District Attorney
The Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office prosecutes felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, supports crime victims, handles protective-order applications in qualifying situations, operates diversion programs, and provides access to case-status and public-information services. This article explains which office or online system to use, what information to prepare, how criminal cases move through the county system, and which common mistakes can delay a request or lead users to contact the wrong department.
District Attorney Office Responsibilities
The Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office represents the state in criminal prosecutions filed in Dallas County. Its stated mission is to improve public safety and community well-being by supporting victims, holding people who commit crimes accountable, and engaging the community to prevent harm. The office also emphasizes fair treatment, ethical conduct, transparency, and data-driven criminal justice practices.
Texas criminal offenses generally fall into two broad categories. Felonies are the more serious offenses and are prosecuted in district courts. They include many offenses against people and serious property crimes, such as residential or business burglary. Misdemeanors are prosecuted in county courts and may include offenses such as driving while intoxicated, simple assault, and theft.
The District Attorney’s Office does not perform every criminal justice function. Law enforcement agencies investigate reported crimes and assign police offense report numbers. Judges set bonds, control court dockets, and make rulings. The County Clerk and District Clerk maintain different categories of court records. Knowing these divisions of responsibility can prevent unnecessary calls and record-search errors.
The official District Attorney website provides access to the office’s divisions, case-status reports, diversion programs, restitution payments, protective-order information, victim services, attorney assignments, and employment information.
Choosing the Correct Service
People contact the District Attorney’s Office for many different reasons. Before calling or submitting an online request, identify the service that most closely matches the issue. A person checking whether a case was accepted should not use the same system as someone searching for filed court documents. A victim seeking help with a protective order should not begin with the restitution payment system.
Criminal Case Questions
General criminal case questions may involve felony cases, misdemeanor cases, grand jury activity, assigned prosecutors, trial settings, or the status of a case submitted by law enforcement. The office has separate felony, misdemeanor, intake, grand jury, trial attorney, and victim-witness functions.
Prepare the following information when it is available:
The defendant’s full legal name.
The District Attorney case number or court case number.
The police offense report number.
The court number or court name.
The type of charge or reported offense.
The name of the investigating law enforcement agency.
The victim’s current telephone number and mailing address when victim notification is involved.
Do not assume that a police offense number is the District Attorney case number. A law enforcement agency assigns an offense number when it investigates a report. When the agency files the matter with the District Attorney’s Office, the prosecutor’s office assigns a separate case number. That District Attorney case number generally remains associated with the matter until it is resolved.
Victim and Witness Assistance
The Victim Services and Victim/Witness functions help crime victims understand parts of the criminal case process, maintain contact with prosecutors, and address concerns such as court notifications or requested bond conditions. The office also identifies victim coordinators for adult criminal cases at the Frank Crowley Criminal Courts Building and juvenile matters at the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center.
Victims should keep their contact information current. Criminal cases can involve several settings before trial, and victims are not required to attend every setting unless the District Attorney’s Office tells them to appear. A prosecutor may receive limited notice that a case will be reached for trial, making a current telephone number and address essential.
The office may assign more than one prosecutor during the life of a case. Some cases remain pending for months or years, and staffing or court assignments may change. When communicating with the office, use the case number and court assignment rather than relying only on the name of a prosecutor previously involved.
The county’s Victim Services page also provides information about crime victim compensation, victim notification, U-Visa request policies and forms, and designated county victim coordinators.
Protective Order Assistance
The District Attorney’s Protective Orders Division may assist qualifying applicants seeking legal protection from family violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking, or certain threats. Either the applicant or the person accused of the abuse must live in Dallas County, or an incident of violence must have occurred in Dallas County.
An applicant should be prepared to provide a daytime address where a constable can serve the respondent with notice of the hearing. The applicant should also identify the addresses to be protected, such as a home, workplace, or school.
For applications based on recent physical abuse or a threat of imminent danger, the office states that the incident generally must have occurred within the previous 90 days. Qualifying relationships may include:
A spouse or former spouse.
