Goliad County Jail Criminal Court Process

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Goliad County

Criminal Court Process for Goliad County Texas

The town of Goliad is the county seat of Goliad County, and court is held at the historic courthouse on North Courthouse Square. Class C cases are handled by two justice of the peace courts and the Goliad Municipal Court, and Class A and B misdemeanors are heard in the constitutional county court with the Goliad County Attorney prosecuting. Felonies go to the district courts of the Victoria-area judicial region, the 24th, 135th and 267th District Courts, which serve Goliad along with Calhoun, DeWitt, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria counties. The 24th Judicial District Attorney, whose office is in Cuero, prosecutes Goliad County felonies, and people arrested in the county are held in the county's own jail, which the Sheriff runs.

  • Goliad County Courthouse (county court, district court, District and County Clerk), 127 N. Courthouse Square, Goliad, TX 77963; District and County Clerk (361) 645-3294
  • Goliad County Attorney (misdemeanors and juvenile cases), Goliad, TX; reach through the courthouse at (361) 645-3294
  • 24th Judicial District Attorney (felonies), Cuero, TX, (361) 275-2612
  • Goliad County Sheriff's Office, 700 E. End St., Goliad, TX 77963, (361) 645-1262
  • Goliad County Jail, Sheriff's Office, 700 E. End St., Goliad, TX 77963, (361) 645-1262

Which court hears your case. Fine-only Class C misdemeanors (traffic tickets, public intoxication, petty theft under $100, a minor assault without injury, disorderly conduct) are filed in the Justice of the Peace court for Precinct 1 or Precinct 2, depending on where the offense took place, or in the Goliad Municipal Court when the city's officers write the ticket inside Goliad. Class A and B misdemeanors, a first DWI or an assault causing bodily injury, for instance, are heard by the County Judge in the Goliad County Court. Felony defendants receive magistrate warnings first; after a grand jury indicts, the case is assigned to one of the district courts sitting for Goliad County, the 24th, 135th or 267th District Court.

Where pretrial inmates are held. Goliad County operates its own jail at the Sheriff's Office on East End Street. The jail holds a current certificate of compliance from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. After an arrest by a deputy, a Goliad police officer or a state trooper, adults are booked there, see a magistrate and, if they cannot post bail, remain in custody in Goliad while the case is pending. The Sheriff's Office at (361) 645-1262 answers questions about who is in custody.

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

Goliad County's local courts are all in or near the town of Goliad. The Precinct 1 justice court is in the Franklin Street Annex, a few blocks from the courthouse square.

Justice of the Peace courts

  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Franklin Street Annex, 329 W. Franklin St., P.O. Box 678, Goliad, TX 77963, (361) 645-3663
  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Goliad County; the courthouse at (361) 645-3294 can give the current office location and hours

Municipal court

  • Goliad Municipal Court, City of Goliad, P.O. Drawer 939, Goliad, TX 77963, (361) 645-3454

County and district courts

  • Goliad County Court (constitutional county court: Class A and B misdemeanors, appeals from the justice and municipal courts), 127 N. Courthouse Square, Goliad, TX 77963; clerk (361) 645-3294
  • 24th District Court (felonies; part of the six-county Victoria-area district court group), which hears Goliad County cases at the courthouse; court office in Victoria, (361) 575-3172
  • 135th District Court and 267th District Court, which share the same six counties and also take Goliad County felony and civil dockets; District Clerk (361) 645-3294

The justices of the peace serve as magistrates as well as trial judges for Class C cases, so one of them usually conducts the hearing at which an arrested person is warned of the charges and bond is set. A conviction in a justice or municipal court can be appealed to the county court for a new trial.

↑ Back to the top of the Goliad County court guide

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

U.S. Highways 59, 77A and 183 cross Goliad County, and many misdemeanor arrests start as stops on those roads; others involve visitors to the state historic sites and family disputes. Class C matters are handled with a citation and a court date. Class A and B arrests usually lead to booking at the Goliad County Jail.

Getting out of jail

The person must be taken before a magistrate within 48 hours. The magistrate gives the article 15.17 warnings, explains the right to a lawyer, accepts a request for appointed counsel and sets bail. Release options are a cash bond, a surety bond from a licensed bail bondsman, or a personal bond. In family violence cases the magistrate frequently issues an emergency protective order that limits contact with the alleged victim.

