Are there Alternatives to Jail for Criminal Offenses in Texas?

Imprisonment is the typical punishment for those guilty of criminal offenses in Texas. Imprisonment often has the poorest consequence for offenders compared to rehabilitation and other types of supervision. Counties in Texas are already implementing alternatives to going to jail to promote reform.

What is Alternative Sentencing?

Alternative sentencing refers to various penalties imposed on a guilty offender apart from incarceration in a county jail, a state prison, or a death sentence.

Major Alternative Sentencing for Criminal Offenses In Texas

1.     Diversion 

The Texas criminal justice system provides a diversion program as a chance for some accused to escape punishment by moving their cases out of the court system. Offenders charged with petty charges and nonviolent felonies involving drugs or alcohol are frequently eligible for diversion programs. Some diversion programs available in Texas are first-time offender drug programs, deferred prosecution programs (DPP) for young offenders, etc.

2.     House Arrest 

You will spend your jail or prison term confined to your home while under house arrest. You will wear an electronic monitoring device on your ankle throughout your house arrest. The monitoring device will help to alert the authorities every time you go outside the permitted range. The two monitoring devices for house arrest in Texas are Radio Frequency Electronic Monitoring and GPS Monitoring.

3.     Community Service 

Community service is a punishment a judge imposes on any offender to help the community that was hurt by the crime committed. An offender must complete a certain amount of community hours in this situation. Examples of these community services are working for a public or nonprofit organization, arranging or creating therapy sessions, assisting other drug users in their recovery, speaking about the effects of the defendant’s behavior at a gathering, and unpaid community service.

4.     Probation

Probation or community supervision is a non-prison sentence alternative for offenders guilty of a crime. The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 42.12 and section 3(a) provides that a judge may suspend the imposition of the sentence and place the defendant on community supervision.

In conclusion, your attorney can recommend the best alternative that suits your case instead of a jail term for a criminal offense in Texas.