DeWitt County Detention Center Criminal Court Process

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in DeWitt County

Criminal Court Process for DeWitt County Texas

DeWitt County lies between San Antonio and Victoria in the heart of the Eagle Ford Shale, and its criminal cases are heard in Cuero, the county seat. Two justice of the peace courts and the city courts of Cuero, Yorktown, Nordheim and Yoakum handle Class C offenses, and the constitutional county court handles Class A and B misdemeanors. Felonies go to the 24th, 135th and 267th District Courts, three courts based in Victoria that each serve the same six counties: Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria. The DeWitt County Attorney prosecutes misdemeanors and the District Attorney prosecutes felonies, and arrested adults are held in the DeWitt County Jail in Cuero.

  • DeWitt County Courthouse (County Judge, county court, District Clerk), 307 North Gonzales Street, Cuero, TX 77954
  • 24th District Court (361) 575-3172, 135th District Court (361) 575-2412 and 267th District Court (361) 578-1998 (felonies; seated in Victoria and holding DeWitt County hearings in Cuero)
  • DeWitt County Attorney (misdemeanors), Cuero, (361) 275-0812
  • District Attorney (felonies in DeWitt County), Cuero, (361) 275-2612
  • DeWitt County Jail (DeWitt County Sheriff's Office), 208 East Live Oak Street, Cuero, TX 77954, (361) 275-5734

Which court hears your case. Class C misdemeanors, the fine-only tier that includes most traffic tickets, public intoxication, theft under $100 and assault by offensive contact, are filed in the Justice of the Peace court for the precinct where the offense happened, or in the municipal court of Cuero, Yorktown, Nordheim or Yoakum when city police write the ticket inside city limits. Class A and B misdemeanors, a first DWI included, are prosecuted in the DeWitt County Court before the County Judge. Felonies begin with a magistrate's warnings and, after a DeWitt County grand jury indicts, are tried in the 24th, 135th or 267th District Court. Those three judges divide their time among six counties, with the heaviest dockets in Victoria.

Where pretrial inmates are held. The Sheriff runs the DeWitt County Jail on East Live Oak Street in Cuero, a facility of roughly 160 beds in state jail reports. Besides local arrests, the jail has held inmates for other agencies under contract. Someone arrested anywhere in the county, whether by deputies, city police, DPS troopers or game wardens, is booked there and stays until bail is posted or a judge orders release. For custody information, call (361) 275-5734.

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

DeWitt County's justice courts sit in Cuero and Yorktown. Their judges hear Class C cases, issue arrest warrants, and act as magistrates for people booked into the DeWitt County Jail, including setting bond.

Justice of the Peace courts

  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 (Judge Peggy Mayer), 208 East Live Oak Street, Suite D, Cuero, TX 77954, (361) 275-3443
  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 (Judge Blanca S. McBride), P.O. Box 336, Yorktown, TX 78164, (361) 564-9410

Municipal courts

  • Cuero Municipal Court, City of Cuero, Cuero, TX 77954
  • Yorktown Municipal Court, City of Yorktown, Yorktown, TX 78164
  • Nordheim: city citations are handled through Nordheim City Hall
  • Yoakum Municipal Court: Yoakum straddles the DeWitt–Lavaca county line, and its city court hears Class C cases filed by Yoakum police on either side of the line

Each citation lists the court's address, phone number and the deadline to answer. City courts hear only offenses inside their own city limits; deputies' and troopers' tickets go to the justice courts.

County court

  • DeWitt County Court (constitutional county court; Class A and B misdemeanors and appeals from justice and municipal courts), DeWitt County Courthouse, 307 North Gonzales Street, Cuero, TX 77954

Someone convicted of a Class C offense in a justice or non-record municipal court can appeal to the county court for a new trial, generally within 10 days of judgment.

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

Oilfield traffic on U.S. 87, U.S. 183 and State Highway 72 means DWI and traffic-related arrests are a large share of DeWitt County's misdemeanor docket, along with thefts of tools and equipment from well sites and family-violence calls. An arrested person is booked into the DeWitt County Jail in Cuero.

Magistrate and release

No later than 48 hours after arrest, a justice of the peace serving as magistrate gives the warnings in article 15.17, explains the right to appointed counsel and sets bail. A person may be released by posting the full amount in cash, by using a licensed bail bondsman who charges a nonrefundable premium (often 10 to 15 percent), or on a personal bond. A family-violence arrest typically results in an emergency protective order.

