Colorado County Jail Criminal Court Process

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Colorado County

Criminal Court Process for Colorado County Texas

Columbus, on Interstate 10 between Houston and San Antonio, is the county seat of Colorado County and the home of its courthouse on Spring Street. Four justice of the peace courts and the city courts of Columbus, Eagle Lake and Weimar take Class C cases; Class A and B misdemeanors go to the constitutional county court; and felonies are heard by the 25th, 2nd 25th and 492nd District Courts. The Colorado County Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal cases in the county, and the county has its own public defender's office for people who cannot afford a lawyer. The Sheriff runs the county jail in Columbus.

  • Colorado County Court (County Judge) and County Clerk criminal records, Courthouse Annex, 318 Spring Street, Suite 103, Columbus, TX 78934, (979) 732-2155
  • 25th, 2nd 25th and 492nd District Courts, Colorado County Courthouse, 400 Spring Street, Columbus, TX 78934; District Clerk, Room 103, (979) 732-2536
  • Colorado County Attorney (Jay E. Johannes), Colorado County Courthouse, 400 Spring Street, Room 204, Columbus, TX 78934, (979) 732-8203
  • Colorado County Public Defender's Office, 400 Spring Street, Room 102, Columbus, TX 78934, (979) 732-9425
  • Colorado County Jail (Colorado County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Justin K. Lindemann), 2215 Walnut Street, Columbus, TX 78934, (979) 732-2388

Which court hears your case. A Class C misdemeanor, meaning a fine-only offense such as a traffic ticket, public intoxication, theft under $100 or an assault that causes no injury, goes to the Justice of the Peace court for the precinct where it happened, or to the municipal court of Columbus, Eagle Lake or Weimar if city police wrote it inside city limits. Class A and B misdemeanors, a first DWI included, are filed in the Colorado County Court, the constitutional county court presided over by the County Judge; the county has no county court at law. Felonies start with magistrate warnings at the jail and, after a Colorado County grand jury indicts, are assigned to the 25th District Court, the 2nd 25th District Court or the 492nd District Court. The 25th and 2nd 25th also serve Gonzales, Guadalupe and Lavaca counties, so their judges divide time among several courthouses.

Where pretrial inmates are held. All adults arrested in Colorado County, whether by deputies, city police in Columbus, Eagle Lake or Weimar, or DPS troopers working Interstate 10, are booked at the Sheriff's jail on Walnut Street in Columbus. State inspectors list it with about 99 beds, and it also holds a few prisoners for other agencies. Anyone who does not post bail stays there while the case is pending. Call the Sheriff's Office at (979) 732-2388 to confirm custody, visitation or release procedures.

Local courts in Colorado County (justice of the peace, municipal and county courts)

Colorado County is divided into four justice of the peace precincts: two in Columbus, one in Weimar and one in Eagle Lake. A citation or bond form names the court and the date, and a court that receives a case in error will usually transfer it to the right precinct.

Justice of the peace courts

  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, 2215 Walnut Street, Columbus, TX 78934 (at the Sheriff's complex, beside the Colorado County Jail), (979) 732-2734. Covers the Columbus/Glidden, Rock Island and Garwood/Nada areas.
  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, 105 E. Main Street, Weimar, TX 78962, (979) 725-8833. Covers Weimar and Sheridan.
  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 (Judge Donald J. Clark), Courthouse Annex, 318 Spring Street, Room 101, Columbus, TX 78934, (979) 732-8725. Covers Frelsburg, Mentz, Bernardo and north Columbus.
  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, 121 N. McCarty Street, Eagle Lake, TX 77434, (979) 234-2042. Covers Eagle Lake and Altair/Alleyton.

Municipal courts

  • Columbus Municipal Court, 605 Spring Street, Columbus, TX 78934, (979) 732-3981
  • Eagle Lake Municipal Court, 100 E. Main Street, Eagle Lake, TX 77434, (979) 234-2640
  • Weimar Municipal Court, 106 E. Main Street, Weimar, TX 78962, (979) 725-8554

County court

  • Colorado County Court (constitutional county court), Courthouse Annex, 318 Spring Street, Suite 103, Columbus, TX 78934, (979) 732-2155. Class A and B misdemeanors and appeals from the justice and municipal courts; the County Clerk takes payments and answers case questions at this number.

