Fort Worth Criminal Defense Attorney

If you do nothing, you could end up facing years behind bars, high fines that leave your family in debt, and a lifetime of struggling to attain things that most people without a criminal record barely think about.

You cannot sit back and simply hope things work out for you. Prosecutors and other law enforcement officials only care about one thing: securing your conviction.

If you want to protect your rights and your loved ones, the best thing you can do is stand up and fight back. At the Hampton Criminal Defense Attorneys, PLLC, that is exactly what we have been helping our clients do for more than a decade.

Tarrant County prosecutors take crimes very seriously and often seek to punish people to the full extent of the law. When you are facing this kind of opposition, you need an aggressive defense from a seasoned Fort Worth criminal defense attorney who understands Texas criminal law.

Jeff Hampton and his Team of Former Prosecutors are the criminal defense team you need to help put this nightmare behind you. Our law firm has handled cases ranging from capital murder to petty theft charges. We understand that maintaining your freedom and clearing your good name is the highest priority and we will not back down until we have exhausted every legal avenue possible.

You Need A Fort Worth Criminal Defense Attorney Near You Who Gets Results

How do you measure the quality of a criminal defense attorney? How do you know the lawyer you are hiring is good? Some people will be tempted to merely do a search on Google and type in a few phrases and take a guess at who can help them.

Unfortunately, many people are disappointed with this approach unless they take the time to thoroughly speak to the criminal attorney and determine what they know and are they worth partnering with?

In other words, you need a lawyer who is both capable of handling your case but also a nice person to work with and has empathy for your personal situation. You need a criminal defense attorney who actually cares about how your criminal case is handled and the result you receive.

Does your lawyer actually listen to you when you talk? Will they hear your side of what happened and craft a legal defense that gives you an opportunity to tell your side of the story? We offer free in-person and telephone consultations and look forward to hearing your side of the story.

When you are seeking for a criminal defense attorney to defend you, what do you ask? What do you look for to determine if the lawyer is a good fit? Awards? Testimonials? Personal recommendations? Do you research what law school they attended?

All of those things matter to some degree or another, but there is one factor that stands taller than all others: CASE RESULTS.

Case Results. In the end, this is what it comes down to: is your Fort Worth criminal defense lawyer able to help his clients reach a positive outcome? When you are considering which Fort Worth criminal defense attorney near you to hire, you want to make sure you choose someone who not only looks good on paper and talks a good game, but is an experienced professional who gets the job done.

Jeff Hampton and his team of former Tarrant County Prosecutors at the Hampton Criminal Defense Attorneys, PLLC have a long, exceptional track record of being able to get their clients’ charges reduced, dropped, or dismissed, no-billed and not guilty verdicts when cases go to trial.

We have handled thousands of criminal cases in Fort Worth and in the surrounding cities of Tarrant County, Texas and have established relationships with the prosecutors and judges of Tarrant County, Texas. Our Team of Former Tarrant County Prosecutors have tried over 300 jury trials and have been able to get over 500 cases dismissed, no-billed or conditionally dismissed so that our clients will be able to clear their criminal record through an expunction. When you work with The Hampton Criminal Defense Attorneys, PLLC, you get more than lawyers who try to minimize your charges – you get a team of criminal lawyers who have a proven track record of accomplishing it.

Why So Many Fort Worth Residents Choose Hampton Criminal Defense Attorneys to Handle Their Charges

Your Fort Worth Criminal Defense Team of Former Prosecutors Working For You. Unlike most criminal law firms in Fort Worth, Texas, The Hampton Law Firm employs a team approach to criminal defense.

Our Team of Former Prosecutors work together to formulate a clear plan of action of how to attack your criminal case. If your case goes to trial, you are guaranteed to have our criminal defense team resources at your disposal to fight for your exoneration.

A team approach to criminal defense ensures that every detail in your defense is examined and prepared for and expertly presented in a jury trial. You deserve it!

Experience. Because The Hampton Law Firm uses a team approach to criminal defense, you will be working with a criminal trial team with a collective experience of over 65 years of criminal defense experience in the courts of Tarrant County, Texas.

Every criminal attorney employed at The Hampton Law Firm has prior experience as a prosecutor in Tarrant County or a surrounding county in Texas. We place a high priority on making certain that every client is working with a team of attorneys that knows the ins and outs of how the prosecutors will be attacking your case.

Our prior criminal law experience as former prosecutors ensure you will be ready at every turn for how your case will unfold.

