Criminal Courts

This article is designed to help defendants, families, victims, and the public understand how the Tarrant County TX Criminal Courts operate and where to find official information. You’ll get a road-map to criminal dockets and settings, where criminal courts are located, how magistration and bonds work, who to call for felony and misdemeanor records, how to request court-appointed counsel, and what to know about specialty treatment and diversion courts. Every link below goes to an official Tarrant County or Tarrant County District Clerk resource, and every phone number and address comes directly from County pages.

Navigate the Tarrant County criminal court system with confidence

When a criminal case is filed in Tarrant County, it proceeds along a series of scheduled “settings” before a county criminal court or a criminal district court. Judges rely on a central administrative office to coordinate calendars, programs, and support functions so courtrooms can keep their focus on managing dockets efficiently. The County’s Criminal Courts Administration page explains that the office provides managerial support and oversees several judicial support departments and diversion programs—freeing judges to manage caseloads and improve overall court efficiency. For an overview of the administrative structure and its role, see Criminal Courts Administration (official Tarrant County page). Criminal Courts Administration

What the administration does behind the scenes

The criminal courts administrator serves as chief of staff for key judicial support operations the judges rely on every day, including:

The Office of Attorney Appointments (indigent defense)
Grand Jury Bailiffs
First Offender Drug Program
Mental Health Diversion Court
Veterans Court
Felony-level Auxiliary Court Coordinators

Those departments keep the moving parts aligned—accepting attorney applications for appointments, staffing grand jury logistics, coordinating treatment and diversion dockets, and helping courts set hearings and trials without unnecessary delays. Understanding that structure makes it easier to know where to go for a particular task: records questions go to the clerks, appointment questions go to Attorney Appointments, and current-case dates live on the electronic docket.

Find your case setting: use the official criminal courts dockets

When you want to know when a case is set, the County directs you to the official criminal courts electronic docket. This is the authoritative way to look up docket settings by person or court. You can access the search from Tarrant County District Clerk’s online system. Use Criminal Docket Search to look up upcoming settings, by name or by selecting a specific criminal court. Criminal Docket Search

What you’ll see in the docket tool

Expect to see the date and time, the courtroom assignment, and the setting type (for example, Initial Appearance, Pretrial, Disposition, or Trial). If you’re unsure about which court number applies to your case, the search form lets you view all county criminal courts (Nos. 1–10) and the criminal district courts.

Tip from the County’s FAQs: If you’re represented, you should also keep your attorney and bondsman updated with good contact numbers so they can reach you with any date changes. The County’s “Dockets” FAQ confirms you can sort and filter information when you’re browsing answers. This guidance is published on the Dockets page within the Criminal Courts FAQs. Dockets

When attendance is required

According to the FAQs, the Initial Appearance docket is the only docket from which attorneys and defendants may routinely be excused. For all other settings, attendance is required unless your court coordinator tells you otherwise. Because each court may handle exceptions differently, always confirm with your coordinator if you have a conflict.

Where to go: the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center

Tarrant County’s criminal courts sit in the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center. The County’s location FAQ states plainly that criminal courts are located at:

401 W. Belknap, Fort Worth, Texas.

Parking and security vary by time of day and courthouse traffic; plan to arrive early to clear screening and to find your courtroom. You can confirm this address and orientation on the County’s court location FAQ. Visit Court Location for the official location statement. Court Location

How magistration and bonds work in Tarrant County

Every arrest triggers an appearance before a magistrate judge. In Tarrant County, the Central Magistration page explains that judges make individualized bond assessments based on five factors, including the nature of the charge, community safety, the alleged facts, history of appearances, and the arrestee’s ability to pay. Magistrates can also consider and issue Emergency Protective Orders (EPOs) at this stage.

Read the County’s magistration overview and FAQ answers, including how to find your personal bond paperwork details or whom to call if you can’t find them, on Central Magistration. Central Magistration

If you need to observe magistrations remotely when available, the County maintains a page with the Remote Magistration Video Stream. That page hosts the official video streams used by the courts. Remote Magistration Video Stream

Court-appointed counsel: how indigent defense is handled

Tarrant County implements the Texas Fair Defense Act through the Office of Attorney Appointments. That office assists criminal judges with maintaining the County’s indigent defense plan and manages the roster of approved attorneys for appointments.

