Hill County Jail Criminal Court Process

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Hill County

Criminal Court Process for Hill County Texas

Hill County lies along Interstate 35 between Waco and the southern edge of the Dallas–Fort Worth area, and its county seat is Hillsboro. Felony cases go to the 66th District Court, which serves Hill County alone; Class A and B misdemeanors are heard in the Hill County Court at Law; and Class C tickets are handled by four justice of the peace courts and six city courts. The 66th Judicial District Attorney prosecutes felonies, while the Hill County Attorney handles misdemeanor cases. People arrested in the county are booked into the Hill County Jail, run by the Sheriff in Hillsboro.

  • Hill County Courthouse, 1 North Waco Street, Hillsboro, TX 76645 (court offices also at 80 North Waco Street)
  • 66th District Court and District Clerk, 80 North Waco Street, 2nd Floor, Hillsboro, TX 76645, (254) 582-4042
  • 66th Judicial District Attorney (felonies), Hillsboro, (254) 582-4070
  • Hill County Attorney (misdemeanors), Hillsboro, (254) 582-4047
  • Hill County Jail (Hill County Sheriff's Office), 406 Hall Street, Hillsboro, TX 76645, Sheriff's Office (254) 582-5313

Which court hears your case. Class C misdemeanors, which carry only a fine (most traffic tickets, public intoxication, minor theft under $100, a simple assault without injury, possession of drug paraphernalia), are heard by the justice of the peace for the precinct where the offense occurred, or by the municipal court in Hillsboro, Whitney, Itasca, Hubbard, Malone or Covington when city police issue the citation inside the city. Class A and B misdemeanors, such as a first DWI, theft of $100 to $2,500, assault causing bodily injury and criminal trespass, go to the Hill County Court at Law in Hillsboro. Felonies start with magistrate warnings at the jail and, after a grand jury indictment, are tried in the 66th District Court.

Where pretrial inmates are held. The Sheriff operates the county's adult jail in Hillsboro, a few blocks from the courthouse square, and it is where people arrested by deputies, city officers in Whitney or Itasca, or state troopers on I-35 are booked and held until they make bail or their cases are finished. When the jail is full, the Sheriff can house some inmates in another county under contract. Call the Sheriff's Office at (254) 582-5313 to find out whether someone is in custody and where.

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

Hill County's four justice of the peace precincts are spread across the county, with courts in Whitney near the lake, in Hillsboro, in Malone and in Itasca. The justices of the peace hear fine-only cases, issue warrants and take turns as magistrates who set bond for people held at the jail. The six city courts handle Class C cases written by their own police departments and violations of city ordinances.

Justice of the peace courts

  • Precinct 1, P.O. Box 1853, Whitney, TX 76692, (254) 694-3140
  • Precinct 2, Hill County Courthouse, 1 North Waco Street (P.O. Box 316), Hillsboro, TX 76645, (254) 582-4025
  • Precinct 3, 101 East Live Oak Street (P.O. Box 193), Malone, TX 76660, (254) 530-1034
  • Precinct 4, P.O. Box 206, Itasca, TX 76055, (254) 687-2424

Municipal courts

  • Covington Municipal Court, P.O. Box 443, Covington, TX 76636, (254) 854-2373
  • Hillsboro Municipal Court, 115 South Waco Street, Hillsboro, TX 76645, (254) 582-9634
  • Hubbard Municipal Court, 118 North Magnolia Avenue, Hubbard, TX 76648, (254) 576-2576, ext. 22
  • Itasca Municipal Court, 136 North Hill Street, Itasca, TX 76055, (254) 687-2990
  • Malone Municipal Court, P.O. Box 6, Malone, TX 76660, (254) 533-2261
  • Whitney Municipal Court, 115 West Jefferson Avenue, Whitney, TX 76692, (254) 694-2261

County courts

  • Hill County Court at Law, 80 North Waco Street, 1st Floor, Hillsboro, TX 76645, through the County Clerk at (254) 582-4030
  • Constitutional County Court (County Judge), Hill County Courthouse, Hillsboro, TX 76645, through the County Clerk at (254) 582-4030

For a Class C charge, the usual choices are paying the fine, asking for deferred disposition or a driving safety course, or pleading not guilty and requesting a trial. A conviction in a justice or city court can be appealed to the county court at law for a new trial if the appeal is filed within ten days.

