Lubbock County Detention Center Criminal Court Process

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Lubbock County

Criminal Court Process for Lubbock County Texas

Lubbock, home of Texas Tech University and the largest city on the South Plains, is the county seat of Lubbock County. Class C offenses go to four justice of the peace courts and to the municipal courts of Lubbock, Slaton, Wolfforth, Idalou, Shallowater, New Deal, Ransom Canyon and Buffalo Springs; the three numbered County Courts at Law decide Class A and B misdemeanors; and felonies go to six district courts, the 72nd, 99th, 137th, 140th, 237th and 364th. The Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney prosecutes misdemeanors and felonies alike. Adults arrested anywhere in the county are booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center, run by the Sheriff.

  • Lubbock County Courthouse (district courts, county courts at law, justice courts and clerks), 904 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401; mailing address P.O. Box 10536, Lubbock, TX 79408
  • Lubbock County District Clerk (felony case files), 904 Broadway, Suite 105, (806) 775-1585
  • Lubbock County Clerk (misdemeanor case files for the county courts at law), 904 Broadway, Suite 207, (806) 775-1076
  • Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney (all felony and misdemeanor prosecutions), (806) 775-1100
  • Lubbock County Court Magistrate (magistrate warnings and release decisions for people in custody), (806) 775-1700
  • Lubbock County Detention Center (Lubbock County Sheriff's Office), 3502 North Holly Street, Lubbock, TX; inmate mail P.O. Box 10535, Lubbock, TX 79408; (806) 775-1400
  • Lubbock Private Defenders Office (managed assigned counsel program for indigent defendants), 1401 Crickets Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79401

Which court hears your case. Class C misdemeanors are the offenses punished by a fine alone, such as traffic violations, public intoxication, minor in possession, theft under $100 and assault by offensive contact. A ticket written by Lubbock police, or by officers in one of the smaller cities, goes to that city's municipal court; a ticket written by a deputy or a state trooper generally goes to the Justice of the Peace court for the precinct. Prosecutors file Class A and B misdemeanors, a first DWI among them, in one of the three Lubbock County Courts at Law (No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3); in Lubbock County these criminal cases are handled by the county courts at law rather than by the County Judge. Felonies start with magistrate warnings at the jail and, after a Lubbock County grand jury indicts, are assigned to one of the six district courts. Most criminal felony dockets are concentrated in the 137th, 140th and 364th District Courts, while the 72nd (which also serves Crosby County), 99th and 237th carry larger civil and family dockets.

Where pretrial inmates are held. The Lubbock County Detention Center, the large modern jail the Sheriff operates in north Lubbock, holds people arrested by the Sheriff's Office, Lubbock police, Texas Tech police, the Department of Public Safety and the police departments of Slaton, Wolfforth and the other small cities. People stay there until they post bail, are released on a personal bond, or have their cases resolved. Call the detention center at (806) 775-1400 to confirm whether someone is in custody, the charges and the bond amounts.

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

Lubbock County's four justices of the peace all keep their courtrooms in the county courthouse on Broadway rather than in the outlying towns. Besides Class C cases, they hear evictions and small claims, issue arrest and search warrants and share magistrate duty with the court magistrate for people booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center, including setting bond.

Justice of the Peace courts

  • Precinct 1, Lubbock County Courthouse, 904 Broadway, Room 110, Lubbock, TX 79401, (806) 775-1547
  • Precinct 2, Lubbock County Courthouse, 904 Broadway, Room 113, Lubbock, TX 79401, (806) 775-1560
  • Precinct 3, Lubbock County Courthouse, 904 Broadway, Room 111, Lubbock, TX 79401, (806) 775-1328
  • Precinct 4, Lubbock County Courthouse, 904 Broadway, Room 121, Lubbock, TX 79401, (806) 775-1540

Municipal courts

  • Lubbock Municipal Court, 915 Avenue J (P.O. Box 2000), Lubbock, TX 79457, (806) 775-2473
  • Slaton Municipal Court, Slaton City Hall, 130 South 9th Street, Slaton, TX 79364, (806) 828-2004
  • Wolfforth Municipal Court, City of Wolfforth Municipal Building, 302 Main Street (P.O. Box 36), Wolfforth, TX 79382, (806) 855-4120
  • Idalou Municipal Court, 301 Main Street (P.O. Box 1277), Idalou, TX 79329, (806) 892-2531
  • Shallowater Municipal Court, P.O. Box 246, Shallowater, TX 79363, (806) 832-4521
  • New Deal Municipal Court, P.O. Box 126, New Deal, TX 79350, (806) 746-6399
  • Ransom Canyon Municipal Court, 24 Lee Kitchens Drive, Ransom Canyon, TX 79366, (806) 829-2470
  • Buffalo Springs Municipal Court, 9999 High Meadows Road, Lubbock, TX 79404, (806) 790-4324

