THE WOODLANDS, TX – June 18, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –
Cowboy Law Group has expanded its juvenile criminal defense representation to better serve families in The Woodlands and Montgomery County, responding to concerning data from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department showing that 31.6 percent of youth admitted to TJJD in fiscal year 2025 received determinate sentences that can transfer them to adult prison if program requirements are not met before reaching adulthood.
The expansion comes as Montgomery County families face increasingly complex juvenile justice proceedings, where children as young as 14 can be certified to stand trial as adults for capital or first-degree felony offenses under Section 54.02 of the Texas Family Code. Any juvenile aged 15 or 16 can be certified for any felony, creating a narrow window for families to challenge certification before an adult court takes jurisdiction.
The critical first 48 hours after a child’s arrest determine whether they return home or remain at the Olen Underwood Juvenile Justice Center during proceedings that can stretch for months. Texas law requires an initial detention hearing within this 48-hour period, with subsequent hearings every 10 days, making immediate legal representation essential for families navigating the juvenile justice system.
“When a child is arrested in Montgomery County, parents have just 48 hours before the detention hearing that shapes the entire case,” said Chris Warren, Attorney at Cowboy Law Group. “Most families don’t realize their child has the right to an attorney at every detention hearing, or that decisions made in those first two days determine whether their child comes home or remains in secure custody. The Montgomery County juvenile system offers genuine rehabilitative options, including diversion programs, deferred prosecution, and counseling, but experienced juvenile defense attorneys must access these alternatives before formal adjudication closes those doors. Protecting a child’s future is the only goal that matters, and Cowboy Law The Woodlands Juvenile Criminal Attorney approaches every case with that singular priority.”
Juveniles certified and prosecuted as adults in Texas face the same range of punishment as adult defendants, including adult prison sentences, with the only exception being that Texas law prohibits the death penalty for offenses committed before age 17. Beyond immediate legal consequences, juvenile adjudications for felony-level offenses can restrict military service, professional licensing, firearms rights, and federal financial aid for education.
The firm’s expanded juvenile defense services address the unique challenges facing Montgomery County families, including the certification-as-adult process for serious juvenile offenders and the specific detention hearing procedures that determine a child’s custody status during adjudication proceedings.
The Montgomery County Juvenile Probation Department emphasizes holding juveniles accountable while assisting them in developing pro-social behavioral changes, reflecting the rehabilitative focus that distinguishes juvenile court from adult criminal proceedings. The Woodlands Juvenile Criminal Attorney services at Cowboy Law Group leverage this framework through diversion programs, deferred prosecution, and community-based alternatives to detention.
Cowboy Law Group is a criminal defense law firm based in The Woodlands, Texas, representing juveniles and families throughout Montgomery County and the greater Houston area in juvenile criminal proceedings. The firm’s attorneys Chris H. Warren, Brian C. Burns, and J. Paxton Adams also handle federal criminal defense, state criminal defense, and DWI cases throughout Texas.
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For more information about Cowboy Law Group, contact the company here:
Cowboy Law Group
Chris Warren
346-482-5108
leads@cowboylawgroup.com
1095 Evergreen Cir #200
The Woodlands, TX 77380