A relative by blood or marriage.
The other biological parent of the same child.
A current or former live-in boyfriend or girlfriend.
Members of the same household.
A person in a dating relationship.
A partner’s former dating or marriage partner.
Victims of sexual assault, stalking, or trafficking may also qualify under the categories identified by the office.
Limits of a Protective Order
A protective order may direct an abuser to remain a specified distance from protected locations and prohibit family violence, abuse, threats, harassment, trafficking, or stalking. It may also require specialized counseling for abusive behavior. An order may remain effective for up to two years or longer, depending on the court’s order.
A protective order does not guarantee physical safety and does not automatically change visitation or custody orders entered by another court. Applicants should continue taking appropriate safety precautions. The District Attorney’s Office may also be unable to represent an applicant when a legal conflict exists.
Possible conflicts identified by the office include an active warrant or pending criminal charge against the applicant, Dallas County probation, representation by another attorney in a related family or civil case, a filed child-protective removal case involving the office, previous representation of an adverse party in a protective-order case, or the applicant’s status as a sex offender.
The official protective-order information page explains qualifications, required addresses, representation conflicts, and the protections an order may provide.
Case and Grand Jury Reports
The District Attorney’s Office publishes several reports for people who need to review prosecutorial activity. The available categories include grand jury cases scheduled, grand jury dispositions by date range, felony cases accepted, and misdemeanor case filings by date range.
The Case Status Reports system is different from the county’s court-record portal. Case-status reports focus on matters handled or reviewed by the prosecutor’s office. The court portal provides filed case information and, for some case types, court documents.
Grand Jury Scheduling
A grand jury report may show that a case is scheduled for consideration or provide a disposition during a selected date range. A grand jury disposition is not the same as a final conviction or dismissal in a trial court. Grand jury proceedings address whether felony accusations should move forward through an indictment or another disposition.
Users should confirm that they are reviewing the correct date range and should match the defendant’s name with the appropriate case number. Similar names can produce confusion, particularly when multiple cases or defendants appear during the same reporting period.
Accepted Felony Cases
The felony cases accepted report concerns cases accepted by the District Attorney’s Office. Acceptance by the prosecutor is not the same as a conviction. A filed felony case can still involve grand jury review, pretrial proceedings, negotiations, motions, diversion review, dismissal, trial, or another court action.
Misdemeanor Filing Reports
Misdemeanor filing reports are organized by date range. When searching, users should have the defendant’s correct spelling and any available filing date or case number. A police report may exist before the prosecutor files a misdemeanor case, so a recent law enforcement report may not immediately appear in a filing report.
Court Records and Case Status
The District Attorney’s Office and the county courts maintain different information. The prosecutor handles criminal prosecution, while the clerk offices maintain official case records and documents. A person who needs pleadings, orders, docket information, or filed documents should use the correct court-record system rather than relying only on a District Attorney status report.
The county’s Online Record Search page provides access to Dallas County and district court case information. Public registration is not required for general public access. The portal includes felony and misdemeanor matters, civil district courts, family district case information, county courts, and probate courts.
When switching between systems, keep the following distinctions in mind:
A police offense number identifies the investigating agency’s report.
A District Attorney case number identifies the matter within the prosecutor’s office.
A court case number identifies the filed court proceeding.
A booking or jail identifier relates to custody records rather than prosecution records.
Entering the wrong type of number is a common reason a search produces no results. Review the label on every document before using the number in an online form.
The Process After Arrest
After an arrest, the accused person is taken before a judge or magistrate. The judge advises the person of the charge, explains certain rights, and sets a bond amount. The District Attorney does not set bond.
A defendant who cannot post the bond generally remains in custody and may be transferred to the county jail while the case proceeds. A defendant who posts the bond must be released, subject to the conditions imposed by the judge. When the defendant follows those conditions, the defendant may remain out of jail until the case is resolved.