In the Goliad County Court

The Goliad County Attorney files an information if the evidence supports a charge. There is no public defender office; a defendant who cannot afford a lawyer and could be jailed receives a court-appointed private attorney under the county's indigent defense plan, paid in part with Texas Indigent Defense Commission funds. The clerk at (361) 645-3294 can confirm whether an attorney has been assigned. Plea bargains settle most misdemeanor cases. A defendant who goes to trial gets a jury of six, and the verdict must be unanimous.

Penalty ranges for the listed offenses

  • Theft: fine-only Class C below $100. At $100 to $749 it is Class B, punishable in Goliad County Court by up to 180 days and a $2,000 fine; at $750 to $2,499 it is Class A, with up to one year and $4,000.
  • First DWI: Class B, with a minimum of 72 hours and a maximum of 180 days in jail and a fine of no more than $3,000. A test of 0.15 or more raises it to Class A, an open container sets a six-day minimum, and the driver also faces an administrative license suspension, a DWI education class and possibly an ignition interlock.
  • Assault causing bodily injury: Class A; a family violence finding makes any later family violence assault a felony.
  • Criminal trespass: Class B, or Class A when the property is a habitation or the person carried a deadly weapon.

Results range from dismissal or pretrial diversion through deferred adjudication, probation, fines and county jail time. Deferred adjudication completed without problems may allow a petition for nondisclosure. A Class C case typically closes within weeks; Class A and B cases generally take two to six months.

↑ Back to the top of the Goliad County court guide

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

Felonies from Goliad County are prosecuted by the 24th Judicial District Attorney's office in Cuero, which also serves neighboring counties. Common felony cases include drug possession and transport on U.S. 59, burglary of homes and ranch buildings, felony theft and aggravated assault.

The path of a felony case

  1. Magistration. After booking at the Goliad County Jail, the defendant sees a magistrate within 48 hours. The magistrate considers a public safety report under the Damon Allen Act before setting bail, and a person charged with a violent offense cannot get a personal bond.
  2. Lawyer appointment. The district courts appoint private attorneys for qualifying felony defendants. Ask at magistration, and call the District Clerk at (361) 645-3294 to check on an appointment.
  3. Grand jury. The District Attorney presents the case to a Goliad County grand jury. If the State is not ready for trial within 90 days of a felony detention, article 17.151 generally requires release on personal bond or reduced bail, except for violent charges.
  4. Arraignment and plea bargaining. The indicted case is set in the 24th, 135th or 267th District Court. Deferred adjudication, probation or a negotiated prison term resolves most cases.
  5. Trial. Twelve jurors must agree unanimously; the defendant can elect jury sentencing.

Punishment levels

  • State jail felony: confinement in a state jail for six months to two years, plus a fine as large as $10,000; examples are theft of $2,500 to $30,000 and possession of less than a gram of most hard drugs.
  • Third degree: 2 to 10 years. Second degree, covering burglary of a habitation and most aggravated assaults: 2 to 20 years. First degree: five years at minimum and up to 99 years or life. Fines up to $10,000 can be added.
  • Drug charges are graded by penalty group and quantity, and larger amounts reach the first-degree level.

Prior felony convictions can enhance punishment, up to 25 years to life for habitual offenders. "3g" offenses require half the sentence (minimum two years) before parole eligibility, while most other prisoners are eligible after about a quarter of their time. Goliad County felonies usually resolve in six to eighteen months.

↑ Back to the top of the Goliad County court guide

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

Violent felonies in Goliad County are investigated by the Sheriff's Office, often alongside the Texas Rangers, and prosecuted by the 24th Judicial District Attorney. Personal bonds are prohibited for these charges. Texas voters approved a 2025 constitutional amendment that lets judges deny bail in some violent-crime cases, which means a defendant may remain in the Goliad County Jail until the case is over.

  • Capital murder: a conviction results in the death penalty or in life imprisonment with no chance of parole; Texas leads the nation in executions by a wide margin.
  • Murder: a first-degree felony with a range of five years up to 99 years or life; a sudden-passion finding lowers the range to second degree.
  • Sexual assault is a second-degree felony, while aggravated sexual assault is first degree and carries a 25-year minimum in certain cases with child victims. Sex-offender registration follows a conviction.
  • Aggravated robbery: a first-degree "3g" offense, so half of the sentence must be served before parole eligibility.

