Mitchell County Jail Criminal Court Process

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Criminal Court Process for Mitchell County Texas

Colorado City, on Interstate 20 between Abilene and Big Spring, is the county seat of Mitchell County, and its courthouse at 349 Oak Street holds the county's justice courts, County Court and district court. Class C cases go to the justices of the peace or to the Colorado City and Loraine municipal courts; Class A and B misdemeanors are heard by the 1st Multicounty Court at Law, which serves Fisher, Mitchell and Nolan counties; and felonies are tried in the 32nd District Court, which covers the same three counties. The Mitchell County Attorney prosecutes misdemeanors, and the 32nd District Attorney prosecutes felonies throughout the district. The Sheriff runs the county jail in Colorado City.

  • Mitchell County Courthouse (32nd District Court; County Court; justice courts), 349 Oak St., Colorado City, TX 79512; District Clerk (325) 728-5918, County Clerk (325) 728-3481
  • 1st Multicounty Court at Law (Fisher, Mitchell and Nolan counties), 100 E. Third St., Suite 107, Sweetwater, TX 79556, (325) 235-2353
  • Mitchell County Jail and Sheriff's Office, Colorado City, TX 79512, (325) 728-5261
  • 32nd District Attorney (felonies in Fisher, Mitchell and Nolan counties), Colorado City office (325) 728-3457, ext. 3
  • Mitchell County Attorney (misdemeanors), (325) 728-3457, ext. 2

Which court hears your case. Class C misdemeanors are fine-only offenses: traffic tickets, public intoxication, theft under $100, an assault that causes no injury, minor in possession and similar charges. A citation from a deputy or trooper goes to a Justice of the Peace in the courthouse, and one from a city officer goes to the Colorado City or Loraine municipal court. The 1st Multicounty Court at Law, a statutory court shared by Fisher, Mitchell and Nolan counties, takes the Class A and B misdemeanors, first DWI cases included, and its judge comes to Colorado City for Mitchell County settings. A felony begins with magistrate warnings and goes to the 32nd District Court once a Mitchell County grand jury indicts.

Where pretrial inmates are held. The Mitchell County Sheriff's Office operates the county jail in Colorado City, which state jail standards records listed at 99 beds in early 2022. At that time the county was also boarding a few of its inmates in other jails. People arrested by deputies, Colorado City police or state troopers are booked there and held until they post bail or the case is resolved. For custody information call (325) 728-5261.

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

Mitchell County's four justice of the peace precincts are combined into two courts, both on the ground floor of the courthouse in Colorado City: one judge covers Precincts 1 and 4 and another covers Precincts 2 and 3. Besides Class C cases, they hear small claims and eviction suits and act as magistrates for new arrests, setting bond and taking requests for counsel. Colorado City and Loraine run their own municipal courts.

Justice of the Peace courts

  • Justice of the Peace, Precincts 1 and 4, 349 Oak St., Room 100, Colorado City, TX 79512, (325) 728-8906
  • Justice of the Peace, Precincts 2 and 3, 349 Oak St., Room 101, Colorado City, TX 79512, (325) 728-5162

Municipal courts

  • Colorado City Municipal Court, 180 W. Third St. (P.O. Box 912), Colorado City, TX 79512, (325) 728-5331, ext. 1
  • Loraine Municipal Court, P.O. Box 7, Loraine, TX 79532, (325) 737-2236

County and district courts

  • 1st Multicounty Court at Law (Class A and B misdemeanors; appeals from justice and municipal courts), 100 E. Third St., Suite 107, Sweetwater, TX 79556, (325) 235-2353
  • Mitchell County Court (constitutional county court; County Judge), 349 Oak St., Room 103, Colorado City, TX 79512, (325) 728-3481
  • 32nd District Court (felonies), 349 Oak St., Room 302, Colorado City, TX 79512, (325) 728-5918

If a citation names a court not shown here, follow the instructions printed on it or call the justice courts. A conviction in a justice court can be appealed for a new trial in the county-level court, provided an appeal bond is filed within the short time allowed after judgment.

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

Interstate 20 runs straight through Colorado City, so a good share of Mitchell County's Class A and B cases start with highway stops: DWI, marijuana possession and driving while license invalid. Local arrests add theft, family violence assault and trespass on oil and ranch leases.

