Department Of Justice in Texas

Who Handles Justice Services in Texas

Texas has no single agency called the Department of Justice. The name comes from the federal system, and this directory uses it as a heading for justice-related offices across the state. Our database holds 90 of them. Examples include the Austin Texas Department of Justice at 11209 Metric Boulevard and the Houston Texas Department of Justice at 10165 Harwin Drive. Before you travel, work out which agency actually sits behind the listing you picked.

Texas divides the work among several bodies. Knowing the split helps you choose the right office on the first try.

• Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ): runs state prisons, state jails, and parole supervision. Its headquarters is in Huntsville, and its Parole Division operates district offices around the state.
• Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles: decides release and clemency recommendations. TDCJ staff then supervise people who are released.
• Office of the Attorney General of Texas: enforces child support, represents the state in civil litigation, and administers crime victims' compensation.
• Texas Juvenile Justice Department: oversees state youth facilities and supports county juvenile probation.
• Sheriffs, district attorneys, and community supervision departments: run county jails, prosecute most felonies, and supervise people on probation.
• U.S. Attorneys and federal courts: Texas is divided into four federal judicial districts, Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western.

Most of the listings you will see here carry the label "Texas Department of Justice" followed by a city name. Treat that label as a pointer to a justice-system office in that city, then confirm the exact function by phone. The numbers in our listings are the quickest way to do that.

Metro Justice Offices: Austin, El Paso, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth

Texas has five of the largest listing clusters in its biggest metros. Austin, El Paso, and San Antonio each have six listings. Dallas has four, and Fort Worth has three. Metro areas tend to have more than one office because the caseloads are larger and the counties are populous.

The Austin Texas Department of Justice sits in Travis County, home to the state capital. You can reach it at 512-490-7130. Because Austin hosts so many state agencies, many residents confuse the listings with Capitol-area offices. The Metric Boulevard address is north of downtown, so plan for travel time and parking rather than assuming a central location.

The El Paso Texas Department of Justice is at 660 South Mesa Hills Drive, and its number is 915-832-5000. El Paso is the westernmost major city in Texas and sits in the Mountain Time Zone. That matters if you are calling a Central Time agency in Austin or Huntsville. El Paso County has more listings than any other county in our database, with seven.

The San Antonio Texas Department of Justice is at 17259 Nacogdoches Road, phone 210-651-4374. Our records place that address in Comal County, even though the mailing city is San Antonio. The Bexar-Comal line runs through the northeast side of the metro, so check the county before you file anything that depends on jurisdiction. If your matter belongs to a Bexar County court, see the Bexar County page as well.

In North Texas, the Dallas Texas Department of Justice is at 1100 Commerce Street, phone 214-659-8600. This is in the downtown core, near the county courthouse complex. The Fort Worth Texas Department of Justice is at 2462 East Long Avenue, phone 817-378-2100. Arlington has its own listing at 1201 North Watson Road, phone 817-640-8960. Both Fort Worth and Arlington fall under Tarrant County, so Tarrant has four listings. Dallas matters can also be browsed under Dallas County.

Rural and Small-City Offices Across West, South and East Texas

Texas covers about 268,000 square miles and has 254 counties, more than any other state. In rural areas, one office may serve several counties. That changes how you plan a visit.

Consider the Fort Stockton Texas Department of Justice at 1098 Ranch Road 2037, phone 432-395-2938, in Pecos County. The Alpine Texas Department of Justice at 803 Fighting Buck Avenue, phone 432-837-7192, is in Brewster County, which is the largest county in Texas by area. Driving between West Texas towns can take hours, and fuel stops are far apart. Call ahead, and do not rely on a drop-in visit.

On the High Plains, Plainview has three listings. The Plainview Texas Department of Justice is at 304 West 6th Street, phone 806-291-0553, in Hale County. Farther south, Lubbock has three listings. The Wolfforth Texas Department of Justice carries a Lubbock mailing address at 7402 82nd Street, phone 806-866-9634, in Lubbock County. Amarillo's office is at 9055 Texas 591 Spur, phone 806-383-1175, in Potter County.

