What Happens After an Arrest in Arlington, Texas

An arrest in Arlington, Texas sets off a sequence most people have never seen before: a transport, a booking, a magistrate, a bond decision, and eventually a court that may not be in Arlington at all. Knowing what comes next makes the difference between reacting to each step and getting ahead of it.

This page walks through the process from the moment of arrest through the first court settings, with the Tarrant County specifics that apply to Arlington cases. If you need representation now, our Arlington criminal defense lawyers are available 24/7.

Where You Go After an Arrest in Arlington

Arlington Police Department arrests are typically processed at the Ott Cribbs Public Safety Center, the city’s jail facility. It operates as a short-term holding facility, and people are generally held there for a limited period before release or transfer to the Tarrant County Corrections Center in Fort Worth.

Where a case ends up depends on the severity of the charge. Class C misdemeanors often stay within the Arlington municipal system. Class A and B misdemeanors and all felonies move into the Tarrant County court system.

The First 24 to 72 Hours

Three things happen early, and each one matters.

• Booking. Fingerprints, photograph, property inventory, and formal recording of the charge. Requests to make phone calls typically happen at this stage.
• Magistration. A magistrate informs the arrested person of the charges and their rights, and sets bond. Texas law requires this to happen without unnecessary delay. If the arrest happened without a warrant, additional deadlines apply — we cover those in detail on our page about what to do after a warrantless arrest.
• Bond and release. Bond may be posted through a bonding company, in cash, or in some cases on a personal bond. Getting someone out quickly is often the family’s first priority, and our Fort Worth jail release attorneys handle this around the clock.

Arraignments at the Arlington jail reportedly take place daily within set morning-to-afternoon hours.

Which Court Will Handle Your Arlington Case

This is where Arlington cases diverge, and it’s the part most people get wrong.

Arlington Municipal Court

Arlington Municipal Court handles Class C misdemeanors alleged to have occurred within Arlington city limits, along with violations of city ordinances. Class C offenses commonly seen here include public intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia, assault by contact, and theft under a low dollar threshold.

A Class C misdemeanor carries no jail sentence, but a conviction still creates a record. That record can matter later for employment, licensing, and any future case.

Tarrant County Criminal Courts

Class A and Class B misdemeanors — including most DWI cases, many drug possession charges, and assault causing bodily injury — are handled in the Tarrant County criminal courts in Fort Worth, not in Arlington. Tarrant County has ten county criminal courts handling misdemeanor matters and eleven district courts handling felonies.

For misdemeanors, a prosecutor reviews the case and decides whether to accept and file it. There is no grand jury step. The case proceeds directly to a county criminal court.

Tarrant County Criminal District Courts

Felony cases go to the district courts, and they take a different route — through the grand jury first.

How the Grand Jury Works in Tarrant County Felony Cases

An arrest is not a charge. For felonies, a Tarrant County grand jury decides whether the case moves forward at all.

A Tarrant County grand jury is made up of twelve citizens selected by a district judge. At least nine of the twelve must vote in favor for an indictment to issue. If the grand jury finds the evidence insufficient, it returns a “no bill,” and the case does not proceed. Two grand juries sit at any given time, meeting several days a week across a three-month term.

The grand jury does not decide guilt. It decides whether there is enough to formally charge.

This window matters more than most people realize. A defense attorney working a felony case before indictment can sometimes present information the grand jury would not otherwise see. Once an indictment issues, that opportunity is gone.

Attorney Shawn Paschall spent nine years as a felony prosecutor, including time in Tarrant County, and presented cases at this exact stage — experience that shapes how our firm approaches pre-indictment work for Arlington clients.

What the Arlington Court Process Looks Like From Here

After the case is filed or indicted, the pattern is generally consistent:

• Arraignment — formal reading of the charge and entry of a plea.
• Discovery — the State turns over its evidence: reports, video, lab results, witness statements.
• Pretrial settings — negotiation, motions, and challenges to evidence. Most cases are resolved at this stage.
• Motions to suppress — where an unlawful stop, search, or arrest gets litigated.
• Trial — jury or bench, if the case does not resolve earlier.

Cases involving Arlington residents move through the same Tarrant County courts our attorneys have practiced in for decades, in front of the same judges and prosecutors.

What to Do in the Meantime

• Do not discuss the case on recorded jail calls, with friends, or on social media.
• Write down everything you remember about the arrest while it is fresh — times, names, what was said.
• Preserve anything relevant: photos, texts, receipts, witness contact information.
• Do not miss a court setting. A failure to appear turns a manageable case into a warrant.
• Contact an attorney before speaking with police or prosecutors again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are you taken after an arrest in Arlington, Texas?

People arrested by Arlington police are typically processed at the city’s jail facility and held short-term before release on bond or transfer to the Tarrant County jail in Fort Worth. Felony and higher-level misdemeanor cases move into the Tarrant County court system.

Will my Arlington case be heard in Arlington?

Not necessarily. Class C misdemeanors are generally handled in Arlington Municipal Court. Class A and B misdemeanors and felonies are handled in the Tarrant County courts in Fort Worth, even though the arrest happened in Arlington.

How long does a criminal case take in Tarrant County?

It varies widely. Misdemeanors may resolve in a few months. Felonies often take longer because of the grand jury stage, lab testing, and discovery. Cases that go to trial take the longest.

Does an arrest in Arlington mean I will be charged?

No. An arrest is not a charge. A prosecutor decides whether to file a misdemeanor, and for felonies a Tarrant County grand jury decides whether to indict. Cases are declined and no-billed regularly.

Do I need an Arlington criminal defense attorney if the charge is minor?

Yes. Even a Class C conviction creates a permanent record affecting employment and licensing. Early representation often opens options — dismissal, reduction, or diversion — that disappear once a case advances.

Talk to an Arlington Criminal Defense Attorney

Cole Paschall Law defends clients throughout Arlington and Tarrant County. Shawn Paschall is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has tried more than 100 jury trials. Casey Cole is a member of the Tarrant County Criminal Defense Bar Association. We handle DWI cases, drug charges, assault, theft, and felony matters for Arlington clients. We are available 24/7.

Call (817) 477-4100 or schedule a free consultation.