Galveston County Criminal Defense Lawyer

What You Need to Know if You are Arrested in Galveston County, Texas

Galveston County is home to a lot of recreational and entertaining things to do. There are clubs, beaches, festivals, amusement parks, historical sites, restaurants, and bars, among many other attractions, that make either living here or vacationing here a pleasant and fun experience. But with this excitement comes a dark side: law enforcement. You may recall an incident that occurred nearly a decade ago when the police stormed in on a wedding celebration, attacking anyone who came in their way, including a professional baseball player. A lawsuit later ensued, but it is what the Judge recalled in a memorandum about the Chief of Police that is striking.

According to the Houston Chronicle, U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison quoted Police Chief Charles Wiley as saying that the department was "plagued with activities that oftentimes were illegal, most of the time unethical." Judge Ellison went on to say that Police Chief Wiley confirmed that the "[u]se of force was a 'big issue' within the department itself."

The case of the wedding was not the first lawsuit of its kind, and it hasn't been the last either. Police misconduct is rampant, and you need to be aware of it, especially if you have been charged with a crime in Galveston County, Texas. How the police engage you and subsequently arrest and charge you with a criminal offense matters, and it can matter greatly to the defense of your case. Whether you are guilty or innocent is not the only question when it comes to the pursuit of justice, you have constitutional rights that must be upheld by law enforcement agents, and when the latter fail to uphold their duty, Doug Murphy is ready.

Doug Murphy is a veteran trial criminal defense attorney representing clients throughout Galveston County. He is ready to hear your case and defend your rights, too.

Criminal Cases Represented by Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. in Galveston County

Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. represents DWI cases as half of its entire practice; the other half of the practice is devoted to criminal offenses.

DWI Offenses

DWI charges can be filed against anyone; anyone who drinks alcohol and then drives is a candidate for a DWI offense, including women, men, judges, lawyers, doctors, professors, accountants, professional athletes, retail clerks, plumbers, and you.

The thing to remember is that DWI charges are defendable. Don't assume that a breath test or blood test showing your blood alcohol content level (BAC) at 0.08% (0.04% for commercial drivers) or higher is reason enough to convict you. It's not. An experienced DWI defense attorney, one who has extensive trial experience, is committed to taking your case to trial and is Board Certified by the National College of DWI Defense (NCDD) and approved by the American Bar Association, and accredited by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, you stand a much better chance of being found not guilty of your DWI or DWI-related charge.

A Galveston County DWI lawyer who understands your constitutional rights, the manner in which field sobriety tests or subsequent chemical tests must be taken to be considered as evidence, and the insight to put a comprehensive and strategic defense together can successfully challenge the DWI offense(s) against you. Your DWI attorney may be able to fight your case by contesting:

• The constitutionality of the stop
• The constitutionality of any search and seizure
• The constitutionality of the administration of roadside tests
• The constitutionality of the probable cause to arrest
• The constitutionality of the Miranda rights
• The manner in which roadside tests were given.
• The use of any blood or breath test

Doug Murphy represents the following DWI cases:

• DWI
• Felony DWI
• Underage DUI
• DWI Commercial Driver's License
• DWI Marijuana
• DWI Prescription Drugs
• DWI with a child passenger under 15
• Flying While Intoxicated
• Boating While Intoxicated
• Intoxication Assault
• Intoxication Manslaughter
• Open Container

Criminal Offenses

If you or someone you love has been charged with a criminal offense, it is in your best interests almost always to plead not guilty. You automatically have a right to a jury trial, and it is advisable to take this opportunity. At trial, the prosecutor must prove all the elements of the crime and persuade six people – the jury – of your guilt. It's not as easy as it may sound, and it is never easy when you have retained a committed and smart criminal defense attorney.