District courts

  • 25th District Court, 2nd 25th District Court and 492nd District Court, Colorado County Courthouse, 400 Spring Street, Columbus, TX 78934; District Clerk (979) 732-2536.

A justice or municipal court conviction can be appealed to the county court for a new trial if the appeal is filed within 10 days. Anyone who needs a lawyer on a jailable charge can contact the Colorado County Public Defender's Office at (979) 732-9425.

↑ Back to the top of the Colorado County court guide

Misdemeanor (for example, theft, a first DWI, assault causing bodily injury, criminal trespass)

Interstate 10 runs the width of Colorado County, and DPS traffic enforcement there produces a steady flow of DWI and drug-possession arrests, many involving people who live far from Columbus. Local cases include shoplifting, family-violence assaults and trespass on ranch land.

The first 48 hours

A person arrested on a Class A or B charge is booked into the Colorado County Jail. Within 48 hours a magistrate, usually one of the justices of the peace, gives the article 15.17 warnings, explains the right to counsel, takes any request for an appointed lawyer and sets bail. Release can be on a cash bond, a surety bond posted by a licensed bail bondsman for a nonrefundable premium, or a personal bond. Out-of-county defendants often post bond through a bondsman so they can return home and come back for court. A family-violence arrest usually brings an emergency protective order.

In the county court

The County Attorney files the information, and the County Judge sets an arraignment. Defendants who cannot afford a lawyer are represented by the Colorado County Public Defender's Office, (979) 732-9425, or by appointed private counsel when the office has a conflict, under the county's indigent defense plan reviewed by the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. Most misdemeanors resolve through a plea agreement after a pretrial setting; a defendant who wants a trial gets a unanimous six-person jury and may ask the jury to assess punishment. A jailed defendant whose case is not ready within 30 days on a Class A, or 15 days on a Class B, is generally entitled to release on personal bond or reduced bail.

Penalty ranges

  • Theft: Class C below $100; Class B from $100 to $750 (up to 180 days, $2,000 fine); Class A from $750 to $2,500 (up to one year, $4,000).
  • First DWI: Class B, 72 hours to 180 days and up to $3,000; Class A with a 0.15 or higher alcohol concentration; six-day minimum with an open container. Expect a license suspension, a DWI education program and possibly an ignition interlock; the ALR license hearing is a separate, time-limited process.
  • Assault causing bodily injury: Class A, with enhanced consequences for family violence.
  • Criminal trespass: a Class B charge on most ranch or business property, upgraded to Class A at a residence or when a deadly weapon is carried.

Common results include dismissal, pretrial diversion, deferred adjudication, probation, fines and short jail terms, and a Columbus court can sometimes grant nondisclosure after deferred adjudication ends. Class C cases take weeks; Class A and B cases usually two to six months.

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Felony (for example, burglary, felony theft, drug possession or delivery, aggravated assault)

Colorado County does not elect a separate district attorney; its County Attorney's Office presents felony cases to the grand jury and prosecutes them in the 25th, 2nd 25th and 492nd District Courts at the Spring Street courthouse.

Stages of a felony case

  1. Magistration. After booking at the Colorado County Jail, the person sees a magistrate within 48 hours. The magistrate must consider a public safety report under the Damon Allen Act before setting bail, and a defendant charged with a violent offense cannot be released on a personal bond.
  2. Defense counsel. Felony defendants who qualify are represented by the Colorado County Public Defender's Office, (979) 732-9425, or by a private lawyer appointed by the district judge.
  3. Indictment. The prosecutor presents the case to a Colorado County grand jury, which returns a true bill or a no-bill. Highway drug seizures, which are common here, often go to the grand jury quickly once lab results return. A defendant may also waive indictment.
  4. Release on delay. If the State is not ready for trial within 90 days of a felony defendant's detention, the defendant is generally entitled to a personal bond or reduced bail, subject to exceptions for some violent offenses.
  5. Plea or trial. Most cases resolve by plea agreement, often with deferred adjudication for first offenders. A 12-member jury must reach a unanimous verdict at trial, and the defendant may elect jury sentencing.