Purpose of Bond
The purpose of bond is to provide reasonable assurance that the defendant will appear for later court proceedings. When determining the amount, a judge or magistrate considers the nature of the charge, the defendant’s ability to make bond, the need to avoid using bond as an instrument of oppression, and the safety of the alleged victim and community.
Judges may impose bond conditions. A victim with a concern about contact, threats, or safety may contact the assigned prosecutor or Victim Witness Division. A prosecutor may ask the court for special conditions, but the judge or magistrate decides whether to impose them.
Court Settings and Trial Dates
Criminal cases commonly have several court settings before resolution. A victim or witness does not need to attend every setting unless notified by the District Attorney’s Office. Although many cases may be scheduled for trial during the same week, not every case will be reached.
The judge controls the court’s docket. Courts generally give priority to older cases and cases involving defendants held in jail while awaiting trial. The District Attorney’s published information states that many cases may reach trial anywhere from nine months to three years after arrest, although the timing depends on the court and circumstances of the case.
Dismissals and Plea Agreements
A prosecutor may request dismissal when the available evidence is insufficient to obtain a conviction or when a legal problem prevents the case from being proven at trial. A judge must approve the motion to dismiss. The office states that dismissal decisions are generally made after investigation and after law enforcement has exhausted available avenues for obtaining additional evidence.
A negotiated plea is an agreement involving the prosecutor, defense attorney, and defendant concerning punishment. In exchange for the agreed outcome, the defendant gives up constitutional rights that include the right to a jury trial and appeal. The court remains responsible for the judicial action taken in the case.
Diversion and Restorative Justice
The Restorative Justice Division includes the Mental Health Division and felony pretrial diversion programs. These programs recognize that some cases may be addressed through structured intervention, treatment, supervision, or specialty courts rather than traditional prosecution alone.
Diversion is not available in every case. Eligibility, public safety, risk, individual needs, the nature of the charge, and program requirements affect whether a referral is accepted.
Mental Health Referrals
The Mental Health Division seeks alternatives to jail for defendants whose diagnosed mental illness is a primary reason for their involvement in the criminal justice system. The division considers mental health diversion programs and Mental Health Pre-Trial Intervention Agreements tailored to a defendant’s mental health or substance-use needs.
A mental health diagnosis alone does not guarantee acceptance. Cases are not accepted when the division believes participation would compromise the safety of Dallas County residents. When substance use is the primary concern rather than mental illness, another pretrial diversion program may be more appropriate.
Attorney referral forms for the Mental Health Division must be returned in person to the division on the sixth floor.
Felony Diversion Assessments
The Criminal Justice Department partners with the District Attorney’s Office to conduct risk and needs assessments for defendants who may qualify for pre-adjudication diversion. The referral process focuses on first-time, nonviolent offenders.
There is no charge for the assessment, but the defendant must sign a waiver permitting the assessment. A referral must be submitted before indictment or within 120 days after indictment. Missing this submission window can prevent the referral from being considered under the stated process.
The assessment may result in a recommendation for a felony Pre-Trial Intervention Agreement or placement in a pretrial specialty court. The Restorative Justice Division page provides program checklists, referral instructions, resource guides, and descriptions of specialty courts.
Pre-Trial Intervention Terms
A felony Pre-Trial Intervention Agreement may last three, six, or twelve months, based on the clinical assessment. Conditions may include drug testing, educational requirements, participation in designated programs, employment verification, or other individualized requirements.
After an assessment recommends a felony intervention agreement, the defendant’s attorney is contacted by the appropriate prosecutor, who drafts the proposed terms. The participant must complete all conditions within the required period.
Successful completion may result in dismissal of the charge and eligibility to apply for expunction. Dismissal and expunction are separate steps; completing diversion does not itself remove the case from all records.
Misdemeanor Intervention Programs
First-time misdemeanor defendants considered for intervention must contact the Assistant District Attorney assigned to the court for an eligibility review. A participant accepted into the program must sign an agreement, pay required fees unless a waiver or reduction is approved, complete the program requirements, and return proof of completion to the probation officer. The assigned prosecutor then completes and submits the dismissal.