For program details, forms, and to view approved appointed attorneys, go to the County’s official Office of Attorney Appointments page. Office of Attorney Appointments

When and how court appointments are addressed

The County’s FAQ on Appointed Attorneys explains the timing:

If a defendant is in jail, court-appointed attorney issues are addressed no later than 48 hours after arrest.

If a defendant posts bond before that can be addressed, and has not hired an attorney by the Initial Appearance docket (typically within 2–3 weeks after the case is filed), the appointment question is handled with a magistrate at the Initial Appearance setting.

This guidance is published in the official FAQs under Appointed Attorneys. Appointed Attorneys

Who manages the attorney appointment lists

The Office of Attorney Appointments staff receives and reviews lawyer applications, verifies qualifications, and keeps the appointment lists up to date for misdemeanor and felony cases. Their contact details and physical office location appear later in the departments list at the end of this article.

Getting records and documents: who to call for felony and misdemeanor files

In Tarrant County, felony and misdemeanor court records are maintained by different elected clerks:

Felony records are maintained by the District Clerk. For felony record questions, call 817-884-1342 or 817-884-1343. You can find the clerk’s office page on the County site through District Clerk. District Clerk

Misdemeanor records are maintained by the County Clerk. For misdemeanor record questions, call 817-884-1195. The County Clerk’s portal is accessible via County Clerk. County Clerk

For copies of judgments, sentences, or dismissals, the County’s Court Documents FAQ adds these direct lines:

Misdemeanor copies: County Clerk, 817-884-1066
Felony copies: District Clerk, 817-884-1342

See the official County guidance on Court Documents for those instructions and numbers. Court Documents

Need to know the outcome of a trial or plea? The County’s “Court Documents” FAQ points you to the same two offices: County Clerk for misdemeanors and District Clerk for felonies.

Watching court in person: public access to trials

The County’s Trials FAQ is clear: members of the public are welcome to observe trials in Tarrant County criminal courts. The exception is for people who may be called as potential witnesses in the case being tried; they are typically excluded until their testimony is complete and during jury arguments. For the County’s official statement, see Trials in the Criminal Courts FAQs. Trials

Specialty and problem-solving courts: treatment and supervision that target root causes

Tarrant County invests in a network of specialty programs designed to reduce recidivism and tailor court supervision to the risks and needs of specific populations. These are official County initiatives coordinated through Criminal Courts Administration in partnership with supervision and treatment providers.

The County’s Specialty Programs hub collects descriptions and entry points for multiple courts and diversion programs, including:

Felony Alcohol Intervention Program (FAIP)
Veterans Treatment Court
Mental Health Diversion Court
Reaching Independence through Self-Empowerment (RISE)
Public Safety Employee Treatment Court
Youthful Offender Diversion Alternative (YODA)
Domestic Violence Diversion Program
First Offender Drug Program
DIRECT Court Program (CSCD)

Explore each initiative from the official Specialty Programs page for current eligibility, expectations, and contacts. Specialty Programs

How these programs fit into criminal case flow

Specialty courts don’t replace criminal courts; they work alongside them. After a case is filed, a judge and the parties may consider a specialty program if a defendant meets program criteria and the case type is eligible. Participation typically includes:

Clinical or risk/needs screening
A structured treatment or education plan
Frequent court appearances and progress reviews
Coordination with community supervision (probation) as needed

These programs give judges more tools to hold participants accountable while addressing substance use, mental health, domestic violence, or other drivers of criminal behavior—supporting public safety and better long-term outcomes.

What to expect at common criminal settings and dockets

While each judge sets their own workflow, Tarrant County’s FAQs provide grounded expectations for the most frequent settings you’ll see in the docket:

Initial Appearance

This is often the earliest post-filing setting after arrest.

According to the County’s Dockets FAQ, this is the only docket from which attorneys and defendants may routinely be excused.

