What Happens With Juvenile Cases in Bexar County?

The Bexar County Juvenile Justice Center — Separate From Cadena-Reeves

Juvenile cases in Bexar County are handled at the Bexar County Juvenile Justice Center, not at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center that handles adult criminal matters. Juvenile cases proceed under the Texas Family Code — a completely different legal framework than the Texas Penal Code that applies to adult criminal cases. The Bexar County District Attorney’s Juvenile Division prosecutes juvenile cases. The goal in every juvenile case is the least formal resolution — keeping the adjudication off the permanent record and avoiding formal juvenile adjudication wherever possible.

Juvenile Case Processing in Bexar County

When a juvenile is arrested in San Antonio or Bexar County, the case is referred to the Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department, which makes the initial decision about how to proceed: informal adjustment (no formal proceedings), referral to the DA’s office for formal petition, or release. An experienced juvenile defense attorney can intervene at the informal adjustment stage — before any formal petition is filed — to seek the least formal resolution available.

Formal Adjudication vs. Informal Resolution

A formal juvenile adjudication in Bexar County is not a “conviction” in the adult sense, but it carries significant consequences: probation, placement, or commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Juvenile records can be sealed in Texas under Family Code Chapter 58 in most circumstances, but the sealing is not automatic. An informal disposition — resolving the case without formal adjudication — is far preferable to a formal adjudication from a long-term record perspective.

Certification to Adult Court

For serious offenses, the Bexar County DA’s office can seek to certify a juvenile defendant for prosecution as an adult in the Bexar County District Courts at Cadena-Reeves. Certification is available for juveniles 14 and older who are charged with first-degree felonies or capital murder. We oppose certification aggressively in every case where the DA’s office moves for transfer, presenting all available evidence against adult prosecution. See our San Antonio juvenile defense page.