Austin Juvenile Defense Lawyer

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 960 dismissals or rejected cases since 2021.

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

Travis County Juvenile Defense FAQ