Drug Charge Defense in Dallas County
Local court, prosecutor and program details for Dallas County, from our office in downtown Dallas.
In short: Dallas County drug cases are heard at the Frank Crowley Courts Building: misdemeanors in the County Criminal Courts and felonies in the Criminal District Courts. The county's DIVERT drug court began in 1998, and the Public Defender lists DRUG Divert and S.T.A.C. Random testing is a common bond condition.
This page covers drug cases in Dallas County: where they are heard, who prosecutes them and the local programs the county and its prosecutors run. Our office is in downtown Dallas at 325 N St. Paul Street; we handle cases in the Dallas County courts. For Texas-wide law, see our drug charges guide, and for other charges see the Dallas County criminal defense page.
Which courts hear drug cases in Dallas County?
Misdemeanor drug cases in Dallas County, such as small amounts of marijuana, go to the County Criminal Courts. Felony drug cases, including most possession of a Penalty Group 1 substance, go to the Criminal District Courts. Both are at the Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 N. Riverfront Blvd.
Who prosecutes drug cases in Dallas County?
The Dallas County District Attorney's Office prosecutes drug cases. Lab results matter a great deal: in many cases the charge level depends on the weight a lab reports, and the prosecutor may wait for the lab before making an offer.
What happens after a drug arrest in Dallas County?
After a drug arrest in Dallas County, booking is usually at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, where a magistrate sets bond. Drug cases often come with bond conditions such as random drug testing. Missing a test or testing positive while on bond can lead to a warrant, so treat the testing schedule as seriously as a court date.
What drug programs does Dallas County run?
Dallas County has a long-running drug treatment track. DIVERT (Dallas Initiative for Diversion and Expedited Rehabilitation and Treatment) began in 1998 and is listed in the Office of Court Administration's specialty court registry. The Dallas County Public Defender's Office also lists DRUG Divert and the S.T.A.C. court among its treatment courts. For first-time felony offenders, the District Attorney's felony pretrial diversion program may also be an option if the case meets its checklist. These programs can lead to dismissal or a reduced outcome, but they take months of treatment, testing and court check-ins, so they are not the right choice for every case, especially if the search can be challenged.
What Texas drug law applies?
Most drug possession cases are charged under the Health and Safety Code chapter 481, and the level depends on the penalty group and the weight. For example, possessing less than one gram of a Penalty Group 1 substance is a state jail felony (Health and Safety Code 481.115). Marijuana possession of two ounces or less is a Class B misdemeanor (481.121). Charges can rise with larger amounts, a drug-free zone or an allegation of intent to deliver.
Common defense issues include whether the stop and search were legal, whether the substance was actually tested and weighed by a lab, and whether the State can prove you knowingly possessed it. Programs such as pretrial diversion and drug court can lead to a dismissal or a lighter outcome, but eligibility rules differ from county to county.
How is Penalty Group 1 possession graded?
| Amount (aggregate weight) | Level (Health and Safety Code 481.115) |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 gram | State jail felony |
| 1 to less than 4 grams | Third-degree felony |
| 4 to less than 200 grams | Second-degree felony |
| 200 to less than 400 grams | First-degree felony |
| 400 grams or more | Enhanced first-degree felony |
What should I do now?
- Keep every drug test and court date set as a bond condition.
- Write down how the stop and search happened: the reason given, whether you consented and who was present.
- Do not discuss the case on recorded jail calls or social media.
- Ask about program eligibility early, since some programs screen out people with prior supervision.
How do I get started?
The first consultation is free. It is with a Director of Client Engagement, not an attorney. Clients who hire us work with an attorney. Call (214) 239-2013 or start a chat. Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free.
Last updated October 2026
Common questions
Where are Dallas County drug cases heard?
Misdemeanors in the County Criminal Courts and felonies in the Criminal District Courts, both at the Frank Crowley Courts Building.
Does Dallas County have a drug court?
Yes. DIVERT, which began in 1998, is listed in the state specialty court registry, and the Public Defender's Office lists DRUG Divert and S.T.A.C.
Will I be drug tested on bond in Dallas County?
Often, yes. Random testing is a common bond condition in drug cases.
Is the first consultation free?
Yes. The first consultation is free and is with a Director of Client Engagement, not an attorney. Clients who hire us work with an attorney.
Do not wait for your court date to get help. Call (214) 239-2013.
Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free.
This page provides general information about Texas law. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.