About Texas Courts
*LEGISLATIVE CHANGE*
House Bill 16 was passed in the Second Special Session of the 89th Legislature, which included an update to Chapter 121 which governs specialty courts. Specifically, the bill changes the requirement for a specialty court to register with OCA from a CSCD strategic plan to a participant handbook or a policy and procedures manual.
Text of subsection effective on December 04, 2025
(c) Notwithstanding any other law, a specialty court program may not operate until the judge, magistrate, or coordinator:
(1) provides to the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System:
(A) written notice of the program;
(B) any resolution or other official declaration under which the program was established; and
(C) a copy of the program policy manual, participant handbook, or other adopted documentation describing the operational plan of the program; and
(2) receives from the office written verification of the program's compliance with Subdivision (1).
Texas Specialty Courts In Action!
As promised, October was BUSY. It started out with a graduation in Williamson County's Veterans Treatment Court, followed by a visit to the Dallas County AIM Court, then to the Judicial Commission on Mental Health's Summit in Houston, and ended with a visit to Fort Bend County for some foundational training.
| Judge Laura Barker presided over the Williamson County Veterans Treatment Court graduation on October 2, 2025. Her participants' entries for a contest she was having were also displayed at the ceremony. |
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Judge Audra Riley presides over the Dallas County AIM Court, which serves the emerging adult population, on October 6, 2025. |
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Judge Rocky Jones, presiding judge of the Dallas County ATLAS Court, presented on how to prepare participants for life after mental health court at the JCMH Summit on Mental Health on October 8, 2025. |
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Erin Morgan partnered with Amber Gregory from the Specialty Court Resource Center to deliver a two-day training in Fort Bend County on October 23rd & 24th. Judge Christian Becerra and his team are working to align their current mental health docket with best practices in order to establish a registered specialty court. |
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Overview
Specialty Courts provide specialized direct services (usually substance use or mental health treatment) to participants as an alternative to incarceration in criminal cases or to address child protection issues in civil or family cases. Participants must comply with the terms of the program for typically 12-24 months by remaining clean and sober, not being rearrested, participating in treatment, and attending court review hearings on a regular basis. Specialty Court Programs in Texas must comply with best practice standards approved by the Texas Judicial Council.
There are seven (7) types of Specialty Courts recognized by Statute in Texas:
- Family Treatment Courts
- Adult Treatment Courts
- Veterans Treatment Courts
- Mental Health Courts
- Commercially or Sexually Exploited Persons Courts
- Public Safety Employees Treatment Courts
- Juvenile Family Treatment Courts
In 2019, the 86th Legislature transferred oversight of Specialty Court programs in Texas from the Office of the Governor to the Office of Court Administration under the Texas Judicial Branch through House Bill 2955. As such, OCA is charged with ensuring adherence to best practice standards and offering support and technical assistance to all specialty court programs.
Data Graphics
There are currently 206 registered Specialty Courts in Texas. The graphics below highlight the number of courts by type, the number of courts by county, and the counties with statutory mandates for specialty courts. (updated 11/2/2025).
Number of Courts by Type
Number of Courts per County
Counties with Statutory Mandates for Specialty Courts
For questions please contact the Specialty Courts Program Manager Erin Morgan or 512-936-0288.