A Harris County grand jury has declined to indict former Constable Precinct 7 Sergeant Jocelyn Ballard on felony charges alleging she beat her two adopted children with a belt, according to court documents cited by ABC13 and FOX 26 Houston. Precinct 7 patrols portions of the Spring area.

The no-bill means the grand jury found insufficient evidence to send the case to trial. The two felony counts of injury to a child are effectively dismissed.

But Ballard, 41, is not returning to work. Precinct 7 fired her following an internal investigation, and she remains off the force even after the criminal case collapsed. She has appealed her termination, according to Precinct 7.

How the case unfolded

The investigation began Dec. 24, 2025, conducted by Precinct 7's own Criminal Investigations Division. Charges were filed Feb. 5, 2026, and Ballard was immediately relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave.

Court records state Ballard was accused of causing bruises to her two adopted children, ages 9 and 12. At her probable cause hearing in February, prosecutors said she beat the children with a belt and her hands, KPRC reported. A judge issued an emergency protection order barring Ballard from any contact with the children, overruling her public defender's argument that she should still be allowed to see them.

Ballard was held on $20,000 bond at the time of her arrest, $10,000 per charge.

She had spent 10 years at Precinct 7, assigned to the Training Division, as part of an 18-year law enforcement career.

What happens next

The grand jury's decision ends the criminal case, but Ballard's termination appeal is a separate administrative matter. FOX 26 reported Tuesday, Aug. 4, that it remains unclear when or if Ballard will return to the department.

Precinct 7, led by Constable James "Smokie" Phillips, has not issued a public statement on the grand jury outcome. The department's press releases page lists only the original administrative-leave announcement from February.

No hearing date or timeline for Ballard's termination appeal has been announced.