Penalties

  • State jail felony: 180 days to 2 years and up to $10,000.
  • Prison terms run 2 to 10 years at the third degree, 2 to 20 at the second degree, and 5 to 99 years or life at the first degree, and each level allows a fine of up to $10,000.
  • Burglary of a habitation is a second-degree felony; aggravated assault is second degree, or first degree in some situations. In drug cases, the penalty group and the weight seized determine the level, so a large interstate seizure can be a first-degree felony with a 10- or 15-year minimum.

Prior felony convictions enhance the range, up to 25 years to life for habitual offenders. Most sentences allow parole consideration after about one-quarter of the term with good time; 3g offenses require half the sentence and at least two years. A typical felony case in Colorado County takes six to eighteen months.

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Violent felony (for example, murder, sexual assault, aggravated robbery)

Violent felony investigations in Colorado County may involve the Sheriff's Office, Columbus police and the Texas Rangers, with DPS crime laboratory testing that can stretch the pretrial period.

Bail and detention

Personal bonds are never granted on violent charges, and bail is usually set high. Judges may also deny bail in some violent cases under a constitutional amendment Texas voters approved in 2025. A defendant who is not released remains in the Colorado County Jail, and defense counsel may request a hearing before the district judge to reduce bail or modify conditions.

Punishment

  • Capital murder: death or life without parole. More executions take place in Texas than in any other state.
  • Murder: first degree, 5 to 99 years or life; second degree if sudden passion is proven.
  • Sexual assault: second degree, plus sex-offender registration.
  • Aggravated sexual assault: first degree, with a 25-year minimum in some cases with young victims.
  • Aggravated robbery: a first-degree felony that falls under the 3g parole rules.

In a capital case the court appoints lawyers who meet special qualification standards, which can include a regional capital public defender. Under article I, section 30 of the Texas Constitution, victims may receive notice, attend and be heard, and the prosecutor's victim assistance staff manage those rights. Colorado County violent felony cases typically take one to three years.

↑ Back to the top of the Colorado County court guide

Juveniles (under 17) arrested in Colorado County

Texas juvenile law applies to a child who was at least 10 but younger than 17 at the time of the conduct. A 17-year-old arrested in Colorado County is treated as an adult and taken to the adult jail.

Intake and filing

Colorado County's juvenile probation department handles intake, reviewing each referral with the child and family and deciding whether to release the child, offer informal supervision or refer the case for prosecution. The County Attorney decides whether to file a petition. Cases are heard by the juvenile court designated by the county's juvenile board, generally one of the district courts or the County Judge's court.

Detention

A child who is detained must have a detention hearing within two working days. Colorado County does not have its own juvenile detention center, so youths held after arrest are typically placed in a certified detention facility in another county under contract. The child has a right to a lawyer, and the court appoints one when the family cannot afford counsel; the Public Defender's Office can be reached at (979) 732-9425.

Outcomes

  • Deferred prosecution, ending in dismissal after a period of supervision.
  • Probation following adjudication, which may include placement outside the home.
  • Commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) for felony conduct that calls for secure care.
  • Determinate sentencing for listed serious offenses, which can continue in adult prison.

Certification for adult trial is possible after a hearing, generally for youths 14 and older charged with capital felonies, first-degree felonies or certain aggravated drug felonies, and for those 15 and older charged with other felonies. Most Colorado County juvenile records stay confidential, and many qualify for sealing later.

↑ Back to the top of the Colorado County court guide

Federal cases (U.S. District Court) from Colorado County

Colorado County is one of the 13 counties in the Houston Division of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Federal cases from Columbus, Eagle Lake and Weimar are heard at the federal courthouse in downtown Houston, about 70 miles east on Interstate 10.

