Resources
The Houston criminal defense attorneys at McLemore, Reddell & Story, P.L.L.C. are pleased to provide the following resources for the benefit of people in Harris County and throughout Texas seeking information on state and federal criminal law and the criminal justice system. If you need further information, or if you need to speak with an attorney regarding an arrest, criminal investigation or other criminal law matter, contact our office for a free consultation with a skilled and experienced criminal defense lawyer.
Selected Texas Legal and Government Resources
- Texas Court System
- Texas Local Rules of Court
- First Court of Appeals in Houston
- Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston
- Texas Supreme Court
- Texas State Government
- Texas Legislature
- Texas Attorney General
- City of Houston
- Houston Municipal Courts
- Harris County
- Harris County Constitutional Court
- Harris County Courts at Law
- Harris County District Courts
- State Bar of Texas
- Houston Bar Association
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Criminal Defense Resources
The mission of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is to provide public safety, promote positive change in offender behavior, reintegrate offenders into society, and assist victims of crime. Information for families of offenders may be found here, including an offender search and offender telephone and messaging system.
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles determines which prisoners are due to be released on parole or discretionary mandatory supervision. The Board determines the conditions of any parole and mandatory supervision granted as well as determining whether to revoke parole or mandatory supervisions. The Board also makes clemency recommendations to the Governor.
The Texas Department of Public Safety performs crime prevention and law enforcement functions. See the DPS website for information on the Administrative License Revocation program if you are facing a driver’s license suspension for DWI.
If you know the offense that you or a friend or family member is charged with, you can determine the amount required for bail in Harris County by viewing the Harris County Bail Schedule.
The Harris County District Clerk is the custodian of all Harris County court records. Visit their criminal court page for information about the courts for misdemeanor and felony cases, to obtain copies of reports, or for help with bonds and forfeitures, appeals, writs of habeas corpus, and more.
The State Bar of Texas publishes several informative pamphlets for members of the public, including If You Are Arrested, Expunctions in Texas, and The Texas Criminal Justice Process: A Citizen’s Guide.
Click here for an overview of Federal Criminal Law from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). Click here to view the United States Criminal Code in its entirety.
The nation’s drug laws, including the United States Controlled Substances Act, are enforced by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), while the nation’s gun laws are enforced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Both agencies are part of the larger DOJ.
A list of Federal Drug Trafficking Penalties, based on type of drug and quantity, can be found here on the DEA website.
At the United States Sentencing Commission, you can find the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, as well as a Federal Sentencing Guidelines Chart.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enforces the nation’s tax laws. It’s parent agency, the U.S. Treasury Department, fights illicit finance involving narcotics traffickers.
Criminal activity within the scope of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) includes domestic and international terrorism, cybercrime, gangs/organized crime, and more.
