Criminal Law FAQ

After booking, an arrested individual generally receives a magistrate hearing within about 48 hours, where bail and initial conditions are set. From there, the case proceeds through the Tarrant County criminal court system, often at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center, toward arraignment and, if needed, trial.

After an arrest, a person generally receives a magistrate hearing within about 48 hours, where the magistrate informs them of the charges and sets bail conditions before the case proceeds through the Tarrant County court system.

Under the Texas Penal Code, misdemeanors (Class C, B, or A) generally carry fines or up to a year in jail, while felonies (state jail through first-degree) can carry prison sentences exceeding one year and substantially higher fines.

Depending on the case outcome, Texas law allows expunction (complete removal, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55) for certain dismissed or acquitted charges, and nondisclosure orders for some other qualifying cases — eligibility depends heavily on the specific charge and outcome.

Tarrant County criminal cases are commonly processed through the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in downtown Fort Worth, though specific court assignments vary by charge type and severity.