Studies & Special Reports

This study provides baseline information about how Texans view the courts and the legal profession in their state.

This report describes the methods and results of a research enquiry conducted by the National Center for State Courts on workload in the district courts in Texas.

This report examines the criminal justice processes affecting the size and composition of Midland County's incarcerated population, using observations from onsite visits, and data analysis, and offers recommendations to the Midland County Commissioners Court and the criminal justice community.

This study, conducted by the National Center for State Courts, was designed to help OCA determine the feasibility, efficiency, and potential cost of converting to district courts those statutory county courts at law (CCLs) with jurisdiction in civil cases in which the amount in controversy exceeds $200,000.

This study focused on the caseflow management practices and procedures, physical location and space, technology, and court security measures needed for a model IV-D court.

As directed by Senate Bill 1080 (83rd Legislature), this study focuses on the salary supplements paid by the state to county judges that certify that they spend 40% of more of their time on judicial functions.

This report focuses on the growing importance of guardianship in the court community in recent years as courts grapple with how best to handle the increase in cases requiring the appointment of a guardian and in institutionalizing proven case management practices that are associated with ensuring a ward's well-being and best interests.

This research report, conducted by the Texas A&M Public Policy Research Institute, reviews asset forfeiture trends based upon DPS Sting Operations, the use of forfeiture funds by DPS and prosecutors, and the cost impact on counties where the alleged criminal activity that is the basis of the forfeiture occurred.

As directed by House Bill 2455 (84th Legislature), this study focuses on the collection and reporting of data surrounding family violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking.

In 2007, the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) completed a judicial workload assessment for the Texas district courts, resulting in the weighted caseload model that is currently used to analyze judicial workload and the need for judges in the district courts.

The National Center for State Courts and the State Justice Institute, which provided funding for this project, wanted information about the impact of civil justice reform efforts to help inform the deliberations of the CCJ Civil Justice Improvements Committee as it drafted recommendations for a national audience.

As directed by House Bill 3424 (84th Legislature), this study reviews the feasibility of setting up a guardianship registry in Texas and best practices for protecting the privacy of individuals' information in the registry.

As directed by Rider 20 (p. IV-28) in the Office of Court Administration appropriation of the General Appropriations Act (GAA), this report details the outcomes of the guardianship compliance pilot project funded by the 84th Legislature.

In October 2016, the Texas Judicial Council’s Criminal Justice Committee reviewed the evidence and produced a report advocating expansion of risk-informed release and personal bond. The report includes the eight recommendations.

The 85th Legislature’s House Bill 1204 directed the Office of Court Administration to conduct a study on the use of the terms “juvenile,” “child,” and “minor” throughout the criminal justice and juvenile justice statutes of Texas and the varying definitions assigned to those terms.

A person who is placed under guardianship loses civil rights, personal decision-making power, and the authority to control their own money and assets.

The 85th Legislature’s Senate Bill 47 directed OCA to study the ways non-traffic fine-only (Class C) misdemeanor records are held in Texas.

The 85th Legislature's Senate Bill 1326 directed OCA to collect and report on information “regarding outcomes of participants in specialty courts who are persons with mental illness, including recidivism rates of those participants, and other relevant information as determined by the office.”

Pursuant to the Supreme Court of Texas' Twenty-Second Emergency Order Relating to the COVID-19 State of Disaster, the Office of Court Administration details its observations on the limited number of jury trials held under the Court's Emergency Orders and recommendations for resuming jury trial proceedings during the pandemic.

Since November 1, 2015, the Office of Court Administration (OCA) began managing the Guardianship Compliance Project to provide additional resources to courts handling guardianship cases.

The last time a judicial workload assessment was completed for Texas was in 2007 with a focus on District Courts only. Senate Bill 891 passed during the 86th regular legislative session and directed OCA to contract with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) to conduct a study of the caseload of district and county courts in Texas.

As part of Senate Bill 48 passed during the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature (2023), the Office of Court Administration (OCA) was charged with evaluating the efficacy of protective orders in Texas.

As part of Rider 15 of the Office of Court Administration’s (OCA) appropriation pattern (2024-2025 General Appropriations Act (HB 1, 88th Legislature, Regular Session)), the Office of Court Administration (OCA) was charged with assessing the staffing levels and salaries of court personnel across Texas.