  • United States Courthouse (Houston Division), 515 Rusk Avenue, Houston, TX 77002, (713) 250-5500
  • U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas, 1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 2300, Houston, TX 77002, (713) 567-9000
  • Federal Public Defender, Southern District of Texas, headquartered in Houston, with CJA panel lawyers appointed in other cases
  • Federal Detention Center (FDC) Houston, 1200 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX 77002, (713) 221-5400, a Bureau of Prisons facility that holds men and women awaiting proceedings in the Southern District

How cases become federal

Interstate 10 is a major trafficking route between Houston and San Antonio, and large drug or currency seizures by DPS or federal task forces in Colorado County are sometimes adopted for federal prosecution. Other federal cases involve firearms offenses by convicted felons, human smuggling discovered at traffic stops, child exploitation and fraud. The U.S. Attorney's Office decides whether to charge a case federally; state charges are sometimes dismissed when it does.

Initial appearance and release

At the Rusk Avenue courthouse a federal magistrate judge explains the charges and appoints counsel for those who qualify. Federal court does not use commercial bail bonds. If the government asks for detention, a hearing is normally held within three court days, and the judge applies the Bail Reform Act to choose between release on conditions supervised by U.S. Pretrial Services and detention, often at FDC Houston.

From indictment to trial

A case begun by complaint must be indicted by a grand jury within 30 days of arrest, and the Speedy Trial Act sets a 70-day trial clock that is frequently extended. Most defendants plead guilty; trial juries have 12 members and must be unanimous.

Sentencing

The Probation Office prepares a presentence report, and the judge determines the advisory Sentencing Guidelines range and any mandatory minimum, which in drug trafficking cases is often 5 or 10 years. Federal prisoners are not paroled; they serve roughly 85 percent of the sentence with good-conduct time in the Bureau of Prisons, then supervised release. Appeals from the Houston Division are heard by the Fifth Circuit.

Locating a federal defendant

Families can look up a federal prisoner by name or register number with the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator. Someone awaiting a Houston Division trial in a county jail that holds federal prisoners for the Marshals Service may also be listed on that jail's roster. Juveniles are rarely charged in federal court, and Colorado County youth cases almost always stay in state juvenile court.

↑ Back to the top of the Colorado County court guide

This page offers a general description of criminal cases in Colorado County and is not legal advice; dates and procedures can change, so confirm them with the court clerk. People who cannot afford a lawyer can ask for one at magistration or contact the Colorado County Public Defender's Office at (979) 732-9425.

Criminal Court Process for Colorado County Texas

Colorado County Texas Criminal Court System – Definitions

It might be helpful to define some words that will be used on this site, when explaining the Texas Court System and how it works. The definitions on this site are for general information and not legal advice. It is always preferred to follow information given by your attorney or local authorities.

If you scroll down below this content, and the listing of the courts in Colorado County, you will find a simple flowchart diagram and a video that will help you visualize the stages of the Criminal Court Process.

Arrest is when Texas, Colorado County or local police take a person into custody and start the legal process. The arrested person may or may not be immediately jailed. 

In less serious crimes, the person may only be given a citation ordering that they appear in municipal or Colorado County court on a certain date. In cases involving more serious crimes, the person is usually placed in the county jail until an arraignment, or a judge decides the next step.

Booking is when the Colorado County sheriff or local police gather information such as the detainee’s name, address and why the person is being arrested. Booking also includes fingerprinting, criminal history, investigation and verification of identity. Bail for lower-level crimes may be set right after booking so the arrested has the opportunity to “bail or bond out” before being detained.

The prosecution, sometimes called “the government” or “the people” or “the state” is the side that press the charges and seeks punishment for the offense. These are attorneys that work for the state of Texas, Colorado County or a city or town. The prosecuting attorney for Colorado County or the district works in the prosecutor’s office.  A U.S. Attorney prosecutes federal cases.  