The office also describes separate intervention programs for misdemeanor and felony prostitution charges. These programs connect eligible defendants with services intended to address exploitation, safety, stability, treatment, and independence. Successful completion may lead to dismissal and eligibility to apply for expunction.
Protecting Victim Contact Information
Victims should report changes in telephone numbers and addresses to the assigned prosecutor or Victim Witness Division. The District Attorney’s Office must be able to reach witnesses when a case approaches trial or when an appearance is required.
A person who threatens a victim or witness to force the withdrawal of a complaint may be committing retaliation or another offense. The office directs victims to contact the law enforcement agency that originally investigated the case so the threat can be documented. The assigned prosecutor or Victim Witness Division should also be informed.
Defense attorneys and defense investigators may contact witnesses during a case. A witness may ask anyone claiming to be an investigator to show identification. The District Attorney’s published guidance states that a witness may speak with a defense attorney or investigator but is not required to do so. The assigned prosecutor can explain the witness’s rights and responsibilities in the prosecution process.
Restitution Payment Requirements
The county provides an online system for District Attorney restitution payments. Before beginning, users should confirm that the payment is restitution handled through the District Attorney system rather than a court fine, criminal collection account, probation payment, bond, or another county obligation.
The District Attorney restitution payment form requires:
The case number.
The payer’s first and last name.
An email address.
A home or mobile telephone number.
The payment amount.
Users should enter the case number exactly as provided. A police offense number, jail booking number, or unrelated court account number may not identify the correct restitution obligation. Verify the payment amount and case information before continuing through the payment process.
Discovery for Defense Attorneys
The Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office provides electronic discovery in adult and juvenile criminal cases to defense attorneys through the Dallas County Defense Portal. Electronic discovery for juvenile cases became available on December 1, 2020.
Only licensed attorneys may apply for portal access. An attorney must read and accept the terms of use before applying. A violation of those terms may result in access being terminated.
The Defense Attorney Discovery Information page explains account creation, case-access requests, and portal support. The portal’s Help tab provides additional assistance after login.
Members of the public, defendants without counsel, victims, and witnesses should not use the defense portal as a general public-record system. Public court information should be requested or searched through the appropriate clerk and court-record services.
Public Information Requests
A Public Information Act request can be submitted directly to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office for records maintained by that office. The office accepts requests through the county’s GovQA portal by selecting the option to submit a request with the District Attorney. Requests may also be sent to the office’s designated public-information email address.
The District Attorney Public Information Act page provides the official submission methods.
A useful request should identify the records with enough detail for staff to locate them. Include relevant names, case numbers, approximate dates, the type of document, and the division believed to hold the information. Avoid combining unrelated cases or broad categories of records into one unclear description.
A Public Information Act request is not the same as requesting discovery in a criminal case, obtaining a certified court document, checking a pending case, or reporting a crime. Discovery requests from licensed defense attorneys use the defense portal. Court records are maintained through the clerk and court systems. New crime reports should be directed to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Weekly Felony Trial Information
The District Attorney’s Office publishes a weekly felony trial list organized by court. The report may include fields such as court, case number, defendant, offense, lead prosecutor, division, defense information, status, and scheduled dates.
A weekly trial listing does not guarantee that a case will begin trial on the displayed date. Courts schedule multiple matters, and cases may be delayed, resolved, reset, or not reached. Victims and witnesses should rely on direct notification from the District Attorney’s Office before appearing for a required trial date.
Attorney and Court Assignments
The District Attorney’s Office provides listings of Assistant District Attorneys by court and by name. An online Attorney Case Assignment Report also allows a search by attorney bar number.
When trying to identify the assigned prosecutor, start with the court number and current case number. Assignments can change, and the attorney involved during intake, grand jury review, or an earlier setting may not be the prosecutor handling the case at trial.
