Legal Question in Criminal Law in Texas

how to get deferred adjudication?

My court date for a Class C Misdemeanor for shoplifting is in about a week. I want to know what steps to take to get deferred adjudication? Do I have to go to the court before my court date for anything? In order to get deferred adjudication to I have to plead no contest or not guilty? Do I ask the judge for deferred adjudication or will he offer it to me? I've never been in court, so I'm not sure how this works. Also, will he ask me why I did it or something? So I won't be caught off guard with that question. Sorry for all the questions but I'm very nervous, I've never been to court so I don't know the procedures.


Asked on 5/14/09, 3:38 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Tuthill Law Office of Robert H. Tuthill

Re: how to get deferred adjudication?

deferred for Class C offenses is very common. You will likely just go into the court and speak to a prosecutor. The prosecutor will lay out your options and deferred will most likely be one of them. You then just say that is what you want to do, and you end up pleading no contest or guilty and thats about it. You will have to sign some papers most likely. The judge might want to ask you a question or talk to you, but i doubt it in Class C court, they are normally way too busy to care about your reasons. Dont be nervous at all. Just be respectful. Think of it as going into a pre-school. You will have people running around and it might be crowded. There really isn't anything to be worried about.

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Answered on 5/14/09, 3:50 pm


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