If an unrepresented defendant posted bond and hasn’t hired an attorney before the Initial Appearance, the magistrate may address the appointment question at this setting (see Appointed Attorneys FAQ).

Pretrial, announcement, disposition, and trial settings

For all other settings, you or your attorney must appear unless the court coordinator confirms otherwise.

Expect status checks on discovery, plea offers, motions, and trial readiness.

If a case proceeds to trial, the County’s Trials FAQ reminds the public they are generally welcome to observe proceedings (except potential witnesses).

How to check a current case setting without guesswork

Tarrant County consistently directs users to the electronic docket as the single source of truth for current settings. Here’s a practical, step-by-step approach:

Go to the Criminal Docket Search and choose whether to search by person (last name, first name) or by court and date. Criminal Docket Search

If you are a defendant and have bond paperwork, compare the docket information to the date and time listed on your paperwork to confirm you’re looking at the right case.

Keep your attorney and bondsman informed with reliable contact numbers; the County FAQs emphasize their role in communicating date changes.

When in doubt, call the court coordinator for the specific court listed on your docket entry. The courts provide coordinator information through the Criminal Courts pages.

The quickest way to match your questions to the right County office

Because different County offices handle different aspects of criminal cases, the County’s own pages point you to specific contacts depending on the question:

Felony record questions → District Clerk at 817-884-1342 or 817-884-1343 (District Clerk page linked above).

Misdemeanor record questions → County Clerk at 817-884-1195 (County Clerk page linked above).

Copies of misdemeanor judgments/sentences/dismissals → County Clerk at 817-884-1066 (Court Documents FAQ linked above).

Copies of felony judgments/sentences/dismissals → District Clerk at 817-884-1342 (Court Documents FAQ linked above).

General criminal courts administration or help finding the right court coordinator → start at Criminal Courts and navigate to the coordinator contact information for your court. Criminal Courts

Using official County pages for everything from ADA requests to media inquiries

The Criminal Courts pages also provide system-level information you may need as your case moves:

Accessibility: The County notes that some court documents are scanned images and offers assistance through the District Clerk’s office if you need help accessing information.

Media inquiries: The courts list a dedicated number for news media (see the departments list below). The County also hosts a Remote Magistration Video Stream page for official video access when the courts publish streams (link above).

Step-by-step scenarios: how to handle common criminal-court tasks in Tarrant County

“I need to know my next court date.”

Open Criminal Docket Search.

Search by last name and first name, or filter by your assigned court.

Confirm the date, time, and courtroom.

If you still have questions or a conflict, contact your court’s coordinator via the Criminal Courts pages.

“I was released on a personal bond—what now?”

Check your release paperwork for court date and time.

If you can’t find it, the Central Magistration page lists the official contact line to help you locate that information.

Hire counsel or, if you’re unable, be prepared for the appointment discussion at the Initial Appearance setting.

“I can’t afford a lawyer. How do I request a court-appointed attorney?”

If you’re in jail, the County will address your request within 48 hours of arrest.

If you posted bond and haven’t hired counsel before the Initial Appearance, the magistrate can handle the issue at that setting.

To understand how indigent defense is administered in Tarrant County or to view approved counsel lists, go to Office of Attorney Appointments.

“I need a copy of my judgment.”

For a misdemeanor, call the County Clerk at 817-884-1066.
For a felony, call the District Clerk at 817-884-1342.
These numbers and instructions are published on the Court Documents FAQ.

“Can my family sit in on my trial?”

Yes. The County’s Trials FAQ states court is open to the public, with the exception of potential witnesses in that case.

Court culture and expectations: practical notes for defendants and families

Be on time and check in: Court calendars are busy, and judges expect punctuality. Always leave time for security screening.

Dress and decorum: Treat court as a formal environment. Avoid hats, food, drink, or phone use in the courtroom.

Talk to your lawyer first: If anything changes about your case or your ability to attend, your attorney should be your first call. If your lawyer can’t reach you, you risk missing critical information about plea offers or setting changes.

Use official sources: The County repeatedly directs the public to its own electronic docket and clerk’s offices for accurate information. Treat third-party sites and social media as unofficial.

