CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Your child can face CRIMINAL CHARGES!
Verified Credentials
Reggie & Njeri London
Co-Founding Partners
Co-Founding Partners
Texas Bar verified. Reggie London (Texas Bar No. 24043514) and Njeri London (Texas Bar No. 24043266) are the co-founding partners of L and L Law Group, PLLC — based at 5899 Preston Rd, Suite 101 in Frisco, Texas (Collin County), with many 5-star Google reviews, and available 24/7 for criminal defense consultations.
Quick Answer
Bottom line up front: Texas juvenile law (ages 10-16) under Family Code Title 3 is separate from adult Penal Code. Seventeen-year-olds are adults under Texas law. Juvenile adjudications are not convictions and records are confidential from creation under § 58.007.
Texas legal context
- For the canonical L and L Law Group reference framework on Texas criminal procedure, see the defense process Guidebook covering investigation, arrest, bond, trial, sentencing, appeals, and record-clearing.
- Texas statute of limitations under CCP Article 12.01 varies by offense. Most misdemeanors carry a 2-year limit; most felonies a 3-year limit; many sexual offenses against children have no limitation. SOL analysis applies to every your child can face criminal charges! case touching older conduct.
- Texas criminal cases involving your child can face criminal charges! require careful analysis of the specific facts, the controlling Texas Penal Code or Code of Criminal Procedure section, and the county prosecution practices. At L and L Law Group, our analysis begins with the indictment or information and walks back through the investigation.
- In Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties, prosecutorial discretion shapes how cases like your child can face criminal charges! resolve. The first 30 days after arrest are critical — that is when pretrial diversion, bond conditions, and informal disposition are most flexible.
- Constitutional defenses applicable to your child can face criminal charges! include the Fourth Amendment (search and seizure), Fifth Amendment (self-incrimination), and Sixth Amendment (right to counsel and confrontation). The Texas Constitution Article I provides parallel — and sometimes broader — protections.
Authored by L and L Law Group, PLLC. (972) 370-5060. info@landllawgroup.com.
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Key Legal Terms
- TJJD (Texas Juvenile Justice Department)
- State agency operating residential commitment facilities for adjudicated juveniles. Commitment under Family Code § 54.04 is the most restrictive juvenile disposition short of certification to adult court.
- Certification to Adult Court
- Family Code § 54.02 procedure transferring a juvenile case (14+ for serious felonies, 15+ for other felonies) to adult district court for criminal prosecution. Certification permanently reverses every juvenile protection.
- Determinate Sentencing
- Family Code § 53.045 procedure imposing a years-length sentence (up to 40) that can transfer from TJJD to adult TDCJ if the juvenile reaches age 19 without completing the sentence. The highest-stakes juvenile-disposition pathway.
- Juvenile Record Sealing
- Family Code § 58.253 (automatic at 18) and § 58.260 (application-based) procedures sealing juvenile records. Stronger than adult non-disclosure — accessible only by specific government agencies.
Our Experience
In our practice defending Texas criminal cases, we have represented clients in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant County criminal courts on the full Texas Penal Code and Health & Safety Code spectrum. Reggie's prosecutor background in Dallas County means we know the State's evidentiary playbook; Njeri's trial-trained motion practice anchors the suppression-driven defense work.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age is someone an adult in Texas criminal law?
Texas treats 17-year-olds as adults under the Penal Code — a unique boundary among states (most use 18). Juveniles ages 10-16 are under Family Code Title 3 (Juvenile Justice Code), and adjudications in juvenile court are not "convictions." Certification to adult court under § 54.02 is available for serious felonies for 14+.
Can a juvenile record be sealed in Texas?
Yes. Family Code § 58.253 provides automatic sealing at age 18 for many juvenile records meeting specific conditions. Application-based sealing under § 58.260 is available for records that don't qualify automatically. Both seal the record from public view while preserving limited law enforcement access.
What is juvenile certification in Texas?
Family Code § 54.02 allows juvenile court to certify a juvenile (14+ for some felonies, 15+ for others) for adult prosecution. Certification permanently moves the case to adult district court and forfeits every juvenile protection. Contested certification hearings are critical and demand specialized defense counsel.
What is determinate sentencing in Texas juvenile cases?
Family Code § 53.045 allows juvenile court to impose a "determinate sentence" — a length of years (up to 40) — that can extend into adult TDCJ if the juvenile reaches age 19 without completing the sentence. Determinate sentencing applies only to specific serious felonies and is the highest-stakes juvenile scenario.
Can a juvenile be tried as an adult in Texas?
Yes, through certification under Family Code § 54.02. The juvenile court must find probable cause and that the welfare of the community requires criminal prosecution. We oppose certification with psychological evaluations, family support evidence, and rehabilitation programming alternatives.
References & Authoritative Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-13 by Njeri London and Reggie London, co-founding partners, L and L Law Group, PLLC. This content is reviewed for accuracy at least every 12 months and when statutory or case-law changes occur.
Attorney Advertising Disclosure. This content is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading this content or contacting L and L Law Group, PLLC through this website does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
About the Authors
Njeri London
Co-Founding Partner
Texas Bar No. 24043266. Admitted: TXND, TXED, 5th Circuit. Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Focus: Fourth Amendment motion practice, drug-crime defense, federal cases. Verify on Texas Bar
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Reggie London
Co-Founding Partner
Texas Bar No. 24043514. Former Dallas County Assistant District Attorney. Extensive felony trial experience including DWI dockets. Verify on Texas Bar
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Charged with a crime in Texas? Talk to L and L Law Group.
Co-founding partners Reggie London (Texas Bar No. 24043514) and Njeri London (Texas Bar No. 24043266) personally handle every case. Free consultation. Frisco, Texas.
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