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“Excellent job. My case was dismissed, due to very professional services of Doug Murphy Law Firm.”-A.B.

Madison County Criminal Defense Attorney

Experienced DWI & Criminal Defense Representation in Madison County, TX

If you have been arrested in Madison County, Texas, you need good legal representation. A DWI or other criminal offense can lead to serious consequences. But your options are limited in this sparkly populated area. Fortunately, Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C., located in Houston, Texas, represents clients throughout Texas, including Madison County. Doug Murphy is a smart, aggressive, Board-Certified DWI and criminal defense attorney who knows the court system and judges in Madison County. But time is of the essence. The sooner he can begin preparing your case, the better your outcome will likely be. Contact Doug Murphy today.

Arrested in Madison County? Here are a Few Things to Keep in Mind

Police Corruption

Madison County is a small county, population-wise. But that doesn't mean the police are corruption-free. In fact, police in Madison County have had well-documented issues. One well-known incident took place in 2013 when a grand jury indicted Officer Jeffrey A. Covington on corruption charges. He planted drugs – methamphetamine – in his ex-wife's vehicle. He was subsequently convicted but was sentenced only to 30 days in jail and probation time. His coworkers were also charged as co-conspirators. With the Madisonville Police Department as small as it is, you can only imagine that corruption is not immune even in smaller and quaint communities in Madison County.

And that corruption could be to your detriment. If you come into contact with a Madisonville police officer, do your best to be polite and not provoke, or else you could find yourself in a situation that may make matters worse for you but for an experienced criminal defense attorney who can identify police corruption when it happens.

Your Rights

You have rights, whether as a suspect or a resident. Some officers, however, will treat you with little regard for those rights. Your rights include:

  • The right to remain silent
  • The right to be free from unlawful search and seizure of your person or your property
  • The right to an attorney
  • The right to a right to a quick trial where you have the right to defend yourself before a jury of your peers

If you are convicted, you still retain rights. These rights include:

  • The right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment
  • The right to complain about prison conditions
  • The right to access courts
  • The right to reasonable and adequate healthcare or disability accommodations
  • The right to your basic First Amendment rights so long as they do not interfere with your status as an inmate
  • The right to be free from discrimination

The police or other law enforcement agents are not entitled to act or behave in any way they feel -- they are not above the law. But sometimes, it sure does feel that way. Unlike Jeff Covington's case, many of these police officers' actions are not addressed because the defendants/Inmates are unaware of their rights or their attorneys cannot identify the violations.

Doug Murphy knows when a client's constitutional rights have been violated and will act accordingly by filing the proper motion or taking other necessary measures to contest the officer's actions.

Your Plea

A plea of guilt at your arraignment or any other time during the criminal process is usually not in your best interests. It denies your chance to have your day in court. There, an experienced criminal defense attorney will have an opportunity to prove your innocence or weaken the State's case against you. It is your best chance of dismissal or acquittal. In the least, if you are convicted, persons who stand trial often are given sentences lighter than if that same person had pleaded guilty from the start of the case. So, in either circumstance, dismissal or conviction, your options are better if you have an attorney willing to fight for you before a jury of your peers.

Your Future

Regardless of whether you are convicted or not, there's one crucial factor to consider: your arrest and criminal record. To a lesser extent, an arrest record can affect your career. You should know Texas courts report arrest records in the same way convictions are reported. When an arrest record shows up on a criminal background check, it can sometimes be confusing for the employer to decipher whether or not the case is pending or whether or not there was a conviction. This ambiguity could mean your career.

On the other hand, and to a much greater extent, a criminal record poses a real risk to your quality of life after conviction and after you have paid your debt to society. Criminal records carry with them collateral consequences that can follow you through life.

Examples of how collateral consequences can impact your life include:

  • Denial, revocation, or suspension of a professional license, like a pilot's license, nursing license, or medical license
  • Denial, revocation, or suspension of a security clearance
  • Declined job offer or promotion
  • Denial of some forms of financial aid
  • Denial of admission to a higher education institution
  • Declined rental application for housing in a safe environment
  • Removal of constitutional rights, like the right to vote or own and use a firearm
  • Problems with custody of your children
  • Diminished reputation among family and community

Your Attorney

Upon arrest, you should consider finding an attorney who can optimize your chances of an outcome most favorable to you in your circumstances. When you conduct your attorney search, there are three specific qualifications to consider: (1) Board Certification, (2) trial experience, and (3) client testimony.

Board Certification

Only Board Certified attorneys can claim a legal specialization in a particular practice area. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization certifies attorneys in Texas in criminal law. The National College of DUI Defense, accredited by the American Bar Association, certifies attorneys throughout the U.S. in DWI / DUI law.

  • Certification is important because it indicates that the attorney is highly knowledgeable and has proven experience litigating in that practice area.
  • Doug Murphy is one of only two attorneys in all of Texas who is simultaneously Board Certified in criminal law and DWI.

Trial Experience

You should look for an attorney who has extensive trial experience. Trial experience indicates the attorney may be less likely to enter a plea deal that is less favorable to you. At the same time, it indicates the attorney may be more willing to go to trial if that is in your best interests.

  • Most criminal lawyers today settle cases via plea deals so they do not have to go to trial. And when they must go, many hire contract attorneys to conduct the trial. This method could cause mistakes and errors to be made.
  • Doug Murphy always prepares each case as though it will go to trial. Settling for a plea deal is never part of his defense strategy unless it is truly the best option for the client and their specific circumstances.