To determine if your criminal defense attorney has the skills and insight to put forth a successful defense that holds the jury accountable to your innocence unless proven guilty beyond a doubt, you need to find a Galveston County criminal defense attorney who possesses:

• Extensive trial experience with successful outcomes
• Board Certification in criminal defense through the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
• National and state-wide accolades that attest to his or her abilities
• Client references that provide personal accounts of the lawyer's worth
• Known in the legal community for excellence in performance and qualities
• A will to go to trial rather than settle for a plea deal, the latter of which won't make matters much better for you

Doug Murphy possesses all of these qualities and more. He has extensive trial experience with successful outcomes. He is Board Certified in Criminal Defense, as well as Board Certified in DWI Defense, making him one of only two attorneys in all of Texas with this distinction. He has also received numerous accolades testifying to his capabilities and is well-known in the legal community. In fact, he travels throughout Texas and beyond to lead speaking engagements to instruct other criminal defense attorneys on skills to defend their clients better. Doug Murphy's clients know first-hand how Doug Murphy has helped them, and he has the references to support it.

Finally, and maybe more importantly, Doug Murphy will always anticipate and prepare for trial. He understands that for so many of you who have been in the unfortunate position to either have been accused wrongly or have made a serious mistake, you deserve to have your innocence proclaimed or a second chance provided. He will fight for your rights and freedom, knowing that a conviction or plea bargain can lead to serious collateral consequences for you and whatever sentence a judge may order.

Collateral consequences can make life difficult if you need to maintain, receive, or find any of the following after a criminal record has been revealed:

• A professional license, like a pilot's license, nursing license, or medical license
• Security clearance
• A new job or promotion
• Financial aid
• Admissions to a higher education institution
• Rental agreement in a safe environment
• Constitutional rights, such as the right to vote or own and use a firearm
• Custody of your children
• A good reputation among family and community

Examples of criminal offenses for which Doug Murphy provides representation are as follows:

• Drug Possession
• Criminally Negligent Homicide
• Vehicular Manslaughter
• Vehicular Assault
• White Collar Crimes
• Domestic Violence
• Prostitution & Solicitation
• Hit & Run FSGI
• Hit & Run FSRA
• Evading Arrest
• & More

Galveston County Court System

The Galveston County Court System is set up like most other county court systems. There are Justice of the Peace courts and municipal courts that deal with things like simple traffic violations or city ordinance violations. Then there are the County Courts at Law that have jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases, primarily Class B and Class A misdemeanors that carry potential penalties of up to 2 years in prison. District criminal courts hold jurisdiction over most felony cases.

County Courts at Law of Galveston County, TX

There are three county courts at law. They all operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the same location.

600 59th Street

Galveston, TX 77550

Judicial District Courts of Galveston County, TX

District courts of Galveston County are located in Galveston at the same address.

600 59th Street

Galveston, TX 77550

These courts operate from Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. There are six district courts that serve the County of Galveston, but one is designated to Family Court: 306th District Court, presided by Judge Anne B. Darring

Other Judicial and Law Enforcement Agencies of Interest

Drug Court

Drug Court is not an actual court but rather a special program within the Galveston County Criminal Justice System. If you are a non-violent offender but have a drug or alcohol addiction, this program may possibly be right for you. It is a court-supervised treatment program aimed to reduce recidivism through substance abuse treatment and therapy. The program is grouped into three phases:

1. Phase I - Assessment, Orientation, and Stabilization. This phase is the most intensive of the three phases, may include in or out-patient treatment, and lasts for weeks to months, depending on you and your addiction.
2. Phase II - Treatment and Education. This phase involves counseling aimed to guide you with sober living. The intent is to get you to actively address personal matters, medical needs, vocational skills, and housing needs.
3. Phase III - Education and Transition. This phase is the final phase and is aimed at getting you back into the community while abstaining from drugs and alcohol and without relapses. Continued guidance and mentoring are offered during this phase, too.

As mentioned, this program is for those who have an addiction. It is also a program that is costly and time-intensive. If you have a job or family, it can be difficult to maintain, and once you falter, the program can be revoked, and you can face jail for a longer period than if you had initially fought the charges at trial.

