Texas sorts criminal cases by how much punishment is possible. Around Big Bend, that works out as follows:

• 394th District Court. Every felony. The District Clerk keeps the files. One judge rides this court across five counties: Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis and Presidio.
• County Court. Jail-possible misdemeanors, Class A and B. Brewster's constitutional County Court takes these, and its files sit with the County Clerk.
• Justice courts. Three justice of the peace precincts, from the county seat to Marathon and Terlingua, take Class C cases. Those bring fines only.
• Alpine Municipal Court. Class C cases and city ordinance tickets inside city limits.

Appeals from Brewster convictions can rise as high as the Austin-based Court of Criminal Appeals, which hears Texas criminal appeals last.

County offices in the county seat share one switchboard, 432-837-6200; ask for the office you need.

• Brewster County Courthouse, 201 West Avenue E, Alpine, TX 79830. Home of the 394th District Court, 432-837-5831; the court also has its own website.
• District Clerk, 203 N. 7th St., Alpine, TX 79830; mail to P.O. Box 1024, Alpine, TX 79831. Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• County Clerk, for County Court misdemeanor files. Ask the switchboard for the office location and hours.
• 83rd Judicial District Attorney, Alpine office inside the courthouse at 201 W. Avenue E, Alpine, TX 79830.
• County Attorney, 107 West Ave E, Suite 7, Alpine, TX 79830.

Federal cases go to a separate federal courthouse; see the federal answer below.

Yes. Fine-only Class C cases, like most traffic tickets, start in one of these. Under Texas law each justice of the peace is a magistrate, too.

• Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 (county seat): 107 W. Avenue E, Suite 9, Alpine, TX 79830. Phone lines there are limited, so the court asks people to come in or email JP1Clerk@co.brewster.tx.us. It takes cashier's checks, money orders, debit and major credit cards.
• Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 (Terlingua and the south county): P.O. Box 445, Terlingua, TX 79852. Pay tickets by phone at 855-499-2202.
• Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 (Marathon): 100 NE 3rd Street, Marathon, TX 79842. Pay online through its payment page.
• Alpine Municipal Court: 100 N 13th St., Alpine, TX 79830, 432-837-0808. Hearings meet in the Council Chambers, 803 West Holland Ave., Alpine, TX 79830. Open weekdays 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Pay at AlpineCourtPayments.com or 844-507-3651.

All three justice courts answer through the county switchboard, 432-837-6200. The county also runs a citation payment page. Short on money for a fine? Ask these Brewster courts about paying in parts, doing community service or a waiver. Jail for unpaid fines needs a hearing first under Code of Criminal Procedure art. 45A.252 and the articles after it.

A 48-hour clock starts for every Brewster arrestee. By then a magistrate must see them, in person or by video (Code of Criminal Procedure, articles 14.06 and 15.17). Texas lets many judges act as magistrates, JPs included.

• The charge is read. Then come the warnings. The person may hire a lawyer, stay silent and end an interview. They may also ask for an examining trial, a hearing on the evidence.
• Next comes the free-lawyer question. On Brewster felonies, the magistrate completes the state's online application right there with the person.
• Bail and release terms are set (art. 17.028). The bail page goes deeper on that.
• Where family violence is charged, expect an emergency protection order to be considered at this hearing (art. 17.292).

If no magistrate finds probable cause, written findings must follow within 24 hours (art. 15.17(h)). Ask jail staff at 432-837-6200 when this hearing is set.

The County Attorney reviews the arrest report and files a charge called an information in County Court. From there, a case usually goes:

1. Arraignment (art. 26.01). The Brewster defendant learns the charge in County Court and gives a plea.
2. Settings. The County Attorney and the defense swap evidence and discuss an offer.
3. Plea or trial (art. 26.13). The judge says whether a plea deal will be followed. If not, the Brewster defendant can take the plea back.
4. Sentence. Jail, a fine, probation or deferred adjudication.

What each class can bring in Brewster courts:

• Class A: the judge may order jail of up to one year, a fine reaching $4,000, or both.
• Class B: here the jail limit drops to 180 days and the fine limit to $2,000.
• Class C: fine only, capped at $500.

