A criminal conviction is pretty painful blow to your record. A criminal conviction can prevent you from obtaining a future job; prevent any help from financial aid for school, or even prevent you from holding a drivers license. Pleading guilty might seem like the best way to prevent doing jail time or prison in Texas, but this might not always be the best way.
Avoiding a Texas Criminal Conviction
First of all, keep in mind that a court needs a lot of evidence before they will pursue a criminal conviction. Many different things are considered such as:
- The nature of the offense
- Age, record, health, character and mental condition of the alleged “criminal”
- Extenuating circumstances in the case
- Other things the court might believe are relevant to the case
In Texas, there are several ways to prevent a criminal conviction. They are not available for everyone but if this is the first crime you have been charged with that might be an effective alternative.
Pretrial Diversion
If your crime is a non-violent one such as theft then obtaining this alternative might be best for you. First you have to admit that you guilty or offer a guilty plea. The court will hold this as a final judgment you participate in a program that is similar to probation. Through this process, the court may ask for a number of things to happen, such as required community service, making compensation to the victim or even attending an educational program. Once you have completed this process, then the court will dismiss all charges and expunge the arrest from your record.
Private Complaint Mediation
For misdemeanor charges, this may be the best option. A private complaint mediation can take care of small charges such as trespassing onto a person’s yard or vandalizing a property. The court might be able to refer your case to a court mediator who will look at both sides of the case and talk to each party while trying to negotiate a resolution without a criminal charge on your record. Once both parties have signed a settlement agreement, the charge will be dismissed without a trial date.
Treatment
Sometimes a person does not need a criminal charge on their record; they only need treatment in order to straighten up and fly right. This is the case for a lot of people in today’s world since drugs and alcohol are so prevalent and are the cause for so many hardship issues people face. If drugs and alcohol are too blame for risky behavior that ended up facing you a judge and a criminal charge on your record than talk with your lawyer about what you can do to get treatment rather than a conviction.
Getting Help
There are people out there who are willing to listen and are willing to help. Not everyone is ready to throw the book at you. Getting a lawyer can often be the best way to avoid criminal conviction, as your lawyer can help you to explore all options or to plead your case or prove your innocence.