The Lubbock Municipal Court is by far the busiest of these and handles city ordinance cases, traffic tickets and Class C offenses written by Lubbock police. The address and first court date are printed on every citation.

County courts

  • Lubbock County Court at Law No. 1, 904 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401; court staff (806) 775-1305
  • Lubbock County Court at Law No. 2 (also home of the county's DWI Court), 904 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401; court staff (806) 775-1301
  • Lubbock County Court at Law No. 3, 904 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401; court staff (806) 775-1321
  • Lubbock County Court (constitutional county court; County Judge), 904 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401; case records through the County Clerk at (806) 775-1076

Class A and B misdemeanor cases, and appeals from justice and municipal courts that are not courts of record, are heard by the county courts at law. A person convicted in a justice court can appeal for a new trial within 10 days of the judgment.

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Lubbock County courthouses and offices

Nearly all criminal court business in Lubbock County happens in downtown Lubbock, in and around the county courthouse at 904 Broadway. Knowing which office keeps which file saves time.

  • Felony cases are heard in the district courtrooms of the courthouse. The District Clerk at (806) 775-1585 keeps the files, accepts bond paperwork and can give the next setting.
  • Misdemeanor cases are heard in the three county courts at law, also at 904 Broadway. The County Clerk at (806) 775-1076 keeps the records and collects fines and court costs.
  • Justice court cases are in the four JP courtrooms inside the courthouse; each precinct has its own phone line, listed above.
  • City cases from Lubbock police go to the Lubbock Municipal Court on Avenue J, a few blocks away.
  • Magistration for people in custody is handled at the Lubbock County Detention Center by the court magistrate's office, (806) 775-1700.
  • Juvenile cases are handled at the Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center on North Akron Avenue, not at the main courthouse.

Court coordinators for each district court and county court at law set hearings and can answer questions about dockets, but they cannot give legal advice.

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What happens after an arrest in Lubbock County

The first day after an arrest in Lubbock County follows a fairly standard sequence, whether the arrest is by city police, deputies or troopers.

  1. Booking. The arresting officer brings the person to the Lubbock County Detention Center, where jail staff record identifying information, take fingerprints and photographs, inventory property and run warrant checks.
  2. Magistration. Within 48 hours, and usually much sooner, the person is brought before the court magistrate or a justice of the peace. The magistrate reads the article 15.17 warnings, explains the charges and the right to stay silent, and asks whether the person wants a lawyer appointed.
  3. Release decision. The magistrate reviews a public safety report, required since the 2021 Damon Allen Act, and sets bail. Options include a cash bond, a surety bond through a licensed bail bondsman (who charges a nonrefundable premium), or a personal bond, which may come with conditions such as reporting, alcohol monitoring or an ignition interlock. People charged with violent offenses cannot receive personal bonds, and Under a constitutional amendment Texas voters approved in 2025, judges in Lubbock County can deny bail in some violent-crime cases.
  4. Request for counsel. A person who asks for a court-appointed lawyer fills out a financial affidavit. If eligible, the person is assigned a lawyer through the Lubbock Private Defenders Office.
  5. Release or continued custody. Once bond is posted, the person is released with a court date. Someone who cannot post bond stays in the detention center, and under article 17.151 must generally be released on personal bond or reduced bail if the State is not ready for trial within 90 days on a felony (shorter periods apply to misdemeanors), with exceptions for violent offenses.

Family-violence arrests usually bring a magistrate's order for emergency protection, which can bar contact with the alleged victim and order the person to stay away from the home for weeks or months.

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The Lubbock County Detention Center

The Lubbock County Detention Center is one of the largest county jails in West Texas and the only adult county jail in Lubbock County. It holds people awaiting trial on state charges, people serving short county sentences, and people waiting for transfer to state prison.

