Attorney General Eric Holder announced today that required mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses would be coming to an end. These highly controversial minimum sentences would no longer be required for nonviolent, low-level drug offenders. This signals a major turning point in state and federal sentencing policy and should have a massive impact on the growing federal prison population.

These mandatory minimums were heavily implemented in the 1980s, although the “war on drugs” dates back to the Nixon era. They were a way for politicians and lawmakers to show that they were tough on crime, but decades later it is difficult to prove that the mandatory minimums did anything more than increase the state and federal prison population. Since the 1980s, federal prison population has increased 800 percent.

Holder noted that shifting policy in this direction has become a bipartisan issue, citing officials from “red” and “blue” states advocating for an end to these minimum sentences for drug offenders. Just about half of the federal prison population is comprised of inmates sentenced for drug-related crimes. Many of these thousands of individuals were sentenced for nonviolent and low-level offenses.

Our attorney general and many others hold to the belief that harsh sentences for these types of crimes do little to keep our communities safer, but actually perpetuate a cycle of incarceration that is far too much the norm in urban areas, particularly among low socioeconomic classes. As an alternative to mandatory minimums, the federal government plans to implement drug rehabilitation and community service programs. In turn, they hope this will help manage our overcrowded prisons while simultaneously helping offenders avoid recidivism.

Some states have already begun to reverse these harsh sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, such as Texas and New York. Even California recently amended its “Three Strikes Law” so it only applies to third violent felony offenses, rather than all third felony offenses. All state prisons in the United States are under court order to reduce inmates, a total reduction of 10,000 prisoners nationwide.

“By reserving the most severe penalties for serious, high-level or violent drug traffickers, we can better promote public safety, deterrence and rehabilitation, while making our expenditures smarter and more productive,” Holder said.

The United States imprisons a greater percentage of its population than any other country in the world. Our country holds five percent of the world’s population, and yet nearly a quarter of the world’s total prison population. Holder and others are advocating for massive sweeps in sentencing changes so that the punishment more appropriately fits the crime.

 A gunman in North Texas used an explosive device in an attack at two different residencies near Dallas in a revenge rampage that took four lives, a recent report by Reuters explains. The police believe that the attack was a domestic violence situation.

The gunman was hoping to get revenge on his ex-girlfriend. While his name has not yet been revealed, various sources report that the man was a former special education teacher who was angered when his girlfriend broke up with him. The FBI is investigating the situation to get further details, but reports show that the shooting began at a home in Dallas and ended at another home about seven miles away.

The victims have not been identified as of yet. Two boys ages 11 and 13 were also shot and survived. They are now being treated in local hospitals. Two other wounded victims have been injured and unidentified at present. Sources say that the gunman was a special education teacher that resigned on his own accord. He was never terminated from his position. The individual will most likely be charged with assault with a deadly weapon, attempted murder, and murder if he is confirmed as the shooter.

If you have been accused of these very serious crimes, the most important decision that you will make is the lawyer that you will hire to represent you in your case. If you hire an attorney that is only adequate, then you will have a lower chance of reducing your charges or avoiding penalties. Instead, you need to hire a dedicated, experienced, successful lawyer who will do that entire he or she can to work in your favor. At The Martinez Law Firm, a Houston criminal defense attorney will do everything possible to fight and win your case. Hire one of our excellent lawyers today.

Even on Christmas Eve, crime doesn’t sleep. An unfortunate chase ended in the death of a bystander and a Bellaire police officer in the City of Bellaire right outside of Houston. According to KHOU the officer responded to a shooting outside of a business on Bellaire Boulevard. When the Houston police arrived at the scene, they noticed that it was one of their officers that had been shot. A bystander also died at the scene of the crime when he was unable to move out of the way as the conflict went on in front of him. The shooter was being pursued in a chase and retaliated with gunfire. According to the reports, the officer was sent to the Ben Taub Hospital in critical condition but was pronounced dead upon arrival.