Court process

The DeWitt County Attorney reviews the arrest report and files an information in the DeWitt County Court. The County Judge sets an arraignment, and the case moves through pretrial settings where most pleas are negotiated. A defendant who wants a trial gets a six-person jury that must reach a unanimous decision. Under DeWitt County's indigent defense plan, a person facing possible jail who cannot pay a lawyer may ask the court to appoint one; make the request at magistration or through the County Clerk at the courthouse, or call the Precinct 1 justice court at (361) 275-3443 for the application process.

Ranges for common charges

  • Theft under $100 is Class C. Property valued from $100 up to $750 is Class B, carrying as much as 180 days and $2,000. From $750 up to $2,500 it is Class A, carrying up to a year and $4,000.
  • Assault causing bodily injury falls in the Class A tier; a family-violence affirmative finding stays on the record and can elevate a future charge.
  • Criminal trespass is ordinarily Class B, becoming Class A on a habitation or with a deadly weapon.
  • A first DWI is Class B, carrying 72 hours to 180 days and up to a $3,000 fine; 0.15 or higher makes it Class A, and an open container brings a six-day minimum. Separate consequences include an administrative license suspension, a required DWI education class, a possible ignition interlock and a state traffic fine after conviction. A first DWI usually ends in probation.

Other possible outcomes are dismissal, pretrial diversion, deferred adjudication with no final conviction if completed (often leading to an order of nondisclosure), a fine or county jail time. Misdemeanors in DeWitt County typically wrap up in two to six months.

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

DeWitt County felony cases are prosecuted by the District Attorney's office in Cuero and assigned to one of the three Victoria-based district courts. Settings in Cuero are scheduled around those courts' calendars in the other five counties.

  1. Setting release terms. Within 48 hours, the magistrate reviews the public safety report required by the 2021 Damon Allen Act and sets bail. A defendant who cannot pay stays in the DeWitt County Jail.
  2. Appointed lawyers. The district courts appoint private attorneys for indigent defendants under the felony indigent defense plan for the district, with support from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. Ask at magistration or through the District Clerk at the courthouse on North Gonzales Street.
  3. Grand jury. The District Attorney presents the case to a DeWitt County grand jury, which may return an indictment or a no-bill. A defendant may waive indictment, usually to take a plea offer more quickly.
  4. The 90-day rule. Article 17.151 generally requires release on a personal bond or a reduced amount when the State is not ready for trial within 90 days of a felony detention, with violent offenses excepted.
  5. Resolution. Plea agreements settle most felonies. A jury trial requires 12 unanimous jurors, and the defendant can elect jury sentencing.

Felony ranges

  • State jail felony: 180 days to 2 years, the level for theft of $2,500 to $30,000 and possession of small amounts of many controlled substances.
  • Third degree: 2 to 10 years. Second degree: 2 to 20 years, where home burglary and the usual aggravated assault land. First degree: 5 to 99 years or life. Any felony may also carry a fine up to $10,000.
  • Theft of oilfield equipment or cargo is graded by value like any theft, and cases involving trailers of pipe or copper wire can quickly reach the felony levels.

Prior felony convictions can lift a case into a higher range. "3g" offenses carry parole eligibility at half the sentence (minimum two years); others usually at about one-quarter including good time. Deferred adjudication remains available for many first-time felony defendants. Expect six to eighteen months from arrest to disposition.

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

Murders, aggravated robberies and serious sexual assaults in DeWitt County are investigated by the Sheriff's Office or Cuero and Yoakum police, often with the Texas Rangers, and forensic work goes to the Department of Public Safety laboratory system. The District Attorney prosecutes in one of the three district courts. The Damon Allen Act forbids personal bonds for these charges, and Under a constitutional amendment Texas voters approved in 2025, judges in DeWitt County can deny bail in some violent-crime cases. A defendant who cannot meet bail waits in the DeWitt County Jail.

  • Capital murder: either a death sentence, when sought by the State, or life imprisonment with no parole.
  • Murder: a first-degree charge, with any term from 5 to 99 years or a life sentence.
  • Sexual assault: second-degree felony, 2 to 20 years. Aggravated sexual assault: first-degree felony, and some cases with child victims under six carry a 25-year minimum.
  • Aggravated robbery: first-degree felony; a "3g" offense with parole eligibility at half the sentence.

