Manual published by James Publishing, Inc. This book, complete with forms, will direct you through the initial client interview and the subsequent case investigation and discovery process as well as the administrative driver’s license revocation hearing. In addition, you will learn the elements of a DWI, the various intoxication offenses and their punishment, and the charging instruments used in DWI cases.

Confused by the different field sobriety tests and their admissibility and use at trial? Don’t fret. The authors examine the fundamentals of the DWI breath test and explain how to attack the test and the results on both direct and cross-examination.  In addition, they analyze the methods and strategies involved when using blood alcohol tests as evidence.

Of course, success is not always guaranteed. That is why the authors also discuss punishment options and education and treatment programs as well as error preservation, appeals, and expunctions.

So, before you go ahead and accept that DWI case, be sure to have a look at Texas DWI Manual. It is filled with lots of useful information you will need to competently defend your client. You can find it in our Texas Criminal section or you can ask one of our helpful librarians..

Latest and Greatest - Suppressing Criminal Evidence

Are you considering filing a motion to suppress evidence that was obtained through a warrantless search of your client’s vehicle?

By Deja Vishny

James Publishing, Inc. (2016)

KF 9662 .V57 2016

Do you want to challenge a coerced confession or one made under Miranda v. Arizona?

Then, look than further than the Harris County Law Library’s new acquisition, Suppressing Criminal Evidence. This volume, complete with forms, will guide you, step-by-step, through the process of filing a motion to suppress from the initial client interview and discovery through actually drafting the motion and litigating it in court. The author provides a summary of the laws surrounding Fourth Amendment searches and seizures, including searches of the home, the standards of probable cause and reasonable suspicion, motor vehicle searches, and searches and seizures of electronic devices. She also discusses the suppression of confessions and other statements and police interrogation practices. Included in this volume are over 40 forms including sample motions to suppress and more than 80 pattern cross-examinations to assist you during the hearing on your motion to suppress. There are numerous practice pointers and tips throughout the book.

Before you file your next (or first) motion to suppress, come to the Harris County Law Library and have a look at Suppressing Criminal Evidence. Who knows? That evidence you got suppressed just may save your client.

Latest and Greatest – Nolo Publications

In an effort to support its mission of providing all patrons access to relevant and practical legal information, the Harris County Law Library maintains a self-help collection that is designed to assist self-represented parties in learning about an area or topic of law without having to sort through unfamiliar and often difficult legal terminology. Part of this self-help collection is a series of books published by Nolo, a company that seeks to “make the law accessible to everyone.” The books, written in plain English by attorneys and legal professors, cover a range of topics such as bankruptcy, immigration, family law, labor and employment, landlord-tenant, and estate planning, just to name a few. Although the books are not meant to be a substitute for getting the advice of a lawyer, they can help the reader better understand a legal issue and discover some answers to their legal questions.

The Harris County Law Library has recently received new editions of the following titles:

Look for them (and many other titles) on our shelves!