Victims are protected by article I, section 30 of the Texas Constitution, which gives them notice of court proceedings, the right to be present and an opportunity to be heard. In Goliad County cases, the Cuero prosecutor's victim assistance staff sends those notices. Violent felonies generally take one to three years to resolve.

↑ Back to the top of the Goliad County court guide

Juveniles (under 17) arrested in Goliad County

Texas prosecutes 17-year-olds as adults. Children who were 10 to 16 at the time of the offense are handled in juvenile court, which in Goliad County is the court designated by the juvenile board, typically one of the district courts or the County Court. The District and County Clerk at (361) 645-3294 can tell families where a case is pending.

Juvenile probation and the petition

Goliad County's juvenile probation department handles intake for children referred by law enforcement. The intake officer decides whether to release the youth, supervise the case informally, or refer it to the prosecutor (generally the Goliad County Attorney), who decides whether to file a petition. Deferred prosecution, which ends in dismissal when completed, is common for first offenses.

Detention

Goliad County does not have its own juvenile detention center, so a child who must be held is typically placed in a certified regional juvenile facility, such as one in the Victoria area. A judge must hold a detention hearing within two working days, and the court appoints a lawyer for the child if the family has not hired one.

Outcomes

  • Dismissal, deferred prosecution, or probation with conditions such as school attendance, curfew, counseling and restitution.
  • For felony conduct, a judge's order sending the youth to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD).
  • Determinate sentencing for the most serious offenses, which can lead to transfer to adult prison after age 19.
  • Certification to adult court after a hearing, generally possible at 14 for capital and first-degree felonies and certain aggravated drug felonies, and at 15 for other felonies.

By law, a Goliad County juvenile file is kept confidential, and sealing is possible for most of them later on.

↑ Back to the top of the Goliad County court guide

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

Goliad County belongs to the Southern District of Texas, Victoria Division. The division's courthouse is the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building in downtown Victoria, about 30 miles northeast of Goliad.

  • Federal court clerk for the Victoria Division (Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building), 312 S. Main, Room 406, Victoria, TX 77901, (361) 788-5000
  • U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas; the nearest listed branch is in Corpus Christi, 800 North Shoreline Boulevard, Suite 500, Corpus Christi, TX 78401, (361) 888-3111
  • Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Texas, along with private Criminal Justice Act panel attorneys appointed by the court

When a Goliad County case is federal

U.S. 59 is a major route from the Rio Grande Valley toward Houston, so federal cases from Goliad County often involve drug trafficking and human smuggling discovered during highway stops. Other federal charges include firearms possession by felons, fraud and child exploitation. Agencies such as the DEA, Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI may bring these cases to the U.S. Attorney.

Early proceedings

The defendant is brought before a federal magistrate judge for an initial appearance, where counsel is appointed if needed. A detention hearing, when prosecutors request one, is usually held within three court days. Commercial bail bonds play no part in the Victoria federal courthouse; instead the Bail Reform Act lets the judge release a defendant on conditions supervised by Pretrial Services or order detention.

Indictment, plea or trial, and sentence

If the case began with a complaint, an indictment must be returned within 30 days, and the Speedy Trial Act sets a 70-day deadline for trial that is frequently extended. Most federal defendants plead guilty; a trial jury of twelve must be unanimous. The judge sentences after a presentence report, using the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and any mandatory minimum. Federal inmates are not paroled and serve about 85 percent of their terms in the Bureau of Prisons before beginning supervised release. Appeals from the Victoria Division go to the Fifth Circuit.

Finding a federal inmate

To locate someone in federal custody, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator and search by name or register number. A pretrial federal detainee housed in a county jail under a U.S. Marshals contract can show up on that county jail's roster too. Juveniles are rarely charged federally, and Goliad County youth cases almost always stay in state juvenile court.

↑ Back to the top of the Goliad County court guide

This guide explains Goliad County criminal court procedure in general terms and is not legal advice; jail and court practices can change. Anyone facing a criminal charge should speak with a defense lawyer. To request a court-appointed attorney, ask at magistration or call the District and County Clerk at (361) 645-3294; for custody information call the Goliad County Sheriff's Office at (361) 645-1262.

Criminal Court Process for Goliad County Texas

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

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Goliad 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.