Capital defendants are represented by lawyers who meet state qualification standards for death-penalty cases. Victims are guaranteed notice, the right to be present and the right to make an impact statement under article I, section 30 of the Texas Constitution. Violent felony cases from DeWitt County usually take one to three years.

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Juveniles (under 17) arrested in DeWitt County

The juvenile justice system in Texas covers children who were 10 to 16 years old at the time of the conduct. DeWitt County prosecutes a 17-year-old as an adult, with booking in the county jail and charges in the adult courts.

Intake and filing

After an arrest, the youth is referred to the DeWitt County juvenile probation department, which screens the case. Intake can release the child to a parent, set up informal supervision, or send the case to the prosecutor. The County Attorney or District Attorney, as designated locally, decides whether to file a petition in the juvenile court chosen by the county's juvenile board, typically the county court or one of the district courts.

Detention

DeWitt County does not operate a juvenile detention center. A child who must be held is typically placed in a regional juvenile detention center in a nearby county, such as one in the Victoria area, under contract. The court must hold a detention hearing within two working days and review detention periodically.

Possible dispositions

  • Deferred prosecution or supervisory caution, ending the case without adjudication.
  • Probation at home or in a residential facility, with counseling, curfew, schooling and restitution.
  • Commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), or a determinate sentence for grave offenses that can move into adult prison later.
  • Certification for adult prosecution, generally possible at 14 for capital and first-degree felonies (and some aggravated drug felonies) and at 15 for other felonies.

Every child is entitled to a lawyer, appointed at public expense if needed. Juvenile files are confidential and can often be sealed.

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

Under federal law, DeWitt County is part of the Victoria Division of the Southern District of Texas. The Victoria courthouse is about 30 miles southeast of Cuero on U.S. 87.

  • U.S. District Clerk, Victoria Division, Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building, Room 406, 312 South Main Street, Victoria, TX 77901, (361) 788-5000
  • U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas, headquarters at 1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 2300, Houston, TX 77002, (713) 567-9000; Corpus Christi office, 800 North Shoreline Boulevard, Suite 500, (361) 888-3111
  • Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Texas, or a Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel lawyer appointed by the court

Typical federal cases

DeWitt County generates a small number of federal prosecutions, most often drug trafficking on the U.S. 87 and U.S. 183 corridors, human smuggling loads moving north from the border region, firearm possession by people with felony records, child exploitation, and fraud. Cargo theft and fraud connected with oil and gas operations occasionally draw federal charges as well.

Inside a federal case

Defendants first appear before a U.S. magistrate judge, who advises them of the charges and appoints counsel when they qualify. There is no bail schedule in federal court; release decisions follow the Bail Reform Act, and a defendant is released on conditions overseen by U.S. Pretrial Services or detained after a hearing, usually held within three court days of the government's request. Indictment must follow within 30 days of a complaint arrest, and the Speedy Trial Act requires trial within 70 days, a deadline courts commonly extend. A unanimous 12-person jury decides federal trials, yet guilty pleas resolve most cases.

Sentencing

After a guilty plea or verdict, a federal probation officer investigates and writes a presentence report; the judge then works from the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and any mandatory minimum. With no parole in the federal system, about 85 percent of the term is served in the Bureau of Prisons before supervised release. Appeals go to the Fifth Circuit.

For someone in federal custody, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator and search by name or register number. Anyone the Marshals are holding before trial in a county jail under contract may also show up on that jail's own roster. Federal charges against juveniles are uncommon.

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This page provides general information about criminal cases in DeWitt County and is not legal advice. Phone numbers, schedules and jail practices can change. A person facing charges should consult a criminal defense lawyer; those who cannot afford one may request appointed counsel from the magistrate after arrest or apply through the County Clerk (misdemeanors) or District Clerk (felonies) at the courthouse; the Precinct 1 justice court at (361) 275-3443 can explain the steps.

Criminal Court Process for DeWitt County Texas

DeWitt 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 DeWitt 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, DeWitt 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 DeWitt 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 DeWitt 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, DeWitt County or a city or town. The prosecuting attorney for DeWitt 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 DeWitt 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 DeWitt 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 DeWitt 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

CUERO MUNICIPAL COURT
212 E MAIN ST
CUERO TX, 77954
361-275-8559
COUNTY JUDGE OFFICE
307 N GONZALES ST # 102
CUERO TX, 77954
361-275-0916
JUSTICE OF PEACE
113 NELSON ST
YOAKUM TX, 77995
361-293-9146

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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.