What does Arlington Municipal Court handle?
The city court is limited to fine-only cases. Anything carrying possible jail time is filed with the county, not the city.
- Court
- Arlington Municipal Court — official court page
- Address
- 211 S. Cooper St., Bldg A, Arlington, TX 76010
- Phone
- 817-459-6777
- Handles
- Class C misdemeanors, traffic citations, and city-ordinance violations (all fine-only)
- Online payment
- Arlington online payment
- Hours
- Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
A Class C misdemeanor is the lowest level of criminal charge in Texas. It is punishable by a fine only (generally up to $500, plus court costs) with no jail sentence, which is why these cases stay in the city's municipal court. Common examples are speeding and most traffic violations, public-intoxication-type citations, and violations of local ordinances such as parking, code, or animal rules.
If a charge is a Class B or Class A misdemeanor (for example, most DWI, possession, or assault cases) or a felony, it is not handled by Arlington Municipal Court. Those cases are filed with the Tarrant County courts at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth and follow the county process — booking, magistration, and a setting in a county criminal court at law or a criminal district court. Arlington is entirely within Tarrant County. Our Tarrant County hub walks through that side step by step.
Arlington city jail
Arlington runs its own city jail. Here is what it covers — and where a person goes next.
- Facility
- Arlington City Jail (Ott Cribbs Public Safety Center)
- Address
- 620 W. Division Street, Arlington, TX 76011
- Detention phone
- 817-459-5648
- Hours
- ⚠ Short-term holding facility — confirm current hours by phone before you go.
- Find someone
- Arlington current inmate list (jail history: jail history search)
The Ott Cribbs Public Safety Center is a short-term holding facility; people are typically held under 72 hours before release or transfer to the Tarrant County Jail. For City of Arlington Class C tickets and warrants, a monetary value is assigned for each day spent in the city jail (“jail credit”).
After any city hold, people facing charges above a fine-only offense are transferred to the Tarrant County Corrections Center at 100 N. Lamar, Fort Worth, TX 76196. Use the Tarrant County inmate search to confirm where someone is held. For the full county process — inmate search, bonds, visitation, and money on the books — see the Tarrant County hub and the inmate search.
How do I pay or handle an Arlington ticket?
You usually have more options than just paying. Paying a ticket is a guilty plea — sometimes the wrong move.
| Option | What it means | Effect on your record |
|---|---|---|
| Pay the fine | Pay or look up the citation online, by phone, or in person | Counts as a guilty/no-contest plea — the conviction goes on your record |
| Defensive driving | Ask the court to take a state-approved driving course (eligibility rules apply) | Can keep one qualifying traffic offense off your record |
| Deferred disposition | Probation-style period set by the court; complete the terms and the case is dismissed | Dismissal if you finish the terms — keeps the conviction off your record |
| Appear / contest | Request a court date and plead not guilty to a judge or jury | Depends on the outcome of the case |
Whichever path you choose, watch the deadline printed on your citation. The City of Arlington’s online payment option lets you pay or look up many citations. If you are not sure whether to pay or fight a ticket — especially a no-insurance, invalid-license, or CDL-affecting citation — it is worth a quick call to a lawyer first, because the cheapest option today is not always the cheapest for your record or insurance.
Someone was arrested in Arlington — where are they and how do I get them out?
For a custodial arrest, this is a county process. Here's the fast path to find them and post bond.
- Find themRun the Tarrant County inmate search by name. It shows charges, bond amount (once set), and whether the person is still in custody. If a booking is very recent, give it a few hours to appear.
- Confirm by phone if neededIf the online lookup is down or the person isn't showing yet, call the Detention Bureau at (817) 884-3000, available 24 hours.
- Wait for magistrationA magistrate at Central Magistration reviews the charges and sets the bond — Tarrant County publishes no fixed countywide bail schedule, so each bond is set individually. The amount appears in the inmate search once it's set.
- Post bondBonds are posted around the clock at the county's 24-hour Bond Desk at 100 N. Lamar, Fort Worth, TX 76196. See the full bonding-out guide for accepted payment types and bond options (cash, surety, or personal).
Because the detention facility, the Bond Desk, and the magistrate are all part of the county system, everything about getting someone out is covered on the Tarrant County hub rather than here. That page has the inmate search, money-on-the-books, visitation, and bond details in one place.
Worried about an Arlington warrant?
A missed ticket deadline or unpaid fine can turn into a warrant — but you have options before you walk into a court.
If you think you may have an active warrant out of Arlington — a failure-to-appear, capias, or traffic warrant from an unpaid citation — don't show up at the court counter or the jail blind. Understand how to check for and resolve it first.
Arlington court & jail FAQ
What does Arlington Municipal Court handle?
Only Class C misdemeanors, traffic citations, and city-ordinance violations — all fine-only, with no jail time. Class A/B misdemeanors and felonies are filed with the Tarrant County courts at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth, not the city court. The court is at 211 S. Cooper St., Bldg A; call 817-459-6777.
How do I pay an Arlington ticket?
Pay or look up the citation online at Arlington online payment, or pay by phone or in person at the Municipal Court. Remember that paying is a guilty plea — defensive driving or deferred disposition may keep the offense off your record.
Does Arlington have its own jail?
Yes. Arlington runs its own city jail for short holds. For charges above a fine-only offense, people are generally transferred to the Tarrant County Corrections Facility at 100 N. Lamar, Fort Worth, TX 76196, (817) 884-3000. Confirm where someone is held with the Tarrant County inmate search.
Someone was arrested in Arlington — where are they?
Most likely the Tarrant County Corrections Center, 100 N. Lamar, Fort Worth, TX 76196. Use the Tarrant County inmate search to confirm custody and charges, or call the Detention Bureau at (817) 884-3000. Bond is set at magistration; there is no published countywide bail schedule.
What happens if I ignore an Arlington ticket?
The court can issue a warrant, add a failure-to-appear charge, and flag your driver's license renewal. Call the Municipal Court before the deadline to ask about a payment plan or alternatives — and if a warrant has already issued, learn how to check and lift it before going in.
Have a question this page didn't answer? Browse more DFW jail, bond & court FAQs.
Arrested in Arlington? Talk to L&L Law Group
If you or a loved one is facing a charge that's headed to the Tarrant County courts, L&L Law Group can review the case — free and confidential. (Fine-only tickets are usually handled directly with the municipal court above.)
Nearby & related pages
Other Tarrant County city pages and the county-wide tools you may need next.