Jurisdiction is an important term in the court system that means whether a court has the obligation or duty or right to handle a case.  For example, if you run a red light in your town or city, a municipal court would likely have jurisdiction over your case, but the next town or city over would not have jurisdiction over your case.  If you attempted to flee from police when they attempted to stop you after you ran the red light, it becomes a more serious crime, and the municipal court might not have jurisdiction so you might be assigned to a higher-level court that has jurisdiction over the more serious crime.  Jurisdiction varies from state to state and sometimes county to county.

Arraignment in Texas comes after charges are formally filed, usually by indictment for a felony. The trial court reads the charge and the defendant enters a plea of guilty, not guilty or no contest. It is a separate step from the first appearance before a magistrate, where rights are explained, bail is set and a request for an appointed lawyer can be made.

An arraignment is not a trial, and the defendant is entitled to a trial within a reasonable amount of time after the arraignment.

Bail is money paid that is held by the Colorado County or municipal court to make sure that the arrested does not flee the area before their trial. In Texas, bail and its conditions are set by a magistrate soon after arrest, at the hearing often called magistration. When the case is over, cash posted as bail is refunded on the court’s order to the person named on the receipt, less any fee the law allows.

If a person does not pay bail, they stay in custody until their trial.  Bail can be denied if the court feels that the arrested would be a danger to others if released. Sometimes the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee so they are released on their own promise, or recognizance without having to pay bail.

A bond proceeding is the determination of how much bail is to be paid. In Texas it usually happens at the first appearance before a magistrate, soon after arrest, well before any arraignment. A defendant may have a lawyer at a bond proceeding, and a defendant facing a request to deny bail under Proposition 3 has the right to one at that hearing. Jailers, police and prosecutors can’t set bail. In Texas a magistrate does, usually within 48 hours of arrest, and that magistrate may be a justice of the peace, a municipal judge, an appointed magistrate or a county or district judge. Texas doesn’t use one bail schedule for the whole state; each county’s judges adopt their own. Before setting bail, the magistrate reviews a Public Safety Report on the person’s criminal history (the Damon Allen Act, Senate Bill 6, 2021). Since September 2025, Senate Bill 9 sends some felony bail decisions to a judge rather than an appointed magistrate, and since November 2025 Proposition 3 lets a judge deny bail outright for certain violent and sexual felonies after a hearing.

It is always important to have family involvement after being arrested.  Not only can they make calls and communicate on your behalf (not all bond companies will accept collect calls), but family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court, not only for the defendant’s own good, but because they may have signed bond paperwork and responsible to pay if the defendant does not show in court. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.  

(There have been phone scams to where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information.  A bondsman will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)

A judicial public bond or personal recognizance bond is a bond where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the money if the defendant does not show up to court. If the defendant does not show, the full amount will be due and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible to pay the court.  Sometimes the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee so they are released on their own promise, or recognizance.  

Cash bonds in Texas. Instead of using a bondsman, the defendant or someone on their behalf deposits the full bail amount with the court or the sheriff. The money is held until the case ends, then refunded on the court’s order to the person named on the receipt, less the administrative fee the law allows (Art. 17.02).

Surety Bond is when defendant pays a percentage of the bond amount (usually 10–15%) to a professional bondsman or bail bond company licensed under Texas law, or by the county’s bail bond board in counties that have one. The bondsman then signs the bond on behalf of the defendant. The defendant does not receive any of the money back. If the bondsman feels the defendant is a flight risk, they can refuse to give a bond or charge a higher fee. For example, a bondsman may determine a defendant is a flight risk if they are from a state other than Texas.

A Property Bond is a bond in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate.  Usually, the property must be in Colorado County, and it must be worth at least the amount of the bond.

An Unsecured Bond is when the defendant is released without paying bail upfront, but they must pay the full amount if they do not appear in court.

A Secured Bond is when the defendant pays a portion of the bail up front. If they show to court, they would get the money back and if they don’t show up to court, would have to pay the entire bail amount.

A criminal defense attorney (also called lawyer or counsel) is hired or retained to represent the arrested as early as possible after the arrest.