We know how Tarrant County prosecutors think, the types of evidence they like to use, and how they try to build their case against you. This knowledge allows us to plan for their likely arguments and prepare our case to create reasonable doubt regarding the state’s theories.

We will provide you a blueprint of what each step of your defense will look like and take appropriate measures to ensure the best possible outcome.

Recognition. The criminal lawyers at The Hampton Criminal Defense Attorneys, PLLC have been nationally recognized as top-tier attorneys in the area of criminal defense and DWI defense. Mr. Hampton is proud of the fact that he has been recognized multiple times by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers and as a member of the Top 40 Under 40 list. When a respected national legal organization names you as one of the top people in your field, you know that you are doing something right.

Additionally, Mr. Hampton has had specialized training in DWI Defense and is a member of the National College of DUI Defense. Every criminal attorney at The Hampton Criminal Defense Attorneys, PLLC has tried over 75 DWI jury trials each and had training in the areas of DWI that include: Marijuana DWI, Felony DWI, DWI Misdemeanor Repetition, Intoxication Assault and Intoxication Manslaughter. Mr. Hampton has been recognized as a Top Attorney in DWI and DUI by AVVO.

Jeff Hampton and Dawn Ferguson have been recognized as top attorneys by Fort Worth Magazine and have been nationally recognized as top criminal defense lawyers in the areas of criminal defense and DWI defense.

Dawn Ferguson and Courtney Miller have been recognized as top attorneys by Fort Worth Magazine and have been nationally recognized as top criminal defense lawyers in the areas of criminal defense and DWI defense.

Far more important to Mr. Hampton though are the positive testimonials he has received from past clients and the glowing reviews you can find all around the internet. Because of The Hampton Law Firm’s dedication to its clients, it has been awarded Lead Counsel Designation and a Superb Rating of 10.0 by AVVO.

Fort Worth Criminal Defense and DWI Lawyers

If you have been arrested for a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charge in Fort Worth, Texas, it is critical that your DWI Defense Team is qualified and aggressive and has a proven track record of success.

First, we provide you a team of DWI lawyers to defend you! Our team of 6 Former Tarrant County Prosecutors have tried more DWI cases to a jury than practically any other Texas DWI law firm. Each of our DWI lawyers has prosecuted and defended over 75 DWI jury trials each with a cumulative total of over 350 DWI jury trials. These DWI trials range from first-time DWI charges to Intoxication Manslaughter. Our Team of DWI attorneys near you has the experience necessary for the best DWI defense.

In addition to trial experience, it is critical that your Fort Worth DWI lawyer can effectively negotiate with the prosecutor’s office for a favorable result. Over 95% of all DWI’s in Texas are resolved through a plea deal. As such, it is critical that your team of DWI attorneys have the experience to thoroughly examine the evidence, weigh it against the legal standards, identify the weaknesses and illegalities in the case, and exploit the mistakes by the police to help secure you a favorable result. Our DWI law firm has had several DWI cases dismissed, reduced, acquitted, and not billed. It is a rare occasion to find the prosecutors in any court in North Texas willing to dismiss a DWI.

After our team of DWI attorneys picks apart the evidence and identifies the weaknesses and charts a defense strategy, we can file the appropriate motions to suppress and other legal challenges to improve your chances at having your DWI case dismissed.

Our DWI defense attorneys have handled thousands of DWI cases over the past 17 years both as prosecutors and defense attorneys. We are attending courts in the courts of North Texas every morning and have close relationships with the prosecutors and judges of Tarrant County, Texas. If you choose to work with our law firm, you will have a lead DWI lawyer, but you will be working with a DWI defense team where each attorney can put their unique talents to work for you DWI defense.

What Is A DWI Charge In Texas?

If you have been arrested for a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charge, it is critical to know the specific elements of the crime that the State of Texas must prove beyond a reasonable doubt.

For a first-time DWI charge, you are facing a Class B misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and up to a $2,000 fine. But what does the government have to prove at a trial to give you this punishment? To show a person was driving while intoxicated in Texas, the prosecutor must prove the following:

1. On or about a certain date
2. The Defendant (person accused)
3. Operated (not necessarily driving)
4. A Motor Vehicle
5. In a Public Place
6. While Intoxicated.

What Does Intoxication Mean Under Texas law?

1. The person being arrested and charged lacked the use of their “normal” physical faculties by reason of alcohol or drugs, OR
2. The person being arrested and charged lacked the use of their “normal” mental faculties by reason of alcohol or drugs, OR
3. The person being arrested and charged had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher at the time of operating the vehicle.

