Austin Juvenile Defense Lawyer
Travis County juvenile court is a separate system with different procedures, different burdens of proof, and different outcomes than adult criminal court. When your child is in custody, the detention hearing happens within 48 hours — you don't have time to learn how it works on your own. Over 930 dismissals or rejected cases since 2021. Available 24/7. Call 512-599-9999.
Mark Hull
Mark Hull*
Mark Hull — 2022
Allison Tisdale — 2022
Mark Hull
Mark Hull*Based on the quality and quantity of reviews and average minimum rating for a law firm practicing criminal defense in Austin, TX researched by expertise.com
Travis County Juvenile Court — What You're Actually Facing
Mark Hull has practiced criminal defense in Austin for over 20 years and tries cases to verdict in Travis County courts. Allison Tisdale was a Travis County DWI prosecutor before joining the defense — she sat at the state's table and now uses that knowledge to dismantle the same cases she once built. Together, that combination has produced over 700 dismissals across Travis, Williamson, and Hays County.
Juvenile cases in Travis County are heard at the Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center at 2515 S. Congress Ave. The Travis County Attorney's Office prosecutes most juvenile cases; the Travis County District Attorney's Office handles serious felonies and certification matters. The system uses different language than adult court — petitions instead of indictments, adjudication hearings instead of trials, dispositions instead of sentences — but the consequences are real and can follow your child for years.
The Worst Outcome: Certification to Adult Court
Under Texas Family Code §54.02, a juvenile aged 14 or older charged with a capital felony, or 15+ for first-degree felonies, can be certified to stand trial as an adult. Once certified, the case moves to adult district court at the Travis County Criminal Justice Center and the full adult punishment range applies. Certification hearings have specific statutory factors the judge must consider — the sophistication of the juvenile, prior history, public protection, and likelihood of rehabilitation. Defending against certification is high-stakes work, and it has to start the day the case is filed.
The Detention Hearing — First 48 Hours
If your child is taken into custody, a detention hearing must occur within 48 hours under Texas Family Code §54.01. At that hearing the judge decides whether to release the juvenile to a parent, place them on conditional release, or continue secure detention. The factors include the seriousness of the alleged offense, prior record, family supervision, and risk of harm or flight. Showing up to that hearing with prepared counsel — with a release plan, supervision arrangements, and an articulable response to the prosecution's detention request — substantially affects the outcome.
Disposition Options in Travis County Juvenile Court
- Deferred prosecution. Case dismissed if conditions are completed; no adjudication entered.
- Probation at home. Supervised by Travis County Juvenile Probation, with conditions tailored to the offense.
- Probation with placement. Residential placement — typically used for repeat offenses or specific rehabilitation needs.
- Commitment to TJJD. Texas Juvenile Justice Department — secure facility, used for serious felony adjudications.
- Determinate sentence. A blended sentence that can extend into adult prison if conditions aren't met before age 19.
Sealing Juvenile Records in Texas
Under Texas Family Code §58.253, juvenile records can be sealed under specific conditions. Eligibility depends on the offense level, the disposition, age, and time elapsed since the case closed. Sealing is not automatic — it must be petitioned for in the same court that handled the original case. We evaluate sealing eligibility on every juvenile case we close and handle the petition through to the order. A sealed record means agencies must respond "no record found" to most background check inquiries.
Why Hire The Hull Firm for Juvenile Defense
Mark Hull has tried criminal cases — misdemeanor through first-degree felony — in Travis, Williamson, and Hays County courts since 2003.
Allison Tisdale prosecuted DWI and criminal cases for Travis County before crossing to the defense side in 2021.
Over 700 criminal cases dismissed across our practice. Past results don't guarantee future outcomes; every case is evaluated on its facts.
1004 West Ave — less than one mile from the Travis County Criminal Justice Center at 509 W. 11th Street.
Travis County Juvenile Defense FAQ
How is juvenile court different from adult criminal court in Texas?
Texas juvenile court operates under the Texas Family Code, not the Penal Code. The proceeding is called an adjudication (not a trial), the finding is delinquent conduct (not a conviction), and the outcome is a disposition (not a sentence). Procedures, burdens, and dispositions all differ from adult criminal court. The Travis County Juvenile Justice Center handles these cases at 2515 S. Congress Ave.
Can a juvenile be tried as an adult in Travis County?
Yes. Under Texas Family Code §54.02, a juvenile aged 14 or older charged with a first-degree felony, or 15 or older for second-degree, may be certified to stand trial as an adult. Capital felony certification can occur at age 14 or older. Once certified, the case moves to adult district court and adult sentencing exposure applies. Defending against certification is one of the most important things a juvenile defense attorney does.
Will a juvenile record follow my child into adulthood?
It can. Texas allows sealing of juvenile records under Family Code §58.253, but eligibility depends on the offense, the disposition, and time elapsed. Some serious adjudications — and any case that resulted in adult certification — may not be sealable. Sealing must be petitioned for; it doesn't happen automatically. We evaluate sealing eligibility on every closed juvenile case we handle.
What happens at a juvenile detention hearing?
Within 48 hours of being taken into custody, your child has a detention hearing where a juvenile court judge decides whether to release them or continue detention. The judge considers flight risk, danger to the community, and the seriousness of the alleged offense. Having an attorney present at this hearing significantly affects the outcome — this is one of the highest-leverage windows in the entire case.
Does a juvenile adjudication affect college admissions or financial aid?
It can. While Texas treats juvenile adjudications confidentially in many contexts, college applications, scholarship applications, and federal financial aid (FAFSA) sometimes ask about juvenile records. Some military branches will deny enlistment based on juvenile adjudications. Sealing the record under §58.253 when eligible is the most reliable protection.
Your Child Has Been Arrested in Travis County. The Detention Hearing Is in Hours.
Travis County juvenile cases move fast — detention hearings within 48 hours, certification motions within weeks. The window to intervene before the prosecution's position hardens is short. We're available right now.
Free Case Evaluation 512-599-9999 — 24/7