Drug Charge Defense in Tarrant County

This page covers drug 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 drug charges guide, and for other charges see the Tarrant County criminal defense page.

Which courts hear drug cases in Tarrant County?

Misdemeanor drug cases in Tarrant County go to the County Criminal Courts, and felony drug cases go to Criminal District Courts No. 1 through 4 and the 213th, 297th, 371st, 372nd, 396th, 432nd and 485th District Courts. All are at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center, 401 W. Belknap St., Fort Worth.

Who prosecutes drug cases in Tarrant County?

The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office prosecutes drug cases. Lab analysis often decides the charge level, so it is common for early settings to pass while the lab report is pending.

What happens after a drug arrest in Tarrant County?

After a drug arrest, booking is generally at the Tarrant County Corrections Center, 100 N. Lamar St., where a magistrate sets bond. Random drug testing is a common condition. A missed or positive test can lead to a motion to revoke the bond.

What drug programs does Tarrant County run?

Tarrant County runs a First Offender Drug Program for people with no prior conviction or supervision. The county's booklet describes a felony track of 180 days and a misdemeanor track of 90 days, and lists covered offenses such as possession of less than one gram, possession of one to four grams, marijuana up to four ounces and drug-free zone cases. For people who do not qualify, the county also lists DIRECT, a post-plea felony drug court program in the 485th District Court, and the Criminal District Attorney's Deferred Prosecution Program for first-time offenders aged 17 to 26, which disqualifies applicants who test positive on the drug screen taken with the application. Picking among these options, or challenging the search instead, depends on the facts.

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?

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