Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center Criminal Court Process
Criminal Court Process for Lubbock County Texas
Lubbock County Criminal Court Guide
Nearly every local criminal case is heard inside the courthouse at 904 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401. Defendants who can't make bond sit in the Lubbock County Detention Center, 3502 N. Holly Ave., Lubbock, TX 79403, until their hearings. Read on to see which court owns a case, how felony and misdemeanor files move, who prosecutes and defends, and where hearing dates turn up.
Start with the Sheriff's jail roster. It shows if the person is on North Holly, plus the SO number and bond. On the custody side, our Recent Arrests page lists who was booked lately and who remains held, plus warrants, charge meanings, mugshots, court-appointed counsel and how belongings are returned.
For a felony, ring the District Clerk's criminal desk at 806-775-1578 and ask which district court has the case and its cause number. A misdemeanor question goes to the County Clerk instead. If release comes before anything else, our bail page covers bonds on North Holly.
1. Felony, misdemeanor or ticket: where does each go?
Texas sorts each charge by its level, and every level has a home court. On Broadway it breaks down like this:
- District courts take every felony. Six of them sit in the courthouse. Their files live in Room 105.
- County courts at law hear the jailable misdemeanors, Class A and Class B. Three of these courts work here, and Room 207 holds their records.
- Justice of the peace courts (four precincts) and city municipal courts take Class C offenses. Those are punished by a fine alone, like most traffic tickets.
- Appeals go first to an intermediate court of appeals. The Court of Criminal Appeals sits at the top for every criminal case in Texas.
A felony usually begins with the magistrate at the jail, moves to a grand jury, and lands in a district court once indicted. (Source: Texas Judicial System pamphlet, 2025.)
↑ Back to the question list2. Where is the Lubbock County courthouse, and who works there?
One address covers almost every office a family will need: 904 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401. Each listing below gives its own room:
- District Clerk: 904 Broadway, Room 105, Lubbock, TX 79401. Main line 806-775-1585, criminal desk 806-775-1578. Weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- County Clerk: 904 Broadway, Room 207, Lubbock, TX 79401, 806-775-1076. The lobby opens 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- District courts: 72nd, Suite 316, 806-775-1041; 99th, Suite 322 (call the District Clerk); 137th, Suite 300, 806-775-1035; 140th, Suite 330, 806-775-1032; 237th, Suite 606, 806-775-1027; 364th, Suite 310, 806-775-1026. All are at 904 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401.
- County Courts at Law: No. 1, Suite 401, 806-775-1305; No. 2, Suite 401, 806-775-1301; No. 3, Suite 403, 806-775-1321. All are at 904 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401.
- Court Magistrate: 904 Broadway, Suite 420, Lubbock, TX 79401, coordinator 806-775-1700. A second magistrate office sits inside the Detention Center.
- District Attorney: 904 Broadway St., 2nd Floor, Lubbock, TX 79401, 806-775-1100.
The phone numbers for the courts reach each court's coordinator, the person who keeps its calendar.
↑ Back to the question list3. Do Idalou, Slaton and other towns have city courts?
A Class C ticket written inside city limits is heard by that city's municipal court. State law sets up such a court in each incorporated city. Two of them here can be located for you:
- Lubbock Municipal Court is at 1214 14th Street, Lubbock, TX. It hears tickets from city police inside the city limits. The citation lists its phone and first court date.
- Idalou Municipal Court takes payments at Idalou City Hall, 301 Main Street, Idalou, TX 79329, 806-892-2531. Cash, checks, money orders and credit cards are accepted.
Slaton, Wolfforth, Shallowater, New Deal, Ransom Canyon and Buffalo Springs are smaller towns in the county. A ticket from one of them names its court on the paper itself. Lost the ticket? Ask the County Clerk's staff at 806-775-1076 where to start.
The county's four justice of the peace courts at 904 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401, hear Class C cases too. Precinct 1 is in Room 110 (806-775-1547), Precinct 2 in Suite 113 (806-775-1554), Precinct 3 in Suite 111 (806-775-1328), and Precinct 4 answers at 806-775-1540.
