Legal Acronyms
Below you will find a list of common acronyms used by DWI criminal defense lawyers, the courts, prosecutors and police officers in Texas.
ALR – Administrative License Revocation (in reference to the ALR Hearing that you are entitled to have if DPS tries to take away your license as part of a refusal to take a breath or blood test or as a result of a failed test). Learn more about the ALR Hearing process
BAC – Blood Alcohol Content (usually expressed as a decimal); .08 is the limit in Texas. Learn more about the definition of intoxication
CCA – Court of Criminal Appeals (the court that can review decisions of the Courts of Appeals if you file a petition for discretionary review)
CC – County Court
CCC – County Criminal Court
CCL – County Court at Law
COA – Court of Appeals (the court that can review decisions of the trial courts if you file a notice of appeal)
DIC-23 – The DIC-23 is the “Police Officer’s Sworn Report” regarding the DWI arrest.
DIC-24 – The DIC-24 is the “Statutory Warning” the state law requires you to receive before an officer asks you to submit a specimen of breath or blood for BAC testing.
DIC-25 – The DIC-25 is the “Notice of Suspension / Temporary Driving Permit” that notifies you that your license will be suspended if you do not request an ALR Hearing. The title is misleading.
DPS – Department of Public Safety
HGN – Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (may refer to the symptom or the test)
ODL – Occupational Driver’s License (may be obtained if your license is suspended and will enable you to drive for limited purposes). Learn more about ODLs
OLS – One-Leg Stand test (one of the SFSTs)
PAN – Positional Alcohol Vestibular Nystagmus
SCRI – Southern California Research Institute
SFST – Standardized Field Sobriety Test (meaning the HGN, OLS and WAT). Learn more about SFSTs
SOAH – State Office of Administrative Hearings
WAT – Walk-and-Turn test (one of the SFSTs)
Court Codes
Dallas
JCJP – Plea of not guilty, found guilty by the Jury and sentenced by the Jury. You are not eligible for an expunction.
JCJG – Plea of not guilty, found guilty by the Jury and sentenced by the Judge. You are not eligible for an expunction.
TBCT – Plea of not guilty, found guilty by the Judge and sentenced by the Judge.
TBCI – Plea of Not guilty, found innocent by the Judge.
INST – Instructed verdict, found innocent of charge.
INN – Plea of not guilty, found innocent of charge.
NFWA – Plea of not guilty, found innocent of charge because no fact witness appearing for probation.
PGBC – Agreed plea of guilty before the court. You are not eligible for an expunction, but you may be eligible for judicial clemency.
PGJG – Open plea of guilty before the court.
NAOG – NonAdjudication of guilt (Agreed plea). You may be eligible for an order of nondisclosure.
NAJG – NonAdjudication of guilt (Open plea). You may be eligible for an order of nondisclosure.
DISM – Charge Dismissed. You may be eligible for an expunction, but you are not “eligible” for judicial clemency because judicial clemency only dismisses the charge, and if you have a DISM, your charge is already dismissed.
QUAS – Quashal.
HUNG – Jury Hung on Verdict.
SHPB – Shock Probation
MIST – Mistrial.
TRAN – Transferred to another County/District Court.
MISC – Felony case transferred to a County Criminal Court.
JVTR – Defendant Found to be Juvenile by Judge.
CHOV – Change of Venue.
JGMT – Judgment (MD court only).
NBIL – NoBill by Grand Jury. You may be eligible for an expunction, but there may be a statutory waiting period.
NACT – No Action Taken by Grand Jury.
GJRM – Grand Jury reduces to Misdemeanor
NFOG – No Finding of Guilt (Dismissal Type)
JVJV – Juvenile case returned to Juvenile Court
JVGR – Defendant found to stand trial as an adult
PASS – Passed completion of the Divert Court Program, and a dismissal of the charge
FAIL – Failed completion of the Divert Court Program, the case is sent to the DA for prosecution.
INEL – Defendant is ineligible for entry in the Divert Court Program, the case is sent to the DA for prosecution.