Release from jail

Following booking at the Mitchell County Jail, a magistrate, usually a justice of the peace, sees the person within 48 hours, explains the charge and the right to counsel, and sets bail. Release may be by cash bond, surety bond through a licensed bondsman, or personal bond. Family violence and DWI cases commonly come with extra conditions.

The multicounty court

The County Attorney files an information, and the case is placed on the 1st Multicounty Court at Law's Mitchell County docket. That judge also handles Fisher and Nolan County cases, so settings in Colorado City are scheduled on particular days. Discovery and plea negotiations take up the first settings. Defendants may plead, try the case to the judge or ask for a six-person jury that must be unanimous, and may elect jury sentencing. A Mitchell County misdemeanor can end in a dismissal, a diversion agreement, deferred adjudication, probation, a fine, a jail term, or some mix of these.

Penalties for typical charges

  • Theft: Class C below $100; Class B from $100 to $750, with up to 180 days and a $2,000 fine; Class A from $750 to $2,500, with up to a year and a $4,000 fine.
  • First DWI: a Class B case for which the multicounty court can order from 72 hours to 180 days in the Colorado City jail and a fine as large as $3,000, though first offenders often receive probation. At 0.15 or above the charge becomes Class A, and an open container requires at least six days in jail. A court-ordered license suspension, a separate administrative suspension, a DWI education class, an interlock and a state fine after conviction are all possible.
  • Assault causing bodily injury: Class A; with a family violence finding, the person loses firearm rights and a second offense can be a felony.
  • Criminal trespass: usually Class B, and Class A in a habitation or with a deadly weapon.

Mitchell County misdemeanors generally finish in two to six months. Request an appointed lawyer at magistration or through the 1st Multicounty Court at Law at (325) 235-2353.

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

The 32nd Judicial District covers Fisher, Mitchell and Nolan counties with one district judge and one District Attorney. The judge travels among Roby, Colorado City and Sweetwater, and Mitchell County felony dockets are held on the courthouse's third floor.

  1. Booking and bond. Felony arrestees are booked at the Mitchell County Jail. The magistrate considers the public safety report required by the Damon Allen Act, sets bond and conditions, and takes any request for appointed counsel.
  2. Grand jury. The District Attorney brings the case to a Mitchell County grand jury, which meets periodically and either indicts or returns a no bill.
  3. Pretrial. After indictment the 32nd District Court arraigns the defendant and holds hearings on discovery and motions.
  4. Plea or trial. Most cases are resolved by plea agreement. Trials use twelve jurors who must agree unanimously, and the defendant may have the jury set the sentence.

Punishment

  • State jail felony: punished by six months to two years in a state jail, and the judge may add a fine of up to $10,000.
  • Third degree: 2 to 10 years. Second degree: 2 to 20 years, the grade a home burglary or an aggravated assault normally carries in the 32nd District. First degree: 5 to 99 years or life.
  • Drug cases depend on the penalty group and weight; methamphetamine cases are common in this region.

Felony theft begins at $2,500. Deferred adjudication is often an option for a first offense, while prior felonies can raise the range considerably. Parole eligibility generally comes after one-quarter of the sentence, or half for "3g" offenses. Because one judge serves three counties, a Mitchell County felony commonly takes six to eighteen months to close. The 32nd District Court appoints private attorneys for defendants found indigent under the county's indigent defense plan; reach the District Clerk at (325) 728-5918 about a request.

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

For violent charges, a magistrate in Mitchell County may not grant a personal bond, and surety amounts tend to be high. Under a constitutional amendment Texas voters adopted in 2025, a judge may also deny bail completely for certain violent or sexual offenses after a hearing. Defendants who stay in custody are held at the Mitchell County Jail while the case is prepared.

  • Capital murder: life without parole, or death when the State seeks it and the jury agrees.
  • Murder: first degree; 5 to 99 years or life.
  • Sexual assault: second degree and sex offender registration. Aggravated sexual assault: first degree, and certain counts involving young children require that the sentence be at least 25 years.
  • Aggravated robbery: first degree; parole eligibility only at the halfway point because it is a "3g" offense.

