Rule 17 - JUVENILE DEFENDANTS17.1. Any defendant who is charged with a misdemeanor offense within the jurisdiction of the county criminal courts at law of Harris County will be presumed to be an adult until a proper judicial determination is made to the contrary.17.2. In any case wherein proof is offered that a defendant may be a juvenile, the sheriff and/or the district attorney are requested to make the court in which the cause is pending aware of the style of the case in which the defendant is suspected to be a juvenile.17.3. The court will set the case as soon as possible for a hearing as provided by TEX. CODE CRIM. P. ANN. art. 4.18, to determine if the defendant is a juvenile. Only after that determination will the defendant be released from custody, and the cause transferred to the juvenile court in accordance with TEX. CODE CRIM. P. ANN. art. 4.18, and Section 56.08, Family Code.17.4. In all cases wherein a determination is made that a defendant is a juvenile, expeditious transfer of the case will be made to remove the case from the criminal court's docket.17.5. The defendant may be released from custody if evidence is provided to the sheriff or other holding agency that the defendant is a juvenile. The evidence affecting the defendant's release shall be presented to the court on the next court workday so that a judicial determination may be made and, if the court finds that the defendant is a juvenile, a transfer to the juvenile court will be immediately processed. Should the court find, however, that the defendant is not a juvenile, appropriate process will be issued for the defendant's arrest.L. R. Harris Cnty. Crim. Ct. 17
As amended through 10/22/2021; as amended through 12/9/2022.