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How did Hurricane Harvey Affect Houston’s Justice System?


Hurricane Harvey Affect Houston’s Justice System

Hurricane Harvey ripped through the city of Houston and created some lasting damage. What some may not know is that Harvey’s rains didn’t just hit residential areas, but Houston’s criminal justice system. The Criminal Justice Center located in downtown was swamped because of the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The building has and remains shut down until the flooding has cleared and the pipes are fixed.

The debacle has forced Houston’s criminal justice system to rewrite itself overnight. The District Attorney’s Office had to temporarily shut down due to damage from the storm. Now 700 DA employees have been distributed among ten locations throughout Houston.

Houston courts are also forced to creatively tackle the problem. Many criminal court judges and cases must share courtrooms with civil and family judges. Jury duty selection has also dwindled since the underground jury assembly room has sustained massive flooding. Potential jurors must now head to an assembly room in the County Administration building’s cafeteria.

The problem with this is how it can affect defendants. People who can’t make bail may find themselves stuck in jail for quite some time. Managing attorney Tyler Flood emphasized this point by stating “People who are in jail and they say, ‘I’m not guilty. I don’t want to plead guilty, but now I know I can’t go to trial for months. That puts a tremendous amount of pressure on them to plead guilty so they can get out of jail.”

Client Testimonials

  • 5 Stars
    "Tyler and his team are top notch—with years of experience under their belts they know what strategy will work to advocate for the best possible outcome. They are knowledgeable, professional, and courteous. Like a doctor, you never know you hire a bad attorney until it’s too late, and don’t take a gamble and retain someone else, especially when the clock starts running quickly, once you are arrested for a DWI. Run, don’t walk, to retain Flood and Associates!"
    - Alyssa S
  • 5 Stars
    "So. I can't say enough about Tyler Flood and Associates! BRAVO!! I had a 3rd DWI and my daughter Googled Tyler & Co. Who are DWI SPECIALISTS! I set up an appointment, and was impressed with their knowledge on the Laws and Science of DWI cases! Hank👍💥💥💥💥💥👌"
    - Hank Baerga
  • 5 Stars
    "Tyler Flood did an excellent job in taking care of my situation when no other attorney could do so. He kept communication open by way of text messages and phone calls, I was inform in every step along the way and he represented me well in court. His assistant Andrea was very quick in responding to my emails, I felt comforted by their genuine concerns of my case. Highly recommended"
    - Tamra Elwell
  • 5 Stars
    "Tyler Flood and associates are an astronomical team. Tyler was aggressive when needed to be and very professional during my trail. He left no stone unturned. I highly reccomend Mr. Flood if you ever find yourself in a situation such as myself. The not guilty verdict for a dwi was the best! "
    - Magaly
  • 5 Stars
    "Great experience under terrible circumstances...when your future is at risk, the attorney you chose could decide your fate..Flood & associates took my case personal...I felt I was represented by family...highly recommend Tyler to everyone!"
    - Brent
  • 5 Stars
    "I personally want everyone to know, this is the best law firm for dui issues! They are professional and responds all the time, communications between the office and myself was on par at all times and bottom line. MY CASE WAS DISMISSED!!!"
    - TW David C.
  • 5 Stars
    "Tyler did a great job for me. I never felt like he wanted me to settle. In fact he would encourage me to hang in there and go to trial. In the end my DWI was dismissed the day of trial. I would definitely recommend them."
    - Robin
Read More Testimonials
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Texas Criminal Lawyers Association
  • Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
  • DUI Defense Lawyers Association
  • The American Chemical Society
  • National College for DUI Defense
  • Best DUI Lawyer
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Texas Criminal Lawyers Association
  • Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
  • DUI Defense Lawyers Association
  • The American Chemical Society
  • National College for DUI Defense
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