  • Location: 3502 North Holly Street, Lubbock
  • Phone: (806) 775-1400
  • Inmate mail: P.O. Box 10535, Lubbock, TX 79408 (include the person's full name and jail number)

Families can confirm custody, charges and bond amounts by phone. Video visitation, commissary deposits and inmate phone accounts run through the jail's contracted vendors, and visitors must follow the jail's dress code and identification rules. People arrested in Lubbock County on warrants from other counties are held at the detention center until the other county picks them up.

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Public defender and court-appointed lawyers

Lubbock County provides lawyers for people who cannot afford one mainly through a managed assigned counsel program, the Lubbock Private Defenders Office, 1401 Crickets Avenue. Rather than employing all of the attorneys itself, the office screens and assigns qualified private lawyers to felony and misdemeanor cases, monitors their caseloads and provides caseworkers and client advocates, including help for clients with serious mental illness or intellectual disabilities. The Texas Indigent Defense Commission helps fund the program.

  • How to ask for a lawyer: tell the magistrate at the Lubbock County Detention Center that you want appointed counsel, and complete the financial affidavit. People who are out on bond can ask the court handling their case, through the District Clerk at (806) 775-1585 for felonies or the County Clerk at (806) 775-1076 for misdemeanors.
  • Capital cases: the Regional Public Defender for Capital Cases, which is based in Lubbock and serves most rural Texas counties, represents many defendants facing capital murder charges.
  • Eligibility: the decision depends on income, household size and the seriousness of the charge. A person who later can pay may be ordered to reimburse part of the cost.

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The Criminal District Attorney and diversion

Lubbock County has a Criminal District Attorney, which means one office prosecutes felonies, misdemeanors, juvenile cases and certain civil matters. The office, reachable at (806) 775-1100, reviews arrests, presents felony cases to grand juries and handles plea negotiations.

  • Pretrial diversion: for some first-time, lower-level offenders, the Criminal District Attorney may agree to set the case aside while the person completes conditions such as classes, community service and restitution; if the person completes the program, the case is dismissed and may be eligible for expunction.
  • DWI alternatives: first-time DWI defendants may be considered for a pretrial intervention or for the county's DWI Court, depending on the facts and the person's record.
  • Deferred adjudication: commonly offered on first misdemeanors and many first felonies; if the person finishes supervision, there is no final conviction and an order of nondisclosure may be possible.
  • Victim services: the office's victim assistance staff notify victims of hearings and help with impact statements and protective orders.

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Specialty courts in Lubbock County

Lubbock County operates several specialty courts that combine close judicial supervision with treatment, aimed at defendants whose cases are driven by addiction or other underlying problems.

  • DWI Court: run by the judge of County Court at Law No. 2, this program supervises repeat or high-risk DWI offenders with frequent court appearances, alcohol monitoring, treatment and incentives for progress.
  • Adult Drug Court: presided over by the judge of the 364th District Court, it takes felony drug offenders who agree to an intensive program of treatment, testing and regular status hearings in exchange for a reduced or dismissed charge on completion.
  • Mental health support: for defendants with serious mental illness or intellectual disabilities, the Lubbock Private Defenders Office provides caseworkers who connect clients with treatment, which can shape release conditions and plea terms.

Entry into a specialty court usually requires the agreement of the prosecutor and the judge, a screening interview and a plea or agreement on the underlying charge. A defense lawyer can say whether a particular case might qualify.

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

The misdemeanor caseload in Lubbock County is heavy: DWI arrests on the Marsha Sharp Freeway and Loop 289, shoplifting from big-box stores, family-violence assaults, marijuana and paraphernalia cases, and alcohol-related offenses connected to the university. Every one begins with booking at the Lubbock County Detention Center.

Getting out and the first setting

After magistration, most misdemeanor defendants are released on a surety bond, a cash bond or a personal bond, often with conditions. The bond paperwork lists the court and the first setting, usually an arraignment in one of the three county courts at law.

How a misdemeanor case moves

The Criminal District Attorney's misdemeanor division files an information with the County Clerk, and the case is assigned to County Court at Law No. 1, 2 or 3. At arraignment, the defendant enters a plea and, if eligible, has a lawyer appointed through the Lubbock Private Defenders Office. Many cases resolve at pretrial settings through plea agreements, diversion or dismissal. A defendant who insists on trial is entitled to six jurors, who must agree unanimously, or may waive a jury and have the judge decide.