If there is a chance that the case might go to trial and the defendant cannot afford an attorney, the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires that the court provide an attorney. This is called indigent representation and a public defender or assigned attorney would represent the defendant in all proceedings. Indigent representation is only available misdemeanor and felony cases that could result in jail time, juvenile cases and certain appeal cases. Class C misdemeanors do not qualify for indigent representation.  

Texas requires that the county pays for appointed counsel and expenses and each county may address indigent defense differently but must comply with the state commission’s guidelines.  If an accused cannot afford a lawyer, the court appoints one. A judge may later order the defendant to repay some or all of that cost if they are able to.  

For less serious cases or civil cases, pro bono volunteers give legal help free or at low cost. Many hold clinics on representing yourself or clearing (expunging) a record. Pro Bono Texas is a good place to start looking for one.

Many courts will provide forms and help for people who want to represent themselves, called pro se.

In Texas, a district court is the main state trial court for felonies. The name can also mean a U.S. federal district court, which hears federal cases; Texas has four federal judicial districts with offices around the state. It is important that you check the address of the court you are to appear in rather than to ask someone because that person might give you directions to the wrong “district” court. Being late to court can land you in custody as well.

Pretrial proceeding is the process where both sides (prosecution and defense) gather information, interview witnesses, request records, videos etc. Pretrial proceedings also include communications with the judge assigned to the case and these appearances are either in person or by on-line conferencing. Some pretrial proceedings may not require a defendant’s appearance, allowing an attorney to appear in their place. The information that is gathered is called discovery and both sides must share the information that they have gathered.  This information does not include conversations between the arrested and their attorney.

Most cases do not go to trial because both sides reach a plea deal, where both sides try to reach a reasonable punishment based on what was learned in the pretrial proceedings.  A plea deal can only happen if the accused person admits they are guilty in exchange for a lighter punishment.  The reason they must admit guilt is because it would not be fair to punish someone who claims they are not guilty.  There are times in plea bargaining when the prosecution agrees to give a lighter sentence in exchange for information leading to the arrest of more serious criminal related to the crime.  

Trial is where both sides share their information in front of a judge or a judge and jury. After listening to all the evidence, the judge or jury decides the verdict which is whether if the person is guilty or not guilty. If a court has only a judge hearing both sides, it is called a bench trial.  If a jury is selected, it is called a jury trial.  If the defendant is found non-guilty, they are released.  If they are found to be guilty, the next step is sentencing.

Sentencing is the punishment that the judge decides the person should get. This could be jail or prison time, fines, community service, probation, or a combination.

Appeal is asking for a higher court to hear the case again at an appellate court.  If the accused person thinks something went wrong at trial or has new information that was not available during the trial or that the sentence is too harsh, the defense attorney can ask for an appeal. It is not unusual for an appeal when there is a long jail sentence, but an appeal can be denied if the appellate court feels that the original trial or sentencing was fair.

Texas Felony vs Misdemeanor

In Texas, a misdemeanor is divided into Class A, Class B and Class C.

  • Class A is the most serious misdemeanor with penalties of up to 1 year in county jail and a fine of up to $4000.  Examples of a Class A misdemeanor in Texas include property theft valued between $750 and $2500, certain drug possession offenses and assault with bodily harm. 
  • Class B Misdemeanors can result in penalties of up to 180 days in county jail and a fine of up to $2000. Examples of a Class B misdemeanor include first offense DWI, possession of marijuana and criminal trespassing.
  • Class C misdemeanor is the least serious and results in a fine of up to $500 without jail time. Examples of Class C misdemeanor include disorderly conduct, simple assault without bodily injury and minor possession of alcohol.

A felony crime in Texas is a more serious crime than a misdemeanor and can be punished with more significant fines and jail time of more than one year.  Examples of felony crimes are murder, rape, theft, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, kidnapping and identity theft.

In Texas, the elected District Clerk keeps the records for felony cases and the elected County Clerk (or County Court at Law clerk) keeps misdemeanor records; both accept filings, bonds, fees and fines and keep the court’s files.

A warrant is used to get someone to appear in court or to law enforcement.  There must be good reason to believe that the person is involved in a crime. The warrant gives authority to arrest the person and search for evidence for the investigation of the crime. 