What Does “Normal” Mean? This is a fact question with no specific definition under Texas law. As a result, what is normal for you may not be normal for me. It becomes very subjective and your DWI defense team may be able to attack this issue with the prosecutor or the jury at your trial.

What Happens When You Get A DWI In Texas?

After having been arrested for a DWI charge, it can feel overwhelming. You may have received a personal recognizance bond if it is for first-time DWI or maybe you posted a bond with a bondsman. What do you do next? You now have bond conditions. Maybe you are required to have an ignition interlock device in your vehicle. Can this requirement be modified?

All of this emphasizes the importance of hiring a DWI attorney as soon as possible. Your DWI lawyer can make certain that your bond conditions are proper and file the appropriate motions to modify these conditions when needed.

What about your driver’s license? We will spoke more about this later in this article, but you have a 15-day deadline to request a license hearing. Otherwise, your license will be automatically suspended. You need an experienced DWI attorney that can preserve your rights to fight to protect your license.

Additionally, you need to be ready for what to expect at your first court date. Your DWI defense team should take the time to explain the process of how your case will be negotiated. It is not uncommon for a DWI case in Tarrant County, Texas to take six months to a year to negotiate to a favorable result.

Finally, your DWI attorney needs to make certain to get access to your evidence file and get the police reports and DWI videos in front of you so that you can provide input regarding the police allegations. It is critical that you are personally involved in your DWI defense. The best DWI lawyers in Tarrant County, Texas know it is important that their clients review the reports and videos and provide input.

Can A DWI Charge Be Dismissed In Texas?

Our DWI law firm has had several DWI cases dismissed, reduced, acquitted and no billed. It is a rare occasion to find the prosecutors in any court in North Texas being willing to dismiss a DWI.

However, we have had DWI cases dismissed for a variety of reasons: the police officer involved was arrested for a DWI, the police officer was arrested for a separate sexual crime or violent crime, or essential witnesses to the DWI were no longer available due to death, etc.

On rare occasions, the prosecutors have dismissed DWI cases where the blood alcohol level was considerably under .08. For example, a client that had worked a long shift at work and was exhausted was pulled over for a DWI investigation. The police officer mistakenly interpreted his exhaustion as a sign of intoxication and arrested him for DWI. After a blood draw, it was determined that his blood alcohol level was .04. Our law firm was forced to push the prosecutor all the way to a trial setting before the case was ultimately dismissed.

In addition to these examples, we may also be able to resolve a DWI case with a dismissal for the following reasons: lack of reasonable suspicion for the DWI stop, lack of probable cause to arrest when relying upon DWI field sobriety tests, lack of a breath test result or blood test result, lack of probable cause in the search warrant affidavit for the blood draw, failure by the State of Texas to prove intoxication because they were unable to extrapolate back in time to show intoxication at the time of driving. These are just a few examples of ways a DWI case can be dismissed.

Do You Lose Your License For First DWI In Texas?

If you have been arrested for a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charge in Fort Worth, Texas, your number one priority must be to mark your calendar 15 days from the date of your arrest. Why? Under Texas law, if you have been arrested for a DWI, you have 15 days from the date of arrest to request a license hearing from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Failure to timely make the request will result in a suspension of your license for a period ranging from 90 days to 180 days.

If you retain a DWI attorney, the lawyer can your preserve your right to a hearing to fight the suspension. What if your license is suspended? You can still drive a vehicle but now you must obtain an occupational driver’s license. The Hampton Law Firm can assist you in that process to ensure you are able to continue to drive.

Is Jail Mandatory For First DWI In Texas?

Although Texas DWI law is sometimes unclear as to whether a person charged with DWI is required to serve jail time, the real answer lies with the type of DWI charge you are facing.

For a first time DWI charge, our law firm has been able to avoid jail time in every instance where our client followed our legal advice and avoided being arrested for any separate crimes.

If you are facing a DWI 2^nd or higher level DWI-charge, we fight tirelessly to resolve the case in a manner that does not require jail time as a condition to resolution to the case.

What Do I Get If I Hire You As My Criminal Defense Attorney?

A great question that should be asked by anyone seeking to hire a Fort Worth criminal defense attorney. At The Hampton Law Firm, you get a nationally recognized criminal law firm, that is thorough and research driven and will look into the facts of your case with an open-door communication policy where you always speak to the attorney to answer your questions.

