Criminal Defense FAQ
Answers from Our Criminal Defense Lawyers in Fort Bend County
1. Where is the jail in Fort Bend County?
The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office Detention Facility is located at 1410 Ransom Road in Richmond.
2. Where is the jail in Harris County?
There are four addresses for jails in Harris County, including:
- 1200 Baker Street
- 1307 Baker Street
- 701 N. San Jacinto Street
- 711 N. San Jacinto Street
3. How can I find where my loved one is being held in custody?
The county governments offer a inmate locator tools on their websites which
you can use to determine where your loved one is being held:
Note that the booking process takes around two hours to complete, so if the arrest just happened you may not see the person in the system yet.
For more information, contact our firm today for your free consultation.
4. Can I visit my loved one in jail?
The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office states that visitation hours in the
county jail are currently from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., seven days per
week, with the exception of meal times from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. In Harris County, visitation hours are available
on There are specific rules to follow during visitation time:
- Children aged 16 years or younger must be accompanied by an adult
- Visitors over the age of 16 must provide a valid Texas driver's license or photo ID
- Inmates are allowed two visits per week, provided that they are not on restriction
- Visits are limited to 30 minutes
- Cell phones and cameras are not allowed during visitation time
- Food, drinks and gum are prohibited
- Guns will not be allowed in the visitation area
- Visitor attire must be appropriate, and clothing such as tank tops, strapless tops, short skirts etc. are prohibited
5. What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor?
All crimes in Texas are divided into either one of two categories:
misdemeanors and
felonies. Misdemeanors are punishable by time in the county jail and a fine of
up to $4,000, whereas a felony is punishable by time in prison, with a
possible fine of up to $10,000. Although a misdemeanor is not as severe
a charge as a felony, it is still a crime, and a misdemeanor conviction
will leave you with a criminal record.
6. What is an arraignment?
The arraignment is one of the first stages of the criminal process in Texas.
It is the first time that a suspect will be brought before a judge, and
it is when the person will be formally charged with a crime. It is at
the arraignment that the defendant is asked to enter a plea in the case,
e.g. guilty or not guilty, and the prosecutor may also make an offer of
a plea bargain.
7. What is a plea bargain?
A plea bargain is a negotiation between your attorney and the State. It's
essential that your attorney fully understand the facts and evidence in
the case in order to negotiate with the State. Typically, the defense
attorney thoroughly reviews the evidence and the law and will talk with
the State about offering a reduced charge or sentence in exchange for
a guilty plea. Some examples of plea offers are to reduce the charge to
a lesser offense, such as from a felony to a misdemeanor, or to agree
to let the defendant serve probation instead of jail time. A person should
never accept a plea bargain without first consulting with an experienced
criminal defense attorney.
8. What is a prosecutor?
The prosecutor is the attorney representing the state of Texas. The prosecutors
in Fort Bend County work for the
Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office. A prosecutor's job is to represent the State of Texas. They are not on
your side when you have been charged with a crime. Trust your case to the
Fort Bend County
criminal defense attorneys at
Stornello Law Firm, P.C. for help in leveling the playing field and fighting to protect your reputation
and your freedom! Contact us now for a
free case evaluation .
Additional Resources for Criminal Defendants in Fort Bend County
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