Tex. Code of Criminal Procedure § 45A.251
This is the official text of Tex. Code of Criminal Procedure § 45A.251, part of Texas’s Code of Criminal Procedure — sets the procedural rules for criminal cases in Texas.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§ 45A.251. JUDGMENT.
Official statutory text
(a) The judgment and sentence for a conviction in a criminal action before a justice or judge is that the defendant pay the amount of the fine and costs to the state.
(a-1) Repealed by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 7 (H.B. 16), Sec. 10.10, eff. December 4, 2025.
(b) Subject to Articles 45A.253(a) and (b) and Article 45A.257, the justice or judge may direct the defendant:
(1) to pay:
(A) the entire fine and costs when the sentence is pronounced;
(B) the entire fine and costs at a later date; or
(C) a specified portion of the fine and costs at designated intervals;
(2) if applicable, to make restitution to a victim of the offense; and
(3) to satisfy any other sanction authorized by law.
(c) Restitution made under Subsection (b)(2) may not exceed $5,000 for an offense under Section 32.41, Penal Code.
(d) The justice or judge shall credit the defendant for time served in jail as provided by Article 42.03. The credit under this subsection shall be applied to the amount of the fine and costs at the rate provided by Article 45A.262.
(e) In addition to credit under Subsection (d), in imposing a fine and costs in a case involving a misdemeanor punishable by fine only, the justice or judge shall credit the defendant for any period the defendant was confined in jail or prison while awaiting trial or serving a sentence for another offense if that confinement occurred after the commission of the misdemeanor. The credit under this subsection shall be applied to the amount of the fine and costs at the rate of not less than $150 for each day of confinement.
(f) All judgments, sentences, and final orders of the justice or judge shall be imposed in open court.
(a-1) Repealed by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 7 (H.B. 16), Sec. 10.10, eff. December 4, 2025.
(b) Subject to Articles 45A.253(a) and (b) and Article 45A.257, the justice or judge may direct the defendant:
(1) to pay:
(A) the entire fine and costs when the sentence is pronounced;
(B) the entire fine and costs at a later date; or
(C) a specified portion of the fine and costs at designated intervals;
(2) if applicable, to make restitution to a victim of the offense; and
(3) to satisfy any other sanction authorized by law.
(c) Restitution made under Subsection (b)(2) may not exceed $5,000 for an offense under Section 32.41, Penal Code.
(d) The justice or judge shall credit the defendant for time served in jail as provided by Article 42.03. The credit under this subsection shall be applied to the amount of the fine and costs at the rate provided by Article 45A.262.
(e) In addition to credit under Subsection (d), in imposing a fine and costs in a case involving a misdemeanor punishable by fine only, the justice or judge shall credit the defendant for any period the defendant was confined in jail or prison while awaiting trial or serving a sentence for another offense if that confinement occurred after the commission of the misdemeanor. The credit under this subsection shall be applied to the amount of the fine and costs at the rate of not less than $150 for each day of confinement.
(f) All judgments, sentences, and final orders of the justice or judge shall be imposed in open court.
Status: repealed · Read it on the official government site
Dealing with a criminal defense matter in Texas?
See all Texas Criminal Defense lawyers
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.