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