A criminal summons is issued to request that a person appear in court at a particular time and date.  It does not involve an arrest.  A traffic ticket, summary citation or lesser misdemeanor could be considered a summons if you are given a court date.

A summary citation, commonly referred to as a ticket, is a criminal summons by a law enforcement officer either in person or via mail accusing the defendant of a minor offense, stating potential fine, listing the court having jurisdiction and instructions for addressing the issue. Defendants may or may not be required to appear in court or handle the matter by entering a plea via mail.

Fines are usually paid to the District Clerk or County Clerk, and payment methods can be found on the Colorado County District Clerk or County Clerk website. If you do not pay your fine on time, you can lose your driver’s license, have to pay additional fees or even have a warrant for your arrest.  It is important to read the instructions on the ticket issued by the police officer or court at the time of your arrest. For a parking ticket or summary citation, the fine amount and how to send payment should be on the ticket. 

Texas Criminal Court System - How it Works

Justice courts are located within precincts are the lower-level criminal courts that handle Class C misdemeanors such as disorderly conduct, public intoxication and minor possession of alcohol and traffic violations. The judges are magistrates. 

Municipal courts handle violations of municipal ordinances (city laws), traffic violations, parking violations and criminal misdemeanor offenses that occur within the city or towns police jurisdiction. They overlap with justice courts in handling Class C misdemeanors. These courts are for criminal misdemeanors and are only punishable by fine and there is no confinement.

When there is an appeal request from a judgement made in justice or municipal court, the case is heard in a county or district court as if the original trial in the lower court had not occurred.  This is called trial de novo.

Texas County Courts are the original and trial courts for the more serious Class A and B misdemeanor cases. Each Texas county has one constitutional county court, and many counties have added statutory County Courts at Law to share its caseload; in larger counties those courts hear most Class A and B misdemeanors.  County courts are not courts for felony cases.

District courts in Texas are trial courts that handle criminal felony cases from beginning to end.  

Every Texas county designates at least one court to sit as its juvenile court (Family Code 51.04). A child in juvenile court is someone who was 10 through 16 at the time of the alleged conduct; at 17, Texas treats a person as an adult in criminal cases. The juvenile cases are handled by judges assigned to only serve “juvenile court”.

Courts of Appeal handle appeals from the district and county courts.

Specialty courts or problem-solving courts are being adopted in many states as a way to handle cases that involve non-violent and first-time offender cases in a way to where the offender can retain a job or responsibilities while following specific orders of the court as returned court appearances, periodic evaluations or testing for substances. Texas offers a variety of specialty courts throughout the state including drug, veteran’s, re-entry and DWI courts.

Texas has two high courts. The Texas Supreme Court is the final word on civil and juvenile cases. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in Austin is the highest court for criminal cases and automatically reviews every death sentence. Most criminal appeals reach it after one of the state’s intermediate courts of appeals has ruled.

FEDERAL COURT

Federal Court deals with crimes involving violations of United States laws.  Federal crimes include federal drug trafficking, federal tax evasion and fraud that crossed state lines and include crimes that occur on federal property as post offices or federal buildings.  

Cases involving crimes that involve the FBI or DEA or Immigration agencies are federal crimes. Terrorism is a federal crime. 

There are some differences in the Federal court system as compared to the Texas state court system. For example, the attorneys who work for the courts are called United States Attorneys and Federal judges are called District Court Judges (not to be confused by local state district courts).  

Federal Magistrate Judges hear the case early on, but they do not decide on the cases at a trial like the Federal District Court Judges. In a federal case, a grand jury is used for indictments.

There are four U.S. Federal Judicial Districts in Texas.

Courts

CITY OF EAGLE LAKE MUNI COURT
100 E MAIN ST
EAGLE LAKE TX, 77434
979-234-2640
COLUMBUS CITY MUNICIPAL COURT
605 SPRING ST
COLUMBUS TX, 78934
979-732-3981

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Colorado County

Human-verified information Manually curated

Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.