Galveston County Drug Court

600 59th Street, Fourth Floor
Galveston, Texas 77551
409-770-5509

Community Supervision & Corrections Department (CSCD)

Galveston County CSCD supervises probationers who have committed and been convicted of felony and misdemeanor crimes and were placed on community supervision either through a district court or county court. Probationers who have been transferred to CSCD's jurisdiction are also supervised by the same. Probation requires regular court fees, meetings with probation officers, and drug tests.

The CSCD's mission is to reduce recidivism, but more often than you might think, participants find themselves back in jail. In fact, many participants feel as long as they are on probation, they always have one foot in jail and one foot outside of it, so for them, just doing time and being done with it is better than an extended probation period where one slip-up can prolong your probation period or send you back to jail anyway.

You want to hire an attorney whose aim is to keep you out of jail and away from probation by having your charges dismissed before trial or acquitted at trial. So many people charged with a crime – especially if it is a first offense – think that probation is better than jail, and for some, it is, but for most, it is not.

Galveston County Community Supervision & Corrections Department

722 Moody Avenue
Galveston, Texas 77550
(409) 762-8621

Galveston County Jail & Prison Facilities

If you fail to hire smart, competent criminal defense counsel, then you could find yourself with a sentence that includes incarceration. Generally speaking, if you are convicted of a misdemeanor, you will likely be incarcerated at a county jail while a conviction of a state jail felony will lead to incarceration at a state jail. If you are convicted of a third-degree felony or higher, you could end up in a state prison, where there is high security.

In Galveston County, there is only a county jail; there are no state jails or state prisons. If you are convicted of a felony, you will likely be incarcerated outside of Galveston County.

County Jail

Galveston County Jail

5700 Ball Street
Galveston, Texas 77551
(409) 766-2315

If you need to find someone in the County Jail, you can do so at the County of Galveston's website for Inmate Inquiry.

Galveston County Law Enforcement Agencies

There are a number of law enforcement agencies throughout Galveston County, but three that you are most likely to encounter are Highway Patrol, the Sheriff, or local police officers.

Texas Highway Patrol

Highway patrol is a division of the Texas Department of Public Safety. They patrol the highways, particularly in rural Galveston, and are responsible for criminal law enforcement on the rural highways as well as traffic violations on these highways.

County of Galveston Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office in Galveston County has a wide range of responsibilities, including criminal investigations, patrolling rural parts of the county, and issuing warrants.

Galveston County Sheriff Office

601 54th Street
Galveston, Texas 77551
(409) 766-2322 or (281) 534-3515

Local Police

The local police supervise all crimes that occur locally.

Locations Represented by Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C.

Galveston County, as already mentioned, is known for its scenic beaches, recreational activities, nightlife, and an overall wide selection of entertainment for any age or person. There are over 350,000 residents of Galveston County, according to the latest U.S. Census. The educational status of its residents is on par with the rest of Texas and the country, with 89.9% residents of Galveston County having a high school diploma and 33.2% holding a Bachelor's or higher. The median household income is slightly better than the rest of Texas and the nation with a median of $ 79,328 compared to the U.S. median of $69,021 and the State's median of $67,321. As for those living in poverty, Galveston County is similar to the nation's average at 12.1% compared to the U.S.' 11.5%, but slightly better than the State's poverty rate, which is 14.0%.

Doug Murphy represents residents and visitors of Galveston County who have been charged with a DWI or criminal offense. This includes residents or visitors of the following cities and towns in Galveston County, Texas.

• Bayou Vista
• Clear Lake Shores
• Dickinson
• Friendswood
• Galveston
• Hitchcock
• Jamaica Beach
• Kemah
• La Marque
• League City
• Santa Fe
• Seabrook
• Texas City
• Tiki Island
• & All Surrounding Areas

Experienced DWI Defense & Criminal Defense Lawyer in Galveston County, Texas

If you have been charged with a DWI or another crime and want to fight the charge because you care about your future, retain a DWI and criminal defense attorney committed to the same. At Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C., you get commitment and results. Contact Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. today at 713-229-8333.