Users should also distinguish between the prosecutor and the defendant’s attorney. The District Attorney represents the state, not the defendant. If a defendant qualifies as indigent, a judge may appoint a defense attorney and an investigator, but those individuals work for the defendant rather than the judge or District Attorney.
Common Contact Mistakes
Reporting Crimes to Prosecutors
The District Attorney generally prosecutes cases submitted by law enforcement. A person trying to make an initial crime report should contact the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the incident. After investigation, that agency may submit the case to the District Attorney for review.
Using the Wrong Case Number
Police offense numbers, District Attorney case numbers, court case numbers, and jail identifiers serve different purposes. Record the label and issuing agency whenever receiving a number. Do not remove punctuation or add digits unless the system specifically instructs you to do so.
Calling the Wrong Division
The office has separate divisions for intake, grand jury, felony trial, misdemeanor cases, family violence, crimes against children, sexual assault, elder abuse, protective orders, mental health, appellate work, organized crime, fraud, public integrity, conviction integrity, juvenile attorneys, and victim-witness services. Directing a question to the most relevant division can reduce transfers.
Missing Diversion Deadlines
Felony pretrial diversion referrals must be submitted before indictment or within 120 days after indictment. Attorneys and defendants considering diversion should not wait until a case is close to trial before reviewing the eligibility checklist and assessment process.
Confusing Dismissal With Expunction
Some successful diversion participants may receive a dismissal and become eligible to apply for expunction. A dismissal does not automatically erase the record. Expunction requires a separate legal process and depends on eligibility.
Ignoring Contact Changes
A victim or witness who changes a telephone number or address should update the assigned prosecutor or Victim Witness Division. Failure to provide current information can interfere with trial preparation and prevent timely notice of a required appearance.
District Attorney Offices
Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office — Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, LB 19, Dallas, TX 75207 — (214) 653-3600
Dallas County District Attorney Civil Section — Records Building, 500 Elm Street, Suite 6300, Dallas, TX 75202 — (214) 653-7358
Dallas County District Attorney Juvenile Attorneys — Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center, 2600 Lone Star Drive, 2nd Floor, Dallas, TX 75212 — (214) 698-2285
Dallas County Victim Coordinator at Juvenile — Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center, 2600 Lone Star Drive, Dallas, TX 75212 — (214) 698-2287
Dallas County Victim Coordinator, Frank Crowley Criminal Courts — Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75207 — (214) 653-3838
District Attorney FAQs
Can I visit a District Attorney satellite office?
Dallas County operates community-based satellite offices to make certain services easier to reach without traveling to the main criminal courts complex. These offices primarily assist people affected by family violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. Staff may provide guidance on crime-reporting procedures, investigations, prosecution steps, and available county services. Locations have been developed through partnerships with local governments and community organizations in areas including Dallas, Cedar Hill, Grand Prairie, Garland, and Irving. Review the official District Attorney satellite office information before visiting because services may differ by location.
Where can I see the criminal case workflow?
The District Attorney’s Office publishes an official overview showing the general path a criminal case may follow after an arrest. The diagram is useful for understanding how judicial review, prosecution, court proceedings, and possible case outcomes relate to one another. It is only a general outline, so an individual case may involve additional hearings, referrals, or procedural steps. View the county’s criminal justice process guide for the current workflow.
Does the office offer internships or employment opportunities?
The District Attorney’s official website includes separate sections for internships and employment. Opportunities may involve legal, investigative, administrative, victim-support, or community-focused work. Applicants should review each posting carefully for education requirements, professional licensing, application deadlines, and required documents. Current openings and internship pathways are available through the Dallas County District Attorney homepage.
How can residents follow recent prosecution updates?
The office publishes dated news releases about significant convictions, sentencing outcomes, community programs, grants, expunction initiatives, and editions of its Justice Journal. These announcements can help residents verify official information about notable cases without relying on unofficial summaries. Because court proceedings and program schedules can change, readers should check the publication date and use the county’s original announcement as the primary source.