Client Testimony

Former clients are always the best source to learn about an attorney's quality and skills. Look at client testimonials to learn more about an attorney. Even negative reviews can be insightful.

  • Doug Murphy enjoys a 5.0 rating on Google reviews, Yelp, and Avvo.

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

Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. represents criminal cases involving DWI and other criminal activity. Below is a summary of the types of cases Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. represents.

DWI Offenses

Criminal Offenses

Madison County Court System

Madison County is a comparatively very small county concerning population, but its court system is set up like any other county throughout Texas. It has municipal courts and Justice of the Peace courts overseeing simple traffic or city ordinance violations. It also has its statutorily mandated County Court at Law, which has jurisdiction over Class A and Class B misdemeanors. It also has two District Courts, which it shares with other counties.

Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C., represents clients in Madison County who are facing DWI or criminal charges (Class A and B misdemeanors and felonies). Through his representation and commitment to going to trial if that is what it takes to achieve the best outcome in his clients' cases, Doug Murphy has acquired an excellent working understanding of the courts and judges in Madison County. Contact Doug Murphy today if your case is to be heard at a county or district court.

County Court at Law of Madison County, TX

Unlike more densely populated counties with several county courts at law sharing the caseload, Madison County only has the statutorily required county court at law. The County Court at Law generally takes up a day or two of the county's court calendar. Most of the crimes are related to driving while intoxicated or marijuana possession.

Madison County Court at Law
103 West Trinity, Suite 113
Madisonville, TX 77864
Phone: 936-241-6202

Judicial District Courts of Madison County, TX

Madison County has two district courts: the 12th and the 278th Judicial Districts.

12th District Court
Physical location:
1100 University Avenue, Suite 303
Huntsville, Texas 77340
Phone: 936-435-8025

Madison County location:
101 West Main Street, Room 216
Madisonville, TX 77864
Phone: 936-241-6200

The 12th District court has jurisdiction in Madison County, Walker County, and Grimes County. The court's time is divided so that each county is provided a week worth of court hearings.

278th District Court
Physical location:
1100 University Avenue, Suite 202
Huntsville, Texas 77340
Phone: 936-436-4916

Madison County location:
101 West Main Street, Room 216
Madisonville, TX 77864
Phone: 936-436-4916

The 278th District Court has jurisdiction in Madison County, Walker County, and Leon County.

Madison County Adult Probation

If you are placed on probation or parole, your program will be supervised through the Madison County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, otherwise known as the Adult Probation.

Madison County Adult Probation
101 W Main St # B23,
Madisonville, TX 77864
Phone: 936-348-2641

Madison County Jail & Prison Facilities

If you are convicted of a crime and sentenced to jail, you may be sent to a county jail, state jail, or state prison- it largely depends on the crime.

  • Most Class A and B misdemeanors will result in incarceration at the Madison County jail.
  • State jail felonies will result in incarceration at a state jail outside Madison County.
  • If you are convicted of a third-degree felony or higher, you could be sentenced to a state prison in or outside Madison County.

In Madison County, there is one county jail and one state prison.

Madison County Jail

If you have been arrested by an officer from the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Sheriff's office, or a local police department, then you were probably booked into the Madison County Sheriff's Department jail.

Madison County Jail
2005 East Main Street
Madisonville, TX 77864
Phone: 936-348-2755

This jail is classified as a medium custody jail, and it is used by multiple jurisdictions for offenders who have short sentences (usually less than one year), probation violators, and those awaiting trial, sentencing, or other court appearances and are either waiting to post or cannot make bail.

State Prison

Jim Ferguson Unit
12120 Savage Drive
Midway, TX 75852
Phone: 936-348-3751 (ext. 011)

The state prison is located twenty miles northeast of Huntsville on FM 247 in Madison County. It can hold 2,100 male offenders and has a trusty camp that can hold 321 persons. The prison employs around 578 people.

Madison County Law Enforcement Agencies

If you find yourself in legal or criminal trouble in Madison County, you are most likely to encounter law enforcement officers from the Sheriff's Office or local police departments.

Madison County Sheriff's Office

The Madison County Sheriff's Office is trusted with overseeing and investigating criminal activity throughout Madison County that is not served by the local police.

Madison County Sheriff's Office
2005 East Main Street
Madisonville, TX 77864
Phone: 936-348-2755

Local Police

The local police supervise all crimes that occur locally. In Madison County, there is only one local police department located in the county seat of Madisonville. This police department is home to six patrol officers who must patrol the city's 4,636 residents.

Madisonville Police Department
210 West Cottonwood
Madisonville, TX 77864
Phone: 936-348-3317

Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. Representation

Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. is based in Houston, Texas, but attorney Doug Murphy and his experienced legal team provide legal services throughout the region. If you live in any of the following cities or any surrounding area throughout Madison County, Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. will provide criminal defense.

Experienced DWI Defense & Criminal Defense Lawyers in Madison County, Texas

Doug Murphy's philosophy that grounds his practice is simple: you are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Doug Murphy and his team understand that for many of you, you indeed are innocent, and for others, you truly regret your mistake. At Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C., we believe everyone deserves another chance and should have a solid defense to enable that chance. It is, after all, your constitutional right.

If you have been charged with a DWI or another criminal offense and want to fight it, retain a DWI and criminal defense attorney committed to the same. At Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C., you get smart, aggressive representation that gets results. Contact Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. today at 713-229-8333 for a consultation.

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