There are three types or categories of jails and prisons in Texas: county jail, state jail and prison. Offenders convicted of Class B and Class A misdemeanors are sentenced to county jail, those convicted of State Jail Felonies are sentenced to state jail, and those convicted of Third Degree Felonies or higher are sentenced to prison.
Absent unusual circumstances (capital murder), the judge usually has the option of probating the sentence, placing the defendant on community supervision, and requiring the person to comply with the many conditions that probation entails. The penalty for violating the terms of probation, however, include serving up to the maximum sentence available for the offense.