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

After an arrest for a Class A or B offense, the person is taken to the Hill County Jail in Hillsboro for fingerprints, photographs and a warrant check. Within 48 hours a justice of the peace acting as magistrate reads the statutory warnings, explains the right to a lawyer, takes any request for appointed counsel, and sets bail. Release can come through a cash bond, a surety bond from a licensed bondsman, or a personal bond on the person's own promise to appear. State law requires the magistrate to look at a public safety report on the person's history before deciding.

Steps in the county court at law

  1. The Hill County Attorney reviews the offense report and files a written charge (an information) in the Hill County Court at Law.
  2. At the first setting, the defendant enters a plea, and the lawyer receives copies of reports and any video.
  3. Most cases end in a plea agreement, deferred adjudication, pretrial diversion or dismissal. A contested case can be tried to a jury of six, which must agree unanimously.

Typical penalties

  • Theft is graded by value: under $100 is a Class C ticket, $100 to $750 is Class B (up to 180 days and $2,000), and $750 to $2,500 is Class A (up to a year in jail and $4,000).
  • First DWI is Class B, with 72 hours to 180 days in jail and up to a $3,000 fine; probation is common. A breath or blood result of 0.15 or more makes it Class A, and an open container brings a six-day jail minimum. License suspension, DWI education and sometimes an ignition interlock follow.
  • Assault causing bodily injury is Class A; a family-violence finding means losing gun rights under federal law.
  • Criminal trespass is ordinarily Class B, or Class A at a home or with a deadly weapon.

Most Hill County misdemeanors take between two and six months. If you cannot afford a lawyer, ask the magistrate for one or call the County Clerk at (254) 582-4030 to reach the county court at law.

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

Felony suspects are held at the Hill County Jail until they post bond. The magistrate sets the initial amount, and the 66th District Court judge can later raise it, lower it or add conditions such as drug testing or electronic monitoring. Under the 90-day rule, a person jailed on a felony whose case the State is not ready to try within 90 days is generally entitled to a personal bond or reduced bail, with exceptions for violent charges.

How the case proceeds

  1. Indictment. The District Attorney presents the case to a Hill County grand jury; nine of twelve grand jurors must agree to indict. A defendant may waive indictment as part of a plea.
  2. Arraignment in the 66th District Court. The defendant hears the formal charge and pleads.
  3. Pretrial work. Evidence is exchanged, lab reports are completed and motions are heard.
  4. Resolution. Plea bargains resolve most cases. At a trial, twelve jurors must reach a unanimous verdict, and the defendant may ask the jury to decide the sentence.

Ranges of punishment

  • State jail felony: 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility, plus up to $10,000 (for example, theft of $2,500 to $30,000).
  • Third degree: 2 to 10 years in prison. Second degree (burglary of a home, most aggravated assaults): 2 to 20 years. First degree: 5 to 99 years or life. A fine up to $10,000 can be added.
  • Drug cases depend on the penalty group and weight and range from state jail felonies to first-degree felonies. Prior felonies can enhance the range, and 3g offenses require serving half the sentence before parole.

Deferred adjudication is often available for a first felony, leading to dismissal after successful supervision. Expect a Hill County felony to take six to eighteen months. To ask about appointed counsel, tell the magistrate or call the District Clerk at (254) 582-4042.

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

People charged with the most serious violent crimes usually stay in the Hill County Jail for a long time because bail is set high, personal bonds are prohibited for many violent offenses, and, since Texas voters approved a 2025 constitutional amendment, judges may deny bail entirely in some of these cases after a hearing.

  • Capital murder: life without parole or the death penalty, at the District Attorney's election to seek death.
  • Murder: 5 to 99 years or life; second degree (2 to 20 years) if sudden passion is proven at punishment.
  • Sexual assault: a second-degree felony. Aggravated sexual assault: first degree, with a 25-year minimum for some crimes against young children. Registration as a sex offender is required.
  • Aggravated robbery: first degree and a 3g offense.

