Assault and Family Violence Defense in Tarrant County

This page covers assault and family violence cases in Tarrant 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 Tarrant County courts. For Texas-wide law, see our assault and family violence guide, and for other charges see the Tarrant County criminal defense page.

Which courts hear family violence cases in Tarrant County?

Tarrant County's misdemeanor cases, including most family violence assaults, are heard in the ten County Criminal Courts on floors 5 through 8 of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center, 401 W. Belknap St., Fort Worth. Felony family violence cases go to the felony courts in the same building: Criminal District Courts No. 1 through 4 and the 213th, 297th, 371st, 372nd, 396th, 432nd and 485th District Courts.

Who prosecutes family violence in Tarrant County?

The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office prosecutes both levels and has an Intimate Partner Violence unit. According to the office, a prosecutor may ask the court for a bond condition that bars contact with the complainant beyond the period of any magistrate's emergency protective order. That means the no-contact limits in a Tarrant case can outlast the emergency order itself.

What happens after a family violence arrest in Tarrant County?

Tarrant County arrests are generally booked at the Tarrant County Corrections Center, 100 N. Lamar St., in downtown Fort Worth, a few blocks from the Tim Curry building. A magistrate sets bond and conditions. In family violence cases, those conditions commonly include no contact and staying away from the residence, and a magistrate's order for emergency protection may be issued at the same time.

Are there local programs for family violence cases?

The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office runs a Domestic Violence Diversion Program, a pretrial program for family violence cases. Its published criteria include: the case involves partner-on-partner violence, there are no protective order violations or stalking allegations, there are no open warrants or other pending charges, the person has not had diversion before, and the victim consents. Completing a diversion program is very different from taking probation, so it is worth asking early whether a case qualifies. The office also runs a Deferred Prosecution Program for people aged 17 to 26, but it excludes offenses in which someone was injured or placed in danger.

What Texas law applies to a family violence assault?

Assault causing bodily injury is usually a Class A misdemeanor under Penal Code 22.01. It becomes a third-degree felony when the complainant is a family member, household member or dating partner and the accused has a prior family violence conviction, or when the offense involved impeding breathing or circulation. A judge can enter an affirmative finding of family violence, and that finding follows the person into later cases and can affect firearm rights.

At the first appearance, a magistrate can issue a magistrate's order for emergency protection under Code of Criminal Procedure 17.292. An order issued under the main subsections lasts at least 61 and up to 91 days; one issued for a case involving serious bodily injury or a deadly weapon can last 91 to 121 days. Violating that order, or a bond condition in a family violence case, can be a separate charge under Penal Code 25.07.

How is assault against a family member graded?

What should I do now?

• Follow every bond condition and any emergency order, even if the complainant contacts you.
• Do not post about the case or discuss it with the complainant.
• Write down what happened and who saw it while it is fresh, and keep texts and call logs.
• Get advice before giving any statement or attending a protective order hearing.

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