↑ Back to the question list4. What happens at the first hearing on North Holly?
Inside the Detention Center, a county magistrate runs the Initial Appearance at least twice every day. Some sessions use Zoom, and families may watch the live stream without recording it. Under CCP art. 15.17, the magistrate must cover:
- the accusation itself
- hiring a defense attorney, or requesting a free one
- silence, and ending any police interview at will
- having counsel present during questioning
- an examining trial if the charge is a felony
- that statements may become evidence
Bail gets set at the same sitting. A magistrate who rules the arrest lacked probable cause owes written reasons within a day, a duty added in 2025 by CCP art. 15.17(h). If jail staff suspect a mental illness, CCP art. 16.22 sets a 12-hour deadline to tell the magistrate. The court coordinator answers schedule questions at 806-775-1700.
↑ Back to the question list5. What path do DWI and theft misdemeanors take?
Most misdemeanors begin with an "information," a charging paper the District Attorney's Office files. From there a county court at law takes over. Steps usually run in this order:
- Arraignment: the accusation gets read aloud and the defendant answers it. A lawyer may waive this step in writing (CCP art. 26.01).
- Pretrial settings, where both sides share evidence and may negotiate.
- Plea or trial. If both sides reach a bargain, the judge must say in open court if it will be honored. Per CCP art. 26.13, a turned-down bargain lets the defendant withdraw the plea.
- Sentencing. For misdemeanors, deferred adjudication and probation each top out at two years (CCP arts. 42A.103 and 42A.053).
Maximum penalties under Penal Code chapter 12 (text):
- Class A: up to a year in jail, a $4,000 fine, or both (12.21).
- Class B: a fine as high as $2,000, county jail time reaching 180 days, or both (12.22).
- Class C: a fine of $500 at most, with no jail (12.23).
Drunk-driving cases can be steered to the county's DWI Court, run through County Court at Law No. 2, Suite 401, 806-775-1301. Fine-only cases have safety valves for people short on money: installments, community service worth $150 per eight hours, or having the fine waived. Before any jail time over an unpaid fine, the judge needs a hearing plus a finding of no honest effort to pay (see CCP arts. 45A.252-45A.261).
↑ Back to the question list6. How does a Lubbock County felony reach trial?
Felony files belong to the six district courts, and the District Clerk tracks every step. Expect this order:
- Initial Appearance on North Holly, covering the accusation, rights and bond, no later than 48 hours after arrest.
- Examining trial on request. Under CCP art. 16.01, a magistrate tests the evidence for probable cause while no indictment exists yet.
- Grand jury. The panel works behind closed doors. Nine or more members must vote yes for an indictment (CCP art. 20A.301).
- District court arraignment, governed by CCP art. 26.01.
- Pretrial hearings, motions and plea talks.
- Guilty plea or trial by jury, followed by punishment.
Felony punishment ranges come from Penal Code 12.32-12.35. A state jail felony brings a state jail stay lasting from 180 days to two years. A third-degree conviction means 2 to 10 years in prison, a second-degree one 2 to 20, and a first-degree one anything from 5 years to 99, or life. Every felony level also allows a fine up to $10,000. Earlier felonies can push the range up a step (Penal Code 12.42). Penal Code 12.44 lets a judge hand down Class A jail time for a state jail felony instead.
Felony deferred adjudication lasts a decade at most. Finish it, and the case is dismissed under CCP arts. 42A.111 and 42A.103. Ask the criminal desk at 806-775-1578 which district court holds the case.
↑ Back to the question list7. Do murder and assault charges follow tougher rules?
Serious violent charges change the rules from the first hour:
- Personal bond is barred for most violent offenses, under CCP art. 17.03 as widened by the 2025 law S.B. 9.
- A no-bail hearing is now possible. On November 4, 2025, voters approved Proposition 3, which created Tex. Const. art. I, §11d. Covered charges include murder, capital murder, child indecency and human trafficking. Aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery and aggravated sexual assault are on the list as well, plus some aggravated assaults. The state carries the burden of showing a flight risk or a threat to safety.
