Houston...Yo Quiero Probation!
While I understand that the Harris County District Attorney's Office (HCDAO) has a policy of not offering undocumented defendants probation for any case the law disagrees with their position. Despite the fact that I understand the policy does not mean that I have to agree with it.
Recently, I was representing a young woman that was charged with a misdemeanor. Her parents brought her to the United States when she was just an infant. She did not play a role in coming to this country herself. She went to school in Houston and is currently attending college. She is on target to graduate in one year from the University of Houston. She has never visited the country where she was born. The life she knows is in Houston. However, according to the HCDAO because she is undocumented she is not being offered the chance to complete probation as punishment. This is merely a political position by the HCDAO. The HCDAO is without merit and mistaken. In fact, some younger prosecutors that I have come across are under the belief that she is not eligible to receive probation at all. Luckily, this is not the case. The HCDAO may not offer her probation, but this does not mean that she is precluded from receiving this from a judge or a jury. When the HCDAO sets a policy it needs to inform the junior prosecutors that despite making this their policy it does not make it the law.
Para personas hispanas: Escoje un abogado en Houston que hablar Espanol! Uds. puede recibir probation sin embargo que este en este paiz sin documentos.
Por favor llamar mi oficina (713) 242-1779 si necesita ayuda de un abogado en Houston.