Penalties for typical charges

  • Theft: below $100 it is Class C; from $100 to $750 it is Class B, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine; from $750 to $2,500 it is Class A, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
  • Assault causing bodily injury: Class A. A finding of family violence can turn a second offense into a felony, and the federal Gun Control Act then bars possessing firearms.
  • Criminal trespass: Class B in most situations, and Class A when it involves a home or the person has a deadly weapon.
  • First DWI: Class B, carrying a jail range from 72 hours up to 180 days plus a fine that can reach $3,000; Class A whenever a breath or blood test comes back at 0.15 or higher; and a mandatory six days in jail if police find an open container. Expect a separate administrative license suspension, a DWI education program, possible ignition interlock as a bond or probation condition, and a state fine after conviction. Probation is common for first offenders.

Other outcomes include deferred adjudication, which leaves no conviction on successful completion, and orders of nondisclosure for eligible cases. A Lubbock County Class A or B case usually takes two to six months, sometimes longer when lab results are needed.

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

Felony cases in Lubbock County are prosecuted by the Criminal District Attorney's felony trial teams and heard in the district courts at 904 Broadway, primarily the 137th, 140th and 364th.

  1. Magistration. The magistrate sets bail after reviewing the public safety report. A defendant who cannot post it remains at the Lubbock County Detention Center.
  2. Appointed counsel. Felony defendants who cannot afford a lawyer are assigned one through the Lubbock Private Defenders Office. Requests can also be made through the District Clerk at (806) 775-1585.
  3. Grand jury. Lubbock County grand juries meet regularly and hear felony cases presented by prosecutors. They can indict or decline to indict. A defendant can waive indictment and plead on an information, typically when a plea deal is in place.
  4. The 90-day rule. A person held on a felony is generally entitled to release on personal bond or reduced bail if the State is not ready for trial within 90 days, except in violent-offense cases.
  5. Arraignment, plea or trial. After indictment, the case is set for arraignment and pretrial hearings. Most felonies end in plea agreements, but a trial requires 12 jurors who must all agree, and the defendant can elect jury sentencing.

Felony punishment levels

  • State jail felony: 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility, for crimes such as theft of $2,500 to $30,000 or possession of less than one gram of a Penalty Group 1 drug.
  • Third degree: 2 to 10 years. Second degree: 2 to 20 years, the range used for most Lubbock burglaries of a residence and most aggravated assaults. First degree: 5 to 99 years or life. Lubbock County juries and judges may also add a fine of as much as $10,000 at every one of these levels.
  • Drug cases: graded by penalty group and weight; fentanyl and methamphetamine cases with larger weights can reach first degree.

Prior felony convictions can enhance the range, including under the habitual offender laws. People convicted of "3g" offenses must serve half the sentence, with a two-year minimum, before parole eligibility; most others become eligible after about a quarter with good time. Deferred adjudication or probation is common for first-time felony defendants, and the Adult Drug Court is an option for some drug cases. Felonies in Lubbock County typically take six to eighteen months.

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

Homicides, aggravated robberies and serious sexual assaults in Lubbock County are investigated by Lubbock police, the Sheriff's Office or the Texas Rangers, and prosecuted by the Criminal District Attorney. The Damon Allen Act bars personal bonds for violent offenses, and bail amounts are often high.

  • Capital murder: death, if the Criminal District Attorney seeks it, or life without parole. Lubbock County has sought the death penalty in a number of cases over the years.
  • Murder: first degree; a Lubbock jury can return any sentence between 5 and 99 years, or life.
  • Sexual assault: second degree. Aggravated sexual assault: first degree, with Texas law requiring at least 25 years in certain cases where the child is very young.
  • Aggravated robbery: first degree, and as a "3g" crime it keeps the defendant from parole review until half the term is done.

Defendants charged with these offenses usually remain in the Lubbock County Detention Center through trial. Capital cases require specially qualified defense counsel, and the Regional Public Defender for Capital Cases, based in Lubbock, often handles them. Victims have rights under article I, section 30 of the Texas Constitution, including notice, the right to be present and the right to give an impact statement. Expect a violent felony case in the 137th, 140th or 364th District Court to last one to three years.

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Juveniles (under 17) arrested in Lubbock County

Texas treats children 10 through 16 at the time of the offense as juveniles. A 17-year-old arrested in Lubbock County, including a high school senior, is booked into the adult detention center and charged in adult court.

