Arrested or cited in Arlington?
Three things shape what happens next: whether you were cited or arrested, whether the case has been filed, and your age and record.
Where an Arlington case goes next depends on a few facts you may already know. These three questions are a good place to start.
A Class C citation stays with the Arlington Municipal Court, which requires you to appear within 30 days, in person or in writing. For anything above a Class C, the City of Arlington says a judge may allow you to post bond, and the case then waits on a decision by the Tarrant County District Attorney's office.
Release and filing are separate events. The District Attorney's office decides whether a case will be filed, and the window to apply for its Deferred Prosecution Program is counted from the filing date, not from the arrest.
That program is open only to people who were 17 to 26 at the time of the offense and who meet its prior-record rules, explained below. For anyone else, the case turns on the evidence, the charge and the other options available. Either way, part of our approach is looking past the case itself to what it means for your record and your future job opportunities.
The work starts with paperwork. When we are hired, we file a letter of representation and request discovery right away, so those questions are answered with the evidence in hand. No one can promise admission to a program or a particular result.
This is what the District Attorney's published 2025 guidelines say. The program is not open to everyone, and the District Attorney's office decides who is accepted.
Source: Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney, Deferred Prosecution Program and program guidelines (updated February 2025). Terms can change, so they should be confirmed for your case.
A Class C citation can feel minor, but how you respond to it decides what ends up on your record. This is what the City of Arlington says about its municipal court.
The court says online and telephone payments are a plea of no contest, entered as a guilty judgment and reported to the Texas Department of Public Safety as a conviction.
Why it matters: once the fine is paid, the case closes with a conviction. Some first fine-only convictions can later be sealed by an order of nondisclosure, but that is not the same as a dismissal.
You must appear within 30 days after the citation was issued, in person or in writing. Phone calls do not count, and defendants under 17 at the time of the citation must appear in open court.
Why it matters: missing the appearance can lead to a warrant on top of the original citation.
The court allows one deferral in a 12-month period, requested by your 30-day appearance date. The deferral period is 90 days, and some people, including commercial driver's license holders, are not eligible.
Why it matters: if the conditions are met, the case can be dismissed instead of ending in a conviction.
Arlington calls itself a Safe Harbor Court: you can come to the court to resolve outstanding cases without fear of being arrested on the warrants. Bond options include cash, surety and personal bonds.
Why it matters: a warrant for a fine you were ordered to pay works differently and cannot be cleared by posting bond.
Source: City of Arlington, Municipal Court Options and Warrants or Posting Bond. Court procedures can change, so confirm with the court.
We represent people arrested or cited by Arlington police on misdemeanor and felony charges, including these.
A first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum of 72 hours in jail, and a test result of 0.15 or more makes it a Class A. A test result of 0.08 or more, or a refusal, can also lead to a license suspension.
Why it matters: DPS must receive a request for a license hearing within 15 days of the suspension notice, separate from the criminal case. Read about our DWI defense.
Misdemeanor marijuana is graded by weight. THC oil, wax and vape cartridges are Penalty Group 2 substances, so even less than a gram is a state jail felony.
Why it matters: the District Attorney's program has a separate track for some marijuana and controlled-substance possession charges. See our page on drug crimes.
Assault by offensive contact or by threat is usually a Class C misdemeanor, and assault causing bodily injury is usually a Class A. If the court finds the offense involved family violence, it must enter that finding in the judgment.
Why it matters: the Deferred Prosecution Program excludes offenses where someone was injured or put in danger, and a family violence finding bars later record sealing by nondisclosure.
Most theft is graded by value, from a fine-only Class C under $100 to felonies heard in the Tarrant County district courts.
Why it matters: the dollar figure sets the level, so it is one of the first things we check. See our page on theft charges.
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Tobias leads the firm's Fort Worth and Tarrant County criminal defense practice. He handles misdemeanor and felony cases in Fort Worth, Arlington and the surrounding areas of Tarrant County.
He earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at Arlington and his law degree at Texas A&M University School of Law. Read Tobias Lopez's profile for his full background.
David leads the firm's criminal defense practice. He handles misdemeanor and felony cases and appears in courts in McKinney, Dallas, Fort Worth, Denton and surrounding areas.
A Dallas native, David earned his law degree at Texas A&M University School of Law. Read David Payma's profile for his full background.
Answers to the questions people ask most after an arrest or citation in Arlington.
Ask about your caseIt depends on the charge. Class C citations issued in Arlington go to the Arlington Municipal Court at 101 S. Mesquite Street. If the District Attorney files a Class B misdemeanor or anything more serious, it goes to the county criminal courts for misdemeanors or the district courts for felonies, at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth.
A judge sets bond based on the charge and the person's situation, and Tarrant County says its judges consider factors including the nature of the charge, the person's ability to pay and community safety. The process can take several hours, and no one can promise the bond amount or the release time. Arlington's jail bond desk is at 620 W. Division Street, and the city says Class B and higher charges cannot be bonded through its online payment service.
The 2025 application includes a signed judicial confession and stipulation of evidence, and a waiver of the right to a speedy trial. If the program is not completed, the guidelines say the trial court is notified to set the case. That is one reason to look at the evidence before deciding whether to apply.
You can, but the court says online and telephone payments are a plea of no contest, entered as a guilty judgment and reported to the Texas Department of Public Safety as a conviction. The court also lists deferred disposition for people who are eligible.
If the case is dismissed, you may be able to clear the arrest from your record. The District Attorney's guidelines say people who complete the Deferred Prosecution Program are eligible to apply for an immediate expunction. After some deferred adjudications or a first conviction for certain misdemeanors, you may be able to ask for an order of nondisclosure.
We also represent people charged elsewhere in Tarrant County, including these communities.
Tell us what you were charged with, whether you were arrested or cited, and the date on any paperwork you were given. Our Dallas office is at 3302 Swiss Circle, Dallas, TX 75204. You can call, use the form below, or reach us through our contact page.
(214) 306-9696Texas Defenders is committed to answering your questions about Criminal Defense law issues in Texas.
We offer a free consultation and we will gladly discuss your case with you at your convenience. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
