State Jail in Texas: What to Know

If you’re convicted of a crime in Texas, there are three types of correctional facilities you could be sent to: county jails, state jails, and prisons. 

The type of facility you’re sent to depends on a variety of factors, including whether you’ve been charged with a felony or misdemeanor, as well as the severity of the charges facing you. 

State jails house felony offenders, but just because you’ve been convicted of a felony doesn’t mean you’ll be sent to a state jail. Read on to learn more about state jails and how a dedicated Fort Worth criminal defense lawyer can help your situation. 

What’s the Difference Between State Jail and Prison in Texas?

In Texas, convicted felony offenders may be sent to either state jail or prison. Generally speaking, if you’ve been convicted of a higher level felony, you’ve got a better chance of going to prisons, with state jail being reserved for certain lower level defenders. 

The state of Texas has different classifications for felony level crimes:

• State-Jail Felonies
• Third-degree felonies
• Second-degree felonies
• First-degree felonies

A higher level also exists—capital felonies—for the gravest crimes, such as murder. 

Unlike prisons, which generally house people convicted of these higher felonies, state jails often serve as the home of those convicted of state jail offenses for the duration of their sentences. 

Some examples of crimes that could land you in state jail include:

• Credit card abuse
• Theft of a firearm
• Theft of between $2,500 and $30,000
• Cruelty to animals
• Interference of child custody
• Forging a check
• Evading arrest in a vehicle 
• And many others

Fighting Back After a State Jail Arrest

If you’ve been arrested and are facing felony charges, the ideal situation is always to have charges dropped. In other circumstances, however, getting your charges reduced to state jail felonies can also be a win. 

State jails are generally reserved for lower level felony offenders, which means you would separate from the potentially more violent population at a prison. 

Finally, state jails also have higher levels of resources and programs to offer its inmates compared to prisons. 

If you’ve been arrested, an experienced attorney can help you secure the best outcome possible depending on the facts of your case. 

Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Texas

Have you been arrested on state jail charges? Find hope by retaining the best representation available—contact a criminal defense lawyer with The Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy today. 

Call 817-605-1010 or fill out the form below to learn more.