- Appointed magistrates have limits. Under CCP art. 17.027, magistrates appointed through Government Code chapter 54 can't free anyone accused of murder or capital murder. The same goes for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault.
- Prosecutors may ask an appeals court to raise bail on certain violent charges. The defendant stays on North Holly while that appeal runs (CCP art. 44.01).
- Family violence brings a four-hour hold after bond if the magistrate expects more violence (CCP art. 17.291). A magistrate's emergency protective order usually runs 61 to 91 days. Under CCP art. 17.292, that order stretches to 91 to 121 days in serious-injury or weapon cases.
Penal Code 12.31 sets capital punishment for adults at death or life without parole. Someone who was not yet 18 at the time receives a life term.
↑ Back to the question list8. Who are the Lubbock County prosecutors and defenders?
Prosecution. The District Attorney's Office, 904 Broadway St., 2nd Floor, Lubbock, TX 79401, 806-775-1100, handles every criminal offense police send it, both felony and misdemeanor. Its doors are open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ask the office whether a pretrial diversion program could fit the case.
Defense for people who can't pay. Appointments run through the Lubbock Private Defender Office, a managed assigned counsel program, at 1401 Crickets Ave., Lubbock, TX 79401, 806-749-0007. Here is how it works:
- The request starts with the magistrate at the jail and must reach the appointing court within 24 hours (CCP art. 15.17).
- With a population over 250,000, the county must appoint counsel before the first working day after receipt has ended (CCP art. 1.051).
- The judge weighs income, debts and family, under oath. Once found unable to pay, the person stays that way for the case unless money changes (CCP art. 26.04).
The county's appointment plan is on file with the state. Open the indigent defense plan page and pick the county. For a federal case, the Federal Public Defender works at 1205 Texas Avenue, Room 507, Lubbock, TX 79401, 806-472-7236.
↑ Back to the question list9. Where do cause numbers and court settings show up?
Several tools work together. Start with the one that fits what you know:
- The jail roster. The Sheriff's roster gives the SO number and the bond once it is set.
- The clerks. For felonies, call the District Clerk's criminal desk at 806-775-1578. For misdemeanors, call the County Clerk at 806-775-1076. Ask for the cause number, the court and the next setting.
- Statewide records. re:SearchTX is free after you register. It shows the court, case number and charging papers such as an indictment or judgment. Hearing dates are a job for the clerk.
- Alerts. Texas IVSS-Counties phones or messages you for free whenever a setting gets added or moved, in English or Spanish. Its 24-hour line is 866-268-8959.
- Old convictions. The DPS conviction name search charges per search.
10. How are Lubbock County warrants checked and cleared?
Sheriff's deputies, the four county constables and city police all serve warrants here. The state posts its Texas 10 Most Wanted list. Any other warrant is checked by phone. Constables: Precinct 1 806-775-1538, Precinct 2 806-535-2601, Precinct 3 806-775-1535, Precinct 4 806-775-1537, all based in Room 120 of the courthouse. Felony warrants come from the district courts, so the District Clerk, 904 Broadway, Room 105, Lubbock, TX 79401, 806-775-1578, can check a name. To clear one, a defense attorney can schedule a surrender at LCDC, 3502 N. Holly Ave., Lubbock, TX 79403, or you can call the issuing court about bond.
↑ Back to the question list11. Where do South Plains federal cases go?
Federal prosecutors file local cases in the Lubbock Division of the Northern District of Texas, whose clerk works in the George H. Mahon Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 1205 Texas Avenue, Room 209, Lubbock, TX 79401, 806-472-1900.
- Step one is a first appearance before a federal magistrate judge at the courthouse on Texas Avenue.
- That judge holds a detention hearing to decide release or custody before trial. It can be delayed by only a handful of days when a side asks (18 U.S.C. 3142).