Those caps come from Penal Code 12.21 to 12.23. The class of a theft, DWI or assault charge depends on facts like value, injury and past record. The charge papers list it; the County Attorney's office or the defense lawyer can explain it. On a misdemeanor, Brewster judges can order probation or deferred adjudication for two years at most (arts. 42A.053, 42A.103). Finishing deferred adjudication ends in dismissal (art. 42A.111).

Felony cases from Brewster are prosecuted by the 83rd Judicial District Attorney and tried in the 394th District Court.

1. Examining trial. Before indictment, a Brewster defendant may ask the court to test probable cause at this hearing (art. 16.01).
2. Grand jury. Nine grand jurors must agree to indict (art. 20A.301).
3. Arraignment. After indictment, the plea is entered in district court.
4. Pretrial and plea talks. Many felony cases close with an agreed plea.
5. Trial and sentence. A Brewster jury, or the judge alone, decides.

Felony punishment in the 394th:

• State jail felony: 180 days at minimum, 2 years at most, in one of the state jails rather than prison.
• Third degree: a prison stay of 2 to 10 years.
• Second degree: a prison stay of 2 to 20 years, the same floor with a higher ceiling.
• First degree: life, or a prison term of 5 to 99 years.

Any felony level may carry a fine as well, capped at $10,000 (Penal Code 12.32 to 12.35). A Brewster defendant with earlier felony convictions may face a higher level (Penal Code 12.42). The 394th can set felony deferred adjudication of as long as 10 years (art. 42A.103). If the state is still not ready after 90 days, a felony defendant held in the Sul Ross jail can ask the 394th for release on a personal bond or for a smaller bail (art. 17.151). For drug, veterans or mental health courts, check the state specialty court registry.

They travel the same road through the 394th, with more at stake at each turn.

• Bail. Violent charges on the state list (art. 17.03) rule out a personal bond. Under Proposition 3, passed in 2025, the 83rd DA can seek a hearing on murder, aggravated robbery and similar charges, and bail "shall be denied" if risk is proven (Tex. Const. art. I, sec. 11d).
• Sentences for capital murder. Two possible sentences for an adult, death or life without parole; for anyone under 18, life (Penal Code 12.31).
• First-degree felonies. Penal Code 12.32 sets 5 to 99 years or life.

Victims in these cases may ask to be told about every hearing and to give an impact statement (art. 56A.051).

Two prosecutors split the work. The switchboard number for both Alpine offices is 432-837-6200.

• 83rd Judicial District Attorney (felonies; serves Brewster, Jeff Davis, Pecos and Presidio): Alpine office, 201 W. Avenue E, Alpine, TX 79830. Main office: Pecos County Judicial Building, 400 South Nelson, Fort Stockton, TX 79735, 432-336-3322.
• County Attorney (misdemeanors, and protective orders for family violence victims): 107 West Ave E, Suite 7, Alpine, TX 79830.

On the defense side, Brewster's felony plan gives appointed cases to the regional public defender, except where good cause calls for a private lawyer:

• Far West Texas Regional Public Defender: 203 North 7th St., Alpine, TX 79830, 432-837-4120.

A request made at the magistrate hearing goes to the appointing judge within 24 hours. From there, Brewster's appointing judge gets three working days to choose a lawyer for the person (arts. 1.051 and 15.17). For a misdemeanor lawyer, ask at that hearing or ask the County Clerk. Read the county's appointment plans on the Texas Indigent Defense Commission site if you want the detail.

Start online, then phone the Brewster clerk for anything missing.

• District Court calendar. The District Clerk links a public court calendar for felony settings.
• Felony filings. The clerk's iDocket system shows filed papers after you register an account.
• Statewide records. re:SearchTX, free after you register, lists charges and judgments. It skips hearing dates.
• Court-date alerts. Sign up with Texas IVSS-Counties to hear when a Brewster hearing is scheduled or moved.

For misdemeanors, call the County Clerk at 432-837-6200. For a city ticket, call Alpine Municipal Court at 432-837-0808. Have their full legal name and birthday on hand.