Clients with The Hampton Law Firm can expect the Criminal Defense Attorneys of the Hampton Law Firm to provide you with an aggressive and thorough criminal defense. Jeff Hampton is a former Tarrant County prosecutor that will explore every option under the law to negotiate or advocate for a dismissal of your criminal case.

Attorney-Client Communication Is Important

At The Hampton Law Firm, we understand that it is stressful and confusing to be charged with a crime in Tarrant County. Understanding what to expect at every court setting and what will take place in the courtroom and your involvement with the court is critical to managing your stress.

At The Hampton Law Firm, we make it a priority to answer all of your questions regarding your criminal case and your concerns surrounding future court settings.

At The Hampton Law Firm, when a prospective client retains our services, upon receiving and examining the evidence from the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, we offer our clients the immediate opportunity to come in to the office and personally review all of the evidence and have the opportunity to ask any questions regarding the facts of the case and receive an attorney analysis of the case.

In addition to receiving the trial expertise of former Tarrant County prosecutors that have a proven track record of delivering results for clients, you can rest assured that you will always speak to an attorney if an emergency arises.

At The Hampton Law Firm, we have someone available to answer our phones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mr. Hampton and his staff are personally notified in the event an emergency situation arises.

We understand that emergencies do not always happen during normal business hours and want to be available to help you in your time of need.

A Fort Worth Criminal Defense Attorney Who Will Fight for You Every Step of the Way

One of the things that sets the criminal attorneys at The Hampton Law Firm apart from other Fort Worth criminal attorneys is their willingness to go all the way for you in your criminal defense. Many criminal defense attorneys put their focus on cutting a deal for you.

Unfortunately, some criminal lawyers focus on cutting a deal not because they believe it is in your best interest, but because they have no experience or desire to go to trial to help you get your criminal case dismissed. In fact, some of them may have little to no trial experience at all.

Nothing could be further from the truth for Jeff Hampton and his team of former prosecutors. The Hampton Law Firm not only possesses winning trial experience but has been nationally recognized for their skill in criminal trial law.

This does not mean that the criminal lawyers at the Hampton Law Firm expect to take your case to trial. As skilled negotiators, Jeff Hampton and his trial team, have been able to craft many favorable resolutions to criminal cases for his clients over the course of his career and has had tremendous success in getting cases dismissed. You can be confident that you are in good hands if your case does go to trial.

The Hampton Law Firm has only one real goal: to get you the best possible outcome.

What Can You Do If You Have An Active Warrant In Tarrant County, Texas?

Did you receive a phone call from a detective in Fort Worth or a surrounding city in Tarrant County informing you that there is an active warrant for your arrest? What can you do about this? Are you forced to turn yourself in with the hope you will get out?

If a detective has called you to inform you that you have an active warrant, be very careful! One of the tactics detectives will use is to try to coax you into coming down to the police station to answer questions about the criminal allegations. If you do this, there is a decent chance the detective will try to elicit information from you that can be twisted or manipulated into looking like you were providing a confession. Even though you may have been giving innocent factual information to clear up the confusion, the detective may choose to interpret that information in a way that jeopardizes your freedom and your clean criminal record.

In almost every circumstance, it is not in your best interest to speak to a criminal detective without the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Anything you say to a detective can and will be used against you in criminal court as a confession. However, if your criminal attorney does the talking for you, everything your criminal defense attorney says is hearsay and can NOT be used against you. It is critical that you protect your Constitutional right not to speak to a detective. Do not let an investigator or detective manipulate you in a situation and make your criminal case worse.

If you have been informed you have an active warrant, there are several things you must do IMMEDIATELY! First, you need to determine if your case is a type of crime that requires you to turn yourself in and be processed in jail. In other words, if your criminal allegations involve sexual behavior or domestic violence behavior, Texas law will require you to turn yourself in and be arraigned by a magistrate judge in the Tarrant County jail.

What does it mean to be arraigned? An arraignment is a procedural requirement whereby a judge must inform you of your criminal charges and set a reasonable bond to provide you the opportunity to bond out of jail. If you are required to turn yourself in at the Tarrant County jail, it typically takes 2-3 hours to be booked into jail; then you will be placed in the line to be seen by a magistrate. After being arraigned by the magistrate, you will have a bond set and your family members or criminal defense attorney can post your bond and you will be released. In Tarrant County, this process can take approximately 6 – 12 hours at a minimum to process you from book in to book out.