- The U.S. Marshals Service takes charge of anyone held before trial. Its local office: 1205 Texas Avenue, Room C-126, Lubbock, TX 79401, 806-472-7655. The Detention Center houses some federal prisoners under contract.
- After a prison term is imposed, the Bureau of Prisons picks a facility; its BOP inmate locator shows where.
12. Does ICE interest in a defendant alter the court case?
Immigration custody and the criminal charge run side by side:
- LCDC receives a Form I-247A, the detainer ICE uses to request that someone stay jailed for pickup.
- The hold may last up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
- Texas jails must follow the detainer unless the person shows proof of legal status, as CCP art. 2A.060 directs. Gov't Code 752.053 bans local limits on immigration enforcement. And under S.B. 8 (2025), December 1, 2026 is the cutoff for each jail-holding county to apply to ICE for 287(g) status.
- Agents from ICE's Dallas Field Office, which covers North Texas, pick the person up: 8101 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75247, 972-367-2200.
- To search the ICE Online Detainee Locator, use an A-number when you know it. Otherwise, search by full name along with country of birth.
Inside the courtroom, one more rule matters. Under CCP art. 26.13, a non-citizen pleading guilty or no contest first hears, and receives in writing, a warning that deportation could follow.
↑ Back to the question list13. Where are Texas felony sentences served?
Felony time is served under the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. State jail felons go to a state jail facility, while second-, third- and first-degree terms are served in TDCJ prisons (Penal Code 12.31-12.35). Each newcomer is processed at intake and later assigned to a fitting unit.
- Look the person up with the TDCJ inmate search. Results update on working days only and are at least a day old.
- For an overview of the prison system, see our Texas state prisons page.
- Local probation runs through Lubbock Community Supervision, 701 Main, Lubbock, TX 79401, 806-775-1200.
14. Which court handles charges against a minor?
Juvenile court in Texas covers youth aged 10 to 16 on the date of the alleged conduct (Family Code 51.02). The county's juvenile board picks which court hears those cases (Family Code 51.04).
Detained youth stay at the Juvenile Justice Center, 2025 N. Akron Ave., Lubbock, TX 79415, 806-775-1800, which never closes. Juvenile probation answers on that same line.
- The judge holds a detention hearing inside two working days. After a Friday or Saturday intake, it is one working day. A lawyer is named first (Family Code 54.01).
- Parents must be told quickly. A parent may also sit with the child at the juvenile processing office (Family Code 52.02, 52.025).
- Some felony cases can be certified to adult court. The youngest age allowed is 14 for the gravest charges and 15 for the rest. Before that, the court orders a full investigation and holds a hearing (Family Code 54.02).
15. Which supports exist for Lubbock County crime victims?
CCP art. 56A.051 lists the rights of Texas crime victims. Among them:
- the magistrate considers victim safety when setting bail
- hearing notices, sent on request
- an impact statement the judge reads before sentencing
- prompt return of property kept as evidence
For case updates, call the District Attorney's Office at 806-775-1100. To track release or a transfer, register with Texas IVSS-Counties. Registration costs nothing, stays private and is never revealed to the inmate.
The Attorney General's Crime Victims' Compensation fund can pay up to $50,000. It helps with medical bills, counseling and lost pay. Insurance and other sources pay first. Call 800-983-9933.
↑ Back to the question list16. Does Lubbock County have DWI or drug court?
Yes, two. Specialty courts trade jail time for close supervision and treatment, and statewide they typically last 12 to 24 months.
- DWI Court: County Court at Law No. 2, 904 Broadway, Suite 401, Lubbock, TX 79401, 806-775-1301.
- Adult Drug Court: 364th District Court, 904 Broadway, Suite 310, Lubbock, TX 79401, 806-775-1026.
Ask the defense lawyer whether the person qualifies. The state's specialty court list explains each type. Probation for people sentenced here is handled by Lubbock Community Supervision, 701 Main, Lubbock, TX 79401, 806-775-1200, which also runs a website.
↑ Back to the question listCriminal 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.
