The Rogers Law Firm, P.C.

For Body Searches: If you are arrested, an officer can search you, without a warrant, for weapons, evidence or illegal or stolen goods. Strip searches should not be conducted for offenses that do not involve weapons, drugs or violence unless police reasonably suspect you are concealing a weapon or illegal goods, and they have authorization from the supervising officer on duty. If you are booked and jailed, you may undergo a full body search.

You have a right to be arraigned without unnecessary delay. At the arraignment you will appear before a judge who will tell you officially of the charges against you. An attorney may be appointed for you if you cannot afford one, and the bail can be raised or lowered depending on the circumstances of the case. You also can ask to be released on a P.R. bond (personal recognizance), even if bail was previously set.

If, during the questioning and before a charge is filed, the police are convinced that you have not committed a crime, they will usually release you. Under this circumstance, such a situation can then be considered a detention and may not be recorded as an arrest.

Local Police Departments, The State of Texas, and the Federal Government all maintain arrest records.

The arrest record includes when and why you were arrested, whether the charges against you were dropped or whether you were convicted of the charges, and the subsequent sentence imposed. Both pleading guilty and nolo contendere, and being found guilty after a trial count as convictions.

You can be questioned, without a lawyer present, only if you voluntarily give up your rights and if you understand what you are giving up. If you agree to the questioning, then change your mind, the questioning must stop as soon as you say so or as soon as you say that you want a lawyer.

When you are arrested, you are taken into custody. This means that you are not free to leave the scene. However, without being arrested, you still could be detained or held for questioning for a short time if a police officer or other person believes you may be involved in a crime.

For example, an officer may detain you if you are carrying a large box near a recent burglary site. Storekeepers also can detain you if they reasonably suspect you have stolen something.

The answer to this is simple and straightforward:

Be sure that you and your lawyer have the same goals.

Be sure you understand and are comfortable with the Cleburne lawyer’s working style.

Be especially certain that you have a clear picture of the expected timetable of your case - when you can expect significant developments.

Be sure you provide the Cleburne lawyer with the information and documents necessary to understand your case.

Be sure you understand and agree with the Cleburne lawyer’s billing practices.

No matter what the amount, no one likes to pay legal fees. Therefore, it is important for you and your Cleburne lawyer to agree, in writing, about what you will pay the lawyer and what services the Cleburne lawyer will perform. This way, both of you will know what to expect from each other as you work together on your case. Fee agreements should be in writing.

You may want to meet briefly with the Cleburne lawyer or a professional staff member instead of discussing your problem on the telephone.

At such a meeting you may want to ask how much experience the Cleburne lawyer has had with problems like yours, and how recently the Cleburne attorney handled a similar case.

We suggest hiring a Cleburne lawyer who primarily practices law in the jurisdiction where your case is located and has an office in the area.

Recommendations. Maybe you know a Cleburne lawyer. Cleburne Lawyers can refer you to other lawyers who have experience with your kind of problem.

Ask your friends, co-workers and employers if they know any lawyers. Business people or professionals such as bankers, ministers, doctors, social workers and teachers may be able to give you a Cleburne lawyer’s name.