Brewster deputies and constables serve warrants countywide; in town, city police do. Ask the Sheriff's Office through the county switchboard, 432-837-6200, or call Alpine police at 432-837-3486. Big Bend families can also scan DPS's Texas 10 Most Wanted list of top state fugitives. The city's municipal court page warns that ignoring a citation can bring a warrant. To clear a warrant from Big Bend courts, get a lawyer's advice first. That lawyer can arrange a surrender at the Brewster jail, 307 W. Sul Ross Ave., Alpine, TX 79830, or ask the Brewster court that signed it for a new hearing. The District Clerk's office at 203 N. 7th St., Alpine, TX 79830, holds the file on any felony warrant.

Federal crimes from Brewster land in a federal court district called the Western District of Texas. Brewster is part of its Pecos Division, with judges in Alpine and Pecos.

• Alpine federal court: 2450 State Hwy. 118, Alpine, TX 79830, clerk 432-837-7323.
• Pecos federal court: the Bunton courthouse, 410 South Cedar, Pecos, TX 79772, clerk 432-445-4228.
• Detention hearing. A federal judge decides release or custody, usually at the first appearance (18 U.S.C. 3142).
• U.S. Marshals Service: 2450 North Highway 118, Alpine, TX 79830, 432-837-7295. The Marshals hold federal defendants, often in a contract county jail; Brewster's jail held federal prisoners in a 2022 state count.
• Federal Public Defender: 108 N. 10th Street, Alpine, TX 79830, 432-837-5598.

After sentencing, track the person with the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

It can change where the person ends up, even when the state case is going well.

1. ICE sends Form I-247A, a detainer asking jailers on Sul Ross Avenue to keep the person.
2. That hold can last up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
3. Under Code of Criminal Procedure art. 2A.060, the jail must honor that request. Brewster jailers drop the hold only if papers prove U.S. citizenship or legal status. Separately, Government Code 752.053 forbids local policies that block immigration enforcement.
4. A 2025 law, Senate Bill 8, tells each Texas sheriff who runs a jail to seek out, then enter into, a written 287(g) agreement with ICE. Sheriffs from Big Bend to the Panhandle face the same December 1, 2026, cutoff.
5. ICE then takes custody. Search the ICE Online Detainee Locator by name and country of birth.

Before any plea, a non-citizen must be warned that it may lead to deportation (art. 26.13). Non-citizens should ask their Brewster defense lawyer about immigration effects before choosing a plea.

A state jail felony means a Texas state jail. Higher felonies mean TDCJ prisons, which the Texas Department of Criminal Justice runs. Once sentenced, Brewster prisoners usually stay in the Sul Ross jail while they wait for a TDCJ transfer. The first stop is an intake unit, and TDCJ picks a longer-term unit later.

• Unit addresses, visiting rules and more are on our Texas state prisons page.
• Once the person reaches a state unit, the TDCJ inmate search finds them. It refreshes each working day.

Juvenile court for Big Bend children covers ages 10 to 16, judged by age on the offense date. From 17 on, Family Code 51.02 sends Brewster cases to adult court. Brewster, Jeff Davis and Presidio share a juvenile board.

• Family Code 52.02 says whoever takes the child in must promptly tell a parent, and say why.
• A detained child must appear before a Brewster judge within two working days, or just one working day if detained on a Friday or Saturday, as Family Code 54.01 sets out. The child's lawyer is appointed before that hearing.
• Certification can send a youth to adult court. For the most serious felonies that can start at 14, and at 15 for other felonies. The judge must hold a full hearing before moving the case (Family Code 54.02).
• Brewster has no juvenile detention center, so a detained child is housed in another county.

Contact Brewster County Juvenile Probation, 107 W. Ave E, Suite 12, Alpine, TX 79830, through 432-837-6200. Ask Juvenile Probation staff which center has the child and the Brewster hearing date.

Texas law gives victims rights (art. 56A.051). For a Brewster victim, that means safety is weighed at bail, hearing notices on request and room to tell the Brewster judge how the crime affected them, through an impact statement.

• County Attorney: has a victims coordinator and helps family violence victims seek protective orders. Office at 107 West Ave E, Suite 7, Alpine, TX 79830, via 432-837-6200.
• Custody alerts: Texas IVSS-Counties, free and confidential, or call 866-268-8959 any hour.
• Crime Victims' Compensation: the Attorney General's fund pays up to $50,000 toward doctor bills, counseling and lost paychecks. Apply online or call 800-983-9933.