Program spotlights: how Tarrant County’s specialty courts can change the trajectory of a case

Veterans Treatment Court

Built to address the unique needs of veterans in the criminal justice system, this court integrates treatment, supervision, and frequent judicial oversight. The Criminal Courts Administration oversees the court as part of its specialty portfolio.

Mental Health Diversion Court

For defendants whose criminal conduct is rooted in behavioral health challenges, this court aligns treatment with structured accountability. Judges coordinate with service providers and community supervision to support stability and reduce reoffending.

First Offender Drug Program

Aimed at early intervention, this program targets first-time offenders whose cases are suitable for a structured, treatment-forward response under judicial supervision—an approach that can reduce future system involvement.

Each of these offerings is catalogued on the County’s Specialty Programs page, where you can review details and confirm current availability or enrollment steps.

Media, records, and accessibility: essential administrative notes from County pages

Media inquiries concerning the Tarrant County criminal courts have a dedicated line (listed below).

Accessibility: If you encounter scanned documents or need assistance accessing information, the County points you to the District Clerk for help.

Official notices: Local rules and administrative orders are referenced from the Criminal Courts pages; always rely on those County postings if you need authoritative procedure guidance.

Departments and offices: addresses and phone numbers (official County listings)

Tarrant County Criminal Courts (Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center) — 401 W. Belknap, Fort Worth, Texas; Telephone: 817-884-3857

Office of Attorney Appointments — 401 W. Belknap, 5th Floor, Room 5043, Fort Worth, Texas 76196; Telephone: 817-884-2370

Tarrant County District Clerk (Felony Records) — Telephone: 817-884-1342

Tarrant County District Clerk (Felony Records Alternate Line) — Telephone: 817-884-1343

Tarrant County County Clerk (Misdemeanor Records) — Telephone: 817-884-1195

Tarrant County County Clerk (Misdemeanor Copies — Judgments/Sentences/Dismissals) — Telephone: 817-884-1066

Central Magistration (Personal Bond/EPO Questions — as directed on County page) — Telephone: 817-884-2674

Criminal District Attorney (Prosecutor line referenced for EPO questions after filing) — Telephone: 817-884-1400

Criminal Courts – Media Inquiries — Telephone: 817-212-6957

Tarrant County – County Telephone Operator — Telephone: 817-884-1111

Tarrant County Criminal Courts FAQs

How do I check when and where my case is set?

Your official settings are posted in the county’s online docket system; you can look up dates by name, court, or date range using the criminal courts electronic docket. If you recently received a personal bond and can’t find the paperwork, the docket is the fastest way to confirm your next appearance. Keep your attorney and bondsman updated with reliable contact details so they can notify you about any changes.

Do I have to appear for every setting?

Yes, with one narrow exception. According to the county’s FAQ, the Initial Appearance docket is the only setting where an attorney and defendant may be routinely excused; each court decides whether an excusal applies. For all other settings, personal appearance is expected unless the court orders otherwise. For planning purposes, regularly verify your dates through the criminal courts electronic docket and your attorney.

How are bond decisions and protective orders handled after arrest?

At Central Magistration, a judge makes an individualized bond assessment considering factors such as alleged facts, risk of new offenses, ability to pay, prior appearance history, and community safety. The magistrate can also issue or deny Emergency Protective Orders at that time. If you were released on a personal bond, your location, date, and time for court are listed in your release paperwork; verify upcoming settings in the docket.

What if I need a court-appointed attorney?

Indigent-defense requests are addressed no later than 48 hours after arrest for people in custody. If you bond out and haven’t hired counsel, eligibility is typically considered with a magistrate at your Initial Appearance (generally 2–3 weeks after filing). Program requirements, plans, and approved counsel lists are maintained by the Office of Attorney Appointments.

Where are criminal courtrooms located and can the public attend trials?

Criminal courts sit inside the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in downtown Fort Worth; directions and building details are posted under Court Location. Proceedings are generally open to the public; potential witnesses may be excluded until after their testimony. For problem-solving dockets and diversion options, review the county’s Specialty Programs.