CONTINUING JURISDICTION IN FELONY CASES.

(a) For the purposes of this article, the jurisdiction of a court imposing a sentence requiring imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for an offense other than a state jail felony continues for 180 days from the date the execution of the sentence actually begins.

(b) Before the expiration of the 180-day period described by Subsection (a), the judge of the court that imposed the sentence described by that subsection may, on the judge's own motion, on the motion of the attorney representing the state, or on the written motion of the defendant, suspend further execution of the sentence and place the defendant on community supervision under the terms and conditions of this chapter if:

(1) in the opinion of the judge, the defendant would not benefit from further imprisonment;

(2) the defendant is otherwise eligible for community supervision under this chapter; and

(3) the defendant had never before been incarcerated in a penitentiary serving a sentence for a felony.

(c) When the defendant files a written motion requesting the judge to suspend further execution of the sentence and place the defendant on community supervision, the defendant shall immediately deliver or cause to be delivered a copy of the motion to the office of the attorney representing the state.

(d) When the defendant or the attorney representing the state files a written motion requesting the judge to suspend further execution of the sentence and place the defendant on community supervision, and when requested to do so by the judge, the clerk of the court shall request a copy of the defendant's record while imprisoned from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or, if the defendant is confined in county jail, from the sheriff. On receipt of the request, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or the sheriff shall forward a copy of the record to the judge as soon as possible.

(e) The judge may deny the motion without holding a hearing but may not grant the motion without holding a hearing and providing the attorney representing the state and the defendant the opportunity to present evidence on the motion.