Intake at the Juvenile Justice Center

Juveniles taken into custody are brought to the Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center, 2025 North Akron Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79415, (806) 775-1800, which is open around the clock. Juvenile probation intake officers decide whether to release the child to a parent, offer an informal disposition or refer the case to the Criminal District Attorney, which files petitions in the court the Lubbock County Juvenile Board has designated as the juvenile court. Juvenile hearings are typically held at the Juvenile Justice Center.

Detention

The Juvenile Justice Center includes the county's secure juvenile detention facility, which can also take youths from smaller South Plains counties by agreement. A child who is detained must have a detention hearing within two working days, and the judge must keep reviewing detention while the case is pending.

Possible outcomes

  • For a first, low-level referral, intake may offer supervisory caution or a deferred prosecution contract.
  • Probation with conditions such as school attendance, counseling, curfew, community service and restitution, or a residential placement.
  • Commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), or a determinate sentence for serious offenses that can be completed in adult prison.
  • Certification to stand trial in adult court, which the juvenile judge may generally order at age 14 or older for capital and first-degree felonies (and certain aggravated drug felonies), and at 15 or older for other felonies.

The juvenile court appoints a lawyer if the family cannot afford one. Juvenile records are confidential, and most can be sealed after the young person meets the legal requirements.

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

Lubbock County is the seat of the Lubbock Division of the Northern District of Texas, which serves 19 South Plains counties. Federal cases are heard at the George H. Mahon Federal Building on Texas Avenue in downtown Lubbock.

  • U.S. District Court clerk, Lubbock: George H. Mahon Federal Building, 1205 Texas Avenue, Room 209, (806) 472-1900
  • U.S. Attorney's Lubbock office: George Mahon Federal Building, 1205 Texas Avenue, Suite 700, (806) 472-7351
  • Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Texas, which keeps a Lubbock office, or a private Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel lawyer when the office has a conflict

What brings a case to federal court

As the regional hub, Lubbock sees steady federal caseloads in drug trafficking (particularly methamphetamine and fentanyl), firearms possession by people with felony records, child exploitation, bank and health care fraud, and robbery of banks or businesses involved in interstate commerce. Local and federal task forces often decide together which system will handle a case.

The federal process

At the first appearance, held in the Mahon Federal Building, a federal magistrate judge reads the charges and decides whether the defendant qualifies for appointed counsel. Federal court has no commercial bail; when the government seeks detention, a hearing is generally held within three court days, and under the Bail Reform Act the magistrate judge either releases the defendant on conditions supervised by U.S. Pretrial Services or orders detention. Detained federal defendants are housed by the U.S. Marshals in county or contract jails in the region. The grand jury must indict within 30 days of arrest on a complaint, and the Speedy Trial Act sets 70 days for trial, though extensions are routine. A federal jury has 12 members who must be unanimous, but most cases end in guilty pleas.

Sentencing

The court's probation office prepares a presentence report, and the district judge considers the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and any mandatory minimum. Federal prisoners do not receive parole and serve about 85 percent of the sentence in the Bureau of Prisons, followed by supervised release. A Lubbock County federal appeal goes to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

For a Lubbock County resident already in federal prison, the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator gives the facility; search with a name or register number. Someone in U.S. Marshals custody awaiting trial in a county jail may also appear on that jail's inmate roster. Federal prosecution of juveniles is rare.

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This page provides general information about criminal cases in Lubbock County and is not legal advice. Court assignments, phone numbers and jail procedures change. Anyone facing a criminal charge should consult a defense lawyer; a person who cannot afford one can ask the magistrate for appointed counsel through the Lubbock Private Defenders Office, or contact the District Clerk at (806) 775-1585 (felonies) or the County Clerk at (806) 775-1076 (misdemeanors).

Criminal Court Process for Lubbock County Texas

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

SLATON MUNICIPAL COURT
130 S 9TH ST
SLATON TX, 79364
806-828-2004
LUBBOCK COUNTY COURTHOUSE
904 BROADWAY
LUBBOCK TX, 79401
806-775-1000
LUBBOCK MUNICIPAL COURT
915 AVENUE J
LUBBOCK TX, 79401
806-775-2473
LUBBOCK COUNTY CHILD SUPPORT
904 BROADWAY # 105
LUBBOCK TX, 79401
806-775-1314

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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.