Atascosa County Juvenile Justice Center Criminal Court Process
Criminal Court Process for Atascosa County Texas
Juvenile court for Atascosa County youths
A designated juvenile court hears Atascosa County youth cases, and lawyers are assigned through a five-county juvenile board plan (Atascosa, Frio, Karnes, La Salle and Wilson counties). At the start, the judge explains two rights to the youth and family: counsel, and silence about the alleged conduct.
Atascosa County Juvenile Probation Department: Chief Bill Gamez, 1511 Zanderson Ave, Jourdanton, TX 78026, 830-769-3222, Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–noon and 1:00–5:00 PM.
Atascosa County Juvenile Justice Center: Superintendent Maj. Timothy Gutierrez, same address, 830-769-3900.
Atascosa Area Advocates Public Defender's Office: Chief Stephanie Esparza, 607 W. Oaklawn, Pleasanton, TX 78064, 830-767-0060.
District Clerk: Margaret E. Littleton, 1 Courthouse Circle Dr, Suite 4-B, Jourdanton, 830-769-3011.
Some older teens can be moved to adult court through a discretionary transfer; the board's plan has separate lawyer lists for those cases.
Criminal Court Process for Atascosa County Texas
Juvenile cases are not adult criminal cases
Cases for youths at the Zanderson Avenue center follow the Texas Family Code, not the adult Code of Criminal Procedure. A youth is not booked into the county jail, does not post a bail bond, and has a detention hearing instead of a magistrate bond hearing. The court's goal includes the child's rehabilitation, and the hearings are where a judge decides whether the child goes home, stays in detention or is placed on probation. A probation officer at 830-769-3222 can explain where a particular case stands.