As well, the shooter was attacked by the police who responded to the call. He tried to flee with his gunshot wounds but was eventually captured in a nearby building and taken to the hospital under arrest. Citizens in the area were outraged by the shooting and distraught that two families will be mourning the loss of a loved one on Christmas.It is highly probable that the shooter will be charged with Capital Murder. It will be up to the new District Attorney, Mike Anderson whether the office will seek the death penalty in this case.

If you have been accused of aggravated assault,
manslaughter or murder, then you are going to want a dedicated attorney to help you. You may be able to argue that you never intended to harm those who were chasing you, or that the gun went off accidentally. There are a variety of different positions that a skilled attorney may be able to argue effectively in your favor. When you are looking for a Houston attorney you can rely on, you can always count on The Martinez Law Firm to be there. The lawyers at this firm are dedicated to expert advocacy. They will help you to handle your case with professionalism and will argue to your advantage. Talk to the firm today for more information!

Two 25-year-old Mobile, Alabama, residents were recently arrested in Georgia for
federal terrorism charges. Investigators report that their intent was to wage violent acts on behalf
of jihad overseas. Jihad is considered to be the religious practice of
those in the Muslim group. It means “struggle” in Arabic and
it is their people’s way of pursuing their beliefs and draw closer
to their deity. While for many, this means the internal struggle to pursue their god, for others, there is a physical aspect of this as well, and it is stressed that these beliefs are to be non-violent.
In the case of these two arrested men, investigators state that Mohammad Abdul Rahman Abukhdair and Randy “Rasheed” Wilson were planning to be involved in violent acts of jihad as they are believed to be closely tied to a known Islamic terrorist leader. Prosecutors say that the two men were arrested separately as they were in the process of traveling out of the country. According to a sworn statement from an FBI agent on the case, Wilson’s close friend and roommate, Omar Hammami, was recently added to the FBI’s most wanted list for suspected terrorists.
Official reports state that this is not Abukhdair’s first time being
involved with terrorist activities. He was arrested in 2010 while staying
in Egypt for what was believed to be terrorist involvement. Their officials held him there for two months before allowing him to return to the U.S. More recently, according to the FBI, a friend of Wilson and Hammami became an informant for the investigators, feeding them useful information about the two.
According to USA Today, the charges against the two men who are currently in custody are for “conspiracy to provide support to terrorists with plans to kill people outside the U.S.” Abukhdair is also facing charges for fraudulently obtaining a new passport in an attempt to cover his history with Egypt. Those who are accused of criminal charges, whether
federal or smaller, deserve a chance to fight for their freedom.</p>
If you or someone you know has been accused of a crime, big or small, contact the Martinez Law Firm today for more information!

A lot has been said about the Houston, Harris County, Texas DWI DIVERT
program since it was started earlier this year. I see both sides of the
debate. It can be a positive for those that are clearly intoxicated and
want to maintain a “clear record.” On the other hand, it may
unfairly sway the person that has a case that could be won in a jury trial
from proceeding to trial when the DIVERT carrot is placed in front of
them. Moreover, the prosecutors are less likely to dismiss the DWI case
because they have the program at their disposal. Therefore, it takes a
self confident person to reject the DIVERT offer and proceed to trial.

Today, I had my first trial of a client that declined to enter into a DIVERT
contract with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. The facts
could have gone either way based on the offense report and the video.
Nevertheless, as any
DWI trial attorney will tell you, what is written in an offense report can change dramtically
once an officer gets into the witness stand before a jury. Lets just say
this, after the arresting officer, the state’s first witness finished
testifying the prosecutor decided to dismiss the case. I can say without
a doubt in my mind that the prosecutor did the right thing. Thus, my client
avoided entering into the rigid DIVERT program. Despite it’s name
it is still like probation and in some instances even more difficult.

Since I am a Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer I know how the court appointed system works in Houston, Texas. Today, I will be discussing the various issues regarding the proposed Harris County Public Defenders Office at the KPFT studios. My aim is to enlighten listeners to the current system of how attorneys are selected in Harris County, Texas. It seems that the public is misinformed how the court appointed system works in our county.