Expert testimony, autopsy and DNA results, and the district judge's three-county schedule mean these cases frequently take one to three years. The District Attorney's victim services coordinator helps victims exercise their rights under article I, section 30 of the Texas Constitution. An indigent defendant receives appointed counsel, and capital cases can be handled by the Regional Public Defender for Capital Cases.

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Juveniles (under 17) arrested in Mitchell County

In Texas, juvenile court is for children who were 10 to 16 at the time of the conduct; 17-year-olds go to adult court.

Intake

A juvenile probation officer serving Mitchell County handles intake for every child taken into custody or referred by a school. The officer may release the child to a parent, close the matter informally, offer deferred prosecution, or refer it to the prosecutor for a petition. The juvenile court is the court chosen by the county's juvenile board, which in this district is typically the 1st Multicounty Court at Law or the 32nd District Court; the District Clerk at (325) 728-5918 can confirm.

Detention

Mitchell County does not operate its own juvenile detention center. Youths needing secure custody are generally transported to a certified regional center the county contracts with, in a city such as Abilene or San Angelo, and are kept out of the Colorado City adult jail. The juvenile judge must review the detention within two working days, and a Mitchell County child whose family cannot pay for counsel is given an appointed lawyer for that hearing.

Possible outcomes

  • Deferred prosecution, normally up to six months, with no adjudication if completed.
  • Probation with conditions like curfew, school attendance, counseling or a residential program.
  • A commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) if the court finds the youth engaged in felony conduct.
  • Determinate sentencing for listed serious offenses, which may carry over into adult prison.

In the most serious cases the State may pursue certification so the youth is tried as an adult, generally at 14 or older for capital, first-degree or aggravated drug felonies and at 15 or older for other felonies. Mitchell County juvenile records are not open to the public, and many can later be sealed.

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

A federal charge from Colorado City, Loraine or Westbrook is filed in the Northern District of Texas and assigned to the Abilene Division, about 70 miles east on Interstate 20.

  • U.S. District Court clerk, Abilene, 341 Pine St., Room 2008, Abilene, TX 79601, (325) 677-6311
  • U.S. Attorney's Office, Abilene, 500 Chestnut St., Suite 601, Abilene, TX 79602, (325) 271-6700
  • Appointed defense: the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Texas or a private Criminal Justice Act panel lawyer

How cases become federal

Interstate 20 is a major east-west drug corridor, and some of the largest seizures made in Mitchell County are prosecuted federally. Other federal cases involve firearms possessed by felons, child exploitation, and fraud. The U.S. Attorney's Office decides whether to accept a case that local officers or federal agents bring.

The federal court process

A U.S. magistrate judge in Abilene holds the first appearance and appoints counsel when needed; federal bail cannot be written by a Colorado City bondsman. When prosecutors seek detention, a hearing generally follows within three court days, and the Bail Reform Act governs whether the defendant is released on conditions supervised by U.S. Pretrial Services or held. Where the case began with a complaint, the Abilene grand jury has 30 days to return an indictment, and although the Speedy Trial Act sets a 70-day goal for trial, that date is frequently pushed back. A federal jury has twelve members who must agree unanimously, but most cases resolve by plea. The district judge in Abilene imposes sentence after studying the probation office's presentence report, the advisory Guidelines and whatever mandatory minimum the statute sets. Parole does not exist in the federal system, so an inmate from Mitchell County generally serves about 85 percent of the term in the Bureau of Prisons before beginning supervised release. Appeals are heard by the Fifth Circuit.

Looking up a federal prisoner

Families can find a Mitchell County federal prisoner by typing a name or register number into the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator. While awaiting trial, a defendant may be lodged by the U.S. Marshals in a contract county jail, and the name can then also show up on that jail's roster. Federal juvenile cases are rare; Mitchell County youths are handled in state court.

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This Mitchell County criminal court guide is general information and not legal advice, and court schedules and phone numbers change. To request an appointed lawyer, tell the magistrate after arrest or call the District Clerk at (325) 728-5918 for a felony or the 1st Multicounty Court at Law at (325) 235-2353 for a misdemeanor; call the Sheriff's Office at (325) 728-5261 for custody questions.

Criminal Court Process for Mitchell County Texas

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

MITCHELL COUNTY COURTHOUSE
349 OAK ST
COLORADO CITY TX, 79512
325-728-5162

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Mitchell County

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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.