Can you avoid having to turn yourself in to jail? Can you do a “Walk-Through?” Unfortunately, the old concept of a walk-through is no longer permitted in Tarrant County. The current Tarrant County Sheriff and Tarrant County Prosecutor require each person charged with a crime to process through the jail UNLESS you can qualify for a Waiver of Magistrate. In order to qualify for this process, your criminal defense lawyer must either provide bonding services as part of his or her legal services, or your attorney must be very familiar with the waiver of magistrate option and have a trusted bondsman that will work with them to pull this off.

At The Hampton Law Firm, we provide bonding services as part of our criminal defense legal services and can assist you with a Waiver of Magistrate if you qualify. The first thing your criminal attorney must do is make certain the exact criminal charge, the amount of your bond and whether the bond is a set bond or a recommended bond. If your bond is a set bond, we can immediately arrange for you to meet with our attorneys at the Tarrant County jail and process your warrant and ensure that you do not have to go into custody. During this process, you would have your fingerprints and picture taken for the book in and permitted to leave the jail.

What if your criminal offense is a recommended bond rather than a set bond? In this situation, your criminal defense attorney will need to contact the detective that originated the arrest warrant and seek a copy of the arrest warrant affidavit. After obtaining the arrest warrant affidavit, your criminal lawyer can present this to a magistrate judge for possible approval for a Waiver of Magistrate proceeding.

What if your loved one or friend has been arrested and you don’t want to have to pay for both a criminal lawyer and a bondsman? In this situation, if you contact a criminal defense law firm that provides bonds as part of their legal services, like The Hampton Law Firm, your criminal attorney can post your bond and you do not have to pay twice for different services. If you find yourself in this situation, we would be happy to provide you a free consultation to see if The Hampton Law Firm can be of assistance.

What Will Happen In Criminal Court?

After posting your bond and receiving your first criminal court notice to appear at the Tarrant County courthouse, it is important you have already retained an experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney that can prepare you for what will happen at court.

Your criminal lawyer should be able to gain access to the police report and other digital media evidence and possibly review this evidence with you prior to your first court date. It is critical that your criminal defense attorney put together a custom defense strategy identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your criminal case and partnering with you to determine the best course of action on how to get your criminal case dismissed or resolved in a manner that allows you to get your arrest and charges expunged from your criminal record.

Criminal cases originating in Fort Worth through the Tarrant County courthouse follow a particular structure with court dates. For example, at your first court date, the Initial Appearance, the primary purpose of this court date is to determine that you have a criminal lawyer retained and if additional bond conditions are required. On the vast majority of criminal cases, we can get your excused from this court date.

Subsequent criminal court dates are designed for one purpose: negotiation. The criminal courts want both the prosecutor and criminal defense attorney to attempt to negotiate the case to a resolution for judicial economy sake. However, you have the right to a jury trial under the U.S. and Texas Constitution and the burden of proof to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt always remains on the State of Texas. As such, your criminal lawyer should push hard to make certain you receive a favorable result.

The process of fighting hard for you in court can take time. It is not uncommon for the prosecutor to begin negotiations with an unreasonable offer because they have not taken the time to review the evidence thoroughly. You should be very concerned if your criminal defense lawyer is trying to make you take a plea deal at your first few court dates. Many times, the negotiations on a criminal case can improve dramatically for you if you are patient and willing to push the case towards a trial setting in order to gain the most leverage to obtain a favorable result. Once your case makes it to the criminal trial docket, the prosecutor begins to thoroughly review the facts and evidence of your case and it is at this time they may begin to realize the weaknesses of the case.

The best criminal defense attorneys wait for the prosecutor to begin to come back to them with offers lowering the case. The best criminal attorneys in Fort Worth know that their job is to provide you as many options as possible that allow you to maintain your freedom, avoid conviction and ensure you are able to clear your criminal record of your charges.

What Types of Criminal Cases Does The Hampton Criminal Defense Attorneys, PLLC Handle?

ALL TYPES. The Hampton Criminal Defense Attorneys, PLLC is a full-service criminal law firm and we handle all types of state criminal cases in the State of Texas. We specialize in defending felony and misdemeanor cases, as well as certain Citation level misdemeanors.

For example, we have over 65 years of experience handling DWI charges, Drug Cases, Theft Cases, Domestic Violence cases, First-Time Offender Cases, Probation Revocations, Property Crimes and any other type of charge you could possibly face in Tarrant County, Texas.

If you would like to speak to a Fort Worth criminal defense attorney that cares about your personal situation and provide you a clear plan of action on how to beat your criminal case, call us now.