Abilene's office is at 400 Pine Street, phone 325-677-6191, in Taylor County. Laredo has three listings, including the Laredo Texas Department of Justice at 6020 Mcpherson Road, phone 956-724-1933, in Webb County. Webb County is a major border-crossing area, so federal law enforcement activity there is heavier than the county's population would suggest.

Along the Gulf Coast and in East Texas, the pattern shifts again. The Beaumont Texas Department of Justice at 350 Magnolia Street, phone 409-839-2581, is in Jefferson County. The Angleton Texas Department of Justice at 6999 Retrieve Road, phone 979-849-9306, is in Brazoria County. The Corpus Christi Texas Department of Justice is at 422 South Enterprize Parkway, phone 361-299-6307. Hurricane season, from June through November, can close offices with little warning, so check conditions before you drive.

Preparing for a Visit to a Texas Justice Office

Most Texas justice offices run on weekday business hours, but hours vary by agency. Parole offices often schedule people by appointment. County offices may accept walk-ins for certain filings only. A short call saves a trip.

Bring these items to almost any visit:

• A current government-issued photo ID, such as a Texas driver license or ID card.
• Any case, cause, or offender number tied to your matter.
• Court orders, letters, or notices you received from the agency.
• A pen, and copies of documents you can leave behind.

Expect security screening at many buildings. Some facilities restrict phones, bags, and certain clothing. If you are visiting someone held in a state facility, rules are stricter, and you generally must be on an approved visitor list before arriving. Ask the specific unit before you leave home.

Texas also gives you tools that do not require a trip. TDCJ publishes an online offender search. The Attorney General's office takes many child support and crime victim inquiries by phone and online. Court records are often searchable through county district clerk websites. Use these first when you only need information, and save the drive for filings or meetings that require you to be there in person.

Department of Justice resources in Texas include U.S. Attorney's Office district operations, FBI field offices, and the Texas Attorney General's Office, which enforces state law and consumer protection statutes at the state level while coordinating with federal DOJ components on major investigations.

Department Of Justice locations are available in 54 cities across Texas. They are spread across 53 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Austin, El Paso, San Antonio, reflecting federal district headquarters and major cities where DOJ field offices, U.S. Attorneys, and federal law enforcement units are based.

Residents of Texas who need to engage with the DOJ should identify the correct agency division for their matter — whether it involves civil rights, a federal crime, antitrust, or a FOIA request — before contacting the appropriate office.

Residents of Texas who need to file a civil rights complaint, report federal fraud, or access victim assistance programs should visit justice.gov to identify the appropriate DOJ division or contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the federal district covering their area.

Browse Department Of Justice by county across Texas to find the nearest location.

Choosing the Right Texas Justice Office by Region

Geography shapes which office you should contact in Texas. In the Austin area, state-level agencies cluster in the capital, so questions about statewide programs often start there. The Austin Texas Department of Justice listing in Travis County is a reasonable starting point for central Texas matters.

In Houston, Harris County is the state's most populous county, and the Houston Texas Department of Justice at 10165 Harwin Drive, phone 713-942-4200, serves a very large caseload. Expect longer waits and plan for traffic on the freeways. For Huntsville, the Huntsville Texas Department of Justice at 815 11th Street, phone 936-295-6371, is in Walker County, the heart of the state prison system. Nearby small-town listings include Navasota in Grimes County, phone 936-825-7548, and Bastrop in Bastrop County, phone 512-321-3903.

North of Dallas, the Sherman Texas Department of Justice at 2510 Texoma Parkway, phone 903-868-2379, serves Grayson County near the Oklahoma border. The Bonham office at 1100 West 5th Street, phone 903-583-4464, is in Fannin County. In South Texas, Beeville's listing in Bee County is at Texas 202, phone 361-358-9880. In West Texas, Big Spring's office at 206 Owens Street, phone 432-263-8501, is in Howard County.

If a street address looks incomplete, such as a highway number or farm-to-market road, use the phone number to get directions. Several rural facilities sit outside town limits and are hard to find by city name alone.