Texas Judicial

Branch

About Texas Courts

Specialty Courts in Texas 

Texas Specialty Courts Get National Recognition!

At RISE25, the premiere training conference for treatment court professionals across the country, All Rise honored two of our own this year!

Congratulations to El Paso's Judge Robert Anchondo for being inducted into the Stanley Goldstein Hall of Fame.  Your leadership in the DWI Intervention and Treatment/MERIT program remains aspirational!   Judge Elizabeth Rainey and her team with the Midland County Adult Drug Court have been named as a national mentor court for their commitment to best practices and fidelity to the treatment court model.  If you want to see excellence in action, go see them!
 

 

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:

  1. Family Treatment Courts
  2. Adult Treatment Courts
  3. Veterans Treatment Courts
  4. Mental Health Courts
  5. Commercially or Sexually Exploited Persons Courts
  6. Public Safety Employees Treatment Courts
  7. 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.

Registered Specialty Courts

Data Graphics

There are currently 207 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 6/4/2025).

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.