What are alternative punishments to jail in Texas?

Gary Churak’s Answer

Probation is one and there are 2 types of probation. There is a deferred adjudication probation, which is a type of probation that the court does not enter a finding of guilt against the defendant, puts the defendant on probation, and if the probationary terms are successfully completed, the case is dismissed. The second type would be straight probation where the court says, I find you guilty, I sentence you to 10 years in prison, I’m going to probate that sentence for 10 years and put you on supervised probation. If you do everything you’re supposed to do, your case will be closed out satisfactory and you don’t have to go to prison. However, if for some reason, you violate your probation, you’re looking at being brought in before the judge and potentially being either adjudicated guilty, with the deferred adjudication and sent to prison or having your probation revoked and sent to prison.