A violent case in the 66th District Court often lasts one to three years, especially when DNA, autopsy or digital evidence must be analyzed by state labs. Victims have rights under article I, section 30 of the Texas Constitution and can contact the District Attorney's victim services staff at (254) 582-4070. Two qualified lawyers are appointed for an indigent defendant facing capital murder, often through the state's regional capital defender.

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Juveniles (under 17) arrested in Hill County

Children aged 10 through 16 at the time of an offense are handled in juvenile court. Seventeen-year-olds are adults in Texas criminal cases and go to the Hill County Jail like any other adult.

The Hill County Juvenile Board designates which local court sits as the juvenile court; in a county of this size that is typically the county court at law or the 66th District Court. The Hill County Juvenile Probation Department, (254) 582-4053, receives referrals from police and decides whether to release the child to a parent, handle the matter informally, or send it to the prosecutor, who files any petition.

Detention

Hill County does not run a large secure juvenile facility of its own, so a youth who must be detained is typically placed in a juvenile detention center in another county under a contract, such as a regional center in Central Texas; the probation department can say where a child is held. A detention hearing must take place within two working days, and the child is entitled to a lawyer for it.

What can happen

  • Informal handling or deferred prosecution for up to six months.
  • Juvenile probation, possibly with placement outside the home.
  • After a felony-level adjudication, a commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD).
  • A determinate sentence for certain grave offenses, which may continue in the adult system.

For serious felonies the prosecutor can request certification to adult court, generally at age 14 or older for capital or first-degree felonies (and some aggravated drug felonies) and at 15 or older for other felonies. Juvenile records are confidential, and many can later be sealed.

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

Hill County is assigned to the Waco Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, so federal charges arising here are heard about 35 miles south in Waco.

  • Federal courthouse and clerk (Waco Division): Room 380 at 800 Franklin Avenue in Waco (ZIP 76701), (254) 750-1501
  • Federal prosecutors (U.S. Attorney, Waco branch): Suite 280 in the same Franklin Avenue building, (254) 750-1580
  • Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas, which has a Waco office; private Criminal Justice Act panel attorneys are appointed when it cannot take a case

Cases become federal when they involve federal law or federal agents: drug trafficking along the I-35 corridor, firearms offenses by people barred from having guns, child exploitation crimes investigated online, bank robbery, and fraud are common examples. Local and state officers sometimes refer cases to federal prosecutors when federal penalties are tougher.

A federal defendant first appears before a U.S. magistrate judge in Waco, who explains the charges and decides on counsel. No commercial bail bond system operates in the Waco federal courthouse; if detention is requested, a hearing is usually held within three court days, and the judge orders release on conditions supervised by U.S. Pretrial Services or detention under the Bail Reform Act. Indictment must follow within 30 days of arrest on a complaint, and the Speedy Trial Act generally calls for trial within 70 days, though continuances are routine. A 12-member jury must be unanimous. At sentencing the judge considers a presentence report, the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and any mandatory minimum; federal prisoners serve roughly 85 percent of their terms because parole was abolished, followed by supervised release. Appeals are taken to the Fifth Circuit.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator lets families look up a federal prisoner with either a name or a register number. A person held before trial in a county lockup that houses prisoners for the U.S. Marshals can also appear on the inmate list kept by that county jail. Federal prosecutions of juveniles are rare.

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This overview explains the general course of a criminal case in Hill County and is not legal advice; laws and local procedures change. Speak with a Texas criminal defense lawyer about any specific charge. Hill County appoints private attorneys for people who cannot afford one under its indigent defense plan: ask the magistrate at the jail, or call the District Clerk at (254) 582-4042 for a felony or the County Clerk at (254) 582-4030 for a misdemeanor, and confirm court dates with the clerk.

Criminal Court Process for Hill County Texas

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

HILL COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK
80 N WACO ST
HILLSBORO TX, 76645
254-582-4042
HILL COUNTY DISTRICT JUDGE
80 N WACO ST
HILLSBORO TX, 76645
254-582-4045

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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.