Can I Get a Bail Bond for a Felony Charge in Texas?

 Posted on January 07, 2021 in Bail Bonds

Anyone who is arrested and charged with a crime will want to understand how they can get out of jail as quickly as possible. However, the procedures followed when posting bail may be different depending on the crimes with which a person is charged. For misdemeanors and low-level offenses, a judge will often set smaller amounts of bail, or a person may even be released on a personal bond. Since felony charges are more serious, bail will often be set at higher amounts, and other restrictions may be placed on a person before he or she can be released. Fortunately, no matter the offense, a person can usually obtain a bail bond that will allow him or her to get out of jail and get back to normal life while determining how to defend against the criminal charges he or she is facing.

Felony Offenses

The Texas Penal Code defines a wide variety of criminal offenses that are considered felonies. These are serious crimes, and a conviction can result in a prison sentence of at least one year. Felonies are grouped into different “degrees,” and higher-degree felonies will carry more serious consequences. Because of this, a person charged with a felony will usually be required to pay higher amounts of bail before they can be released.

Some examples of the different degrees of felonies include:

• State Jail Felonies - Offenses include DWI with a child passenger in the vehicle, theft of property valued at $2,500 to $30,000, or check forgery. Bail for state jail felonies is usually around $500 to $1,500.

• Third Degree Felonies - Offenses include stalking, indecent exposure to a child, a third DWI offense, deadly conduct with a firearm, or intoxication assault. Bail for third-degree felonies is usually around $1,500 to $5,000.

• Second Degree Felonies - Offenses include intoxication manslaughter, aggravated assault, sexual assault, robbery, or possession of 50 to 2,000 pounds of marijuana. Bail for second-degree felonies can range from $2,500 to $50,000.

• First Degree Felonies - Offenses include sexual assault against a child, aggravated robbery, attempted murder, or arson of a residential building that resulted in someone’s death. Bail for first-degree felonies can range from $5,000 to $100,000.

• Capital Felonies - These offenses usually involve premeditated murder, but espionage or treason may also be charged as a capital felony. Bail in these cases may be as high as $500,000 or more, or a person may be denied bail altogether.

There are a variety of other factors that may affect the amount of bail for a person charged with a felony. These include whether a person has prior convictions, whether they are currently on probation or parole, whether releasing them would present a danger to the public, or whether there is a risk that they may flee or fail to appear for criminal proceedings. A judge may also set conditions on bail, such as requiring a person to submit to electronic monitoring or restricting him or her from traveling outside of a geographical area.

Contact Our Dallas Bail Bond Agents

While Texas felony charges can be serious, a person will usually be eligible for a release on bail. At Doc’s Bail Bonds, we will work to make it as affordable as possible for you to post bail and get out of jail. Whether you need to post bail for yourself or a friend or family member, we will make sure you take the right steps to receive the bail bond you need. We are available 24/7 to meet your needs. Call our experienced Collin County bail bondsman today at 214-747-4110.

Source: 

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/htm/CR.17.htm