214-747-4110
163 Pittsburg Street, Suite A2, Dallas, TX 75207
940-383-4600
909 E. McKinney St., Denton, TX 76209
972-562-6057
1502 W. University Suite #101, McKinney, TX 75069
Blog
Governor Greg Abbott called for statewide bail reform after Texas officer Damon Allen was killed in 2017. The man who killed Allen was previously convicted of assaulting an officer in 2015, as well as ramming into a deputy's vehicle two years later. For the first conviction, he served one year in jail. For the second conviction, he was released on a $15,500 bond, according to Smith County local news. However, the issue highlighted was the fact that the judge allowed bail. Because the man who killed Allen was clearly a risk to the public, he should not have been given the option. The judge who set the bail said he was unaware of the man's previous convictions.
The proposed bill—titled the Damon Allen Act—surfaces as several counties in Texas (as well as municipalities across the country) fight lawsuits challenging their existing bail practices. Harris County, which includes Houston, recently announced dramatic changes to its current bail practices. These specifically address its detainment of defendants accused of minor offenses.
The heated debate around Dallas' bail bond system has been an ongoing issue for several years now. After a series of lawsuits (and counter-lawsuits), both Dallas and Harris County are finding themselves torn in the middle of an inconclusive back-and-forth—a limbo, if you will. Today, Dallas lawmakers and county officials are planning to implement a new system; one that strikes a balance between our current bail process and one that eliminates bail for detainees considered 'flight risks,' or a 'danger to society.'
For context, Governor Greg Abbott introduced the Damon Allen Act in 2018, named after a Texas State Trooper who was gunned down by a violent criminal recently released on bail. Because the murderer's previous charges included assault of a deputy sheriff, the crime's controversial nature prompted Texas lawmakers to propose limiting bail options to specific, non-violent individuals.
While this particular bill is still being debated, one thing is certain: the algorithm-based system determining who can get a bail bond—which other counties and states already use—is likely a big part of Dallas's future. Here are a few things you need to know about this system, and why it's a big deal.
If you found out about an active warrant for your arrest, you may have a hundred thoughts running through your mind. For what? Is the Dallas Police Department (DPD) looking for you? Can you drive?
Before anything, you must know exactly why you have a warrant, and what it's for. Depending on who you are, you may know exactly what it's for. Other times, it may simply be due to forgetting to pay a ticket (which is common). Before you take any steps towards trying to resolve this situation, you must know the details of your warrant. Some examples of key information you need to know are:
While your warrant notice (the letter) states all the above information, it never hurts to learn more. With your unique case number (as stated in the letter), you can find your detailed records either online or over the phone.
To find all the details about your current legal status (and important records), contact your county clerk's office. Many forget to use this vital resource when dealing with legal issues, as it holds the complete legal record of each citizen within its jurisdiction. By Googling 'county clerk,' you'll be able to pull up the nearest records department to you, and all the ways you can contact them.
If you've recently been arrested, we understand the last few days were tough. This is especially true if you missed work—and even worse if you didn't get to call your boss ahead of time. While it's a terrible thing to happen, it happens to the best of us. The folks at Doc's Bail Bonds fully understand the gravity of this scenario and have seen it play out thousands of times during our field of work—which is why we've decided to share some advice on how to keep your job after an arrest.
We're aware most bail bond companies don't have true concern for the overall well-being of their clients, perhaps feeding into the common stereotype of The Greedy Bailbondsman™️. However, there are many benefits when working with an honest, genuine, and reputable bail bond company—such as free advice. That's why we've compiled a short list of ways to tell your boss about your arrest safely.
First, what do we mean by 'safely?' This means it's done in a way that is both honorable and honest; two very distinct traits most celebrated by most employers in North Texas.
While it's indeed more affordable to live in Texas, there is one thing the state slaps a high price tag on—crime. Committing a crime in Dallas county can accrue thousands of dollars in fines and fees, regardless of severity. Of course, one could theoretically save money by staying in jail—although that involves months, even years at the Dallas County Jail (or another detention facility). In fact, according to a national survey, around 70% of people detained in United States jails are only there because they can't afford bail. Ignore the fact that this theoretically means only 30% of current inmates are actually violent, hardened criminals—70% can't afford bail.
What's even more upsetting is of that 70%, how many do you think know they can get a bail bond without paying for it in full? Although most facilities set their bail at 10% of the total bond, it's still a lot of money to have to pay. Take this into consideration: the highest possible bond for a misdemeanor is typically set at $2,000. So, someone arrested for a minor crime has to pay upwards of $200 just to get out. This doesn't include any additional fines and fees, such as court costs and state taxes.
In August of 2018, Texas Governor Greg Abbott proposed the Damon Allen Act. This bill wants to protect police officers—and communities—after a Texas trooper was murdered by a convict with an extensive criminal record last Thanksgiving. In fact, there are now two sets of bail reform bills named after Texas troopers killed by a criminal—out of jail on bond. Both instances were for assaulting a sheriff's deputy. The criminal who killed Texas trooper Damon Allen didn't only have prior convictions of assaulting a sheriff's deputy, but also had convictions for assaulting a public servant and evading arrest.
The reason this hardened criminal was free on bond despite these violent charges was due to miscommunication. The Justice of the Peace in this situation was unaware of his criminal history—and his past convictions. It's been said this potentially highlighted some issues of magistrate information access.
This isn't the first time bail reform laws were proposed. In 2017, Texas lawmakers tried to pass extensive laws reforming the bail bond system, which failed. Since then, there have been several lawsuits against Texas counties (that were successful). In fact, two of Texas' most populous counties—Harris and Dallas—were at the front lines of those lawsuits. Federal judges in this case claimed the reform attempts to be unconstitutional. However, with recent events, this topic is making new rounds. Lawmakers predict that in 2019, bail reform issues will return to the headlines as Texas legislators renew their platform—once again sparking the long-disputed call to reform bail bond laws.
If you've ever been charged and arrested for a crime in Dallas, you know how time-consuming—and expensive—it is. This is especially true in Dallas and Collin County, where there are hundreds of inmates detained in jail for long periods of time—even for small crimes. In fact, according to a national survey, 70% of inmates detained in United States jails have not been convicted of a crime. While this is largely due to affordability and expensive bail bonds, there's another factor many forget. Many inmates end up staying in jail for long periods of time because of slow paperwork. While a small amount of this is due to understaffing, the main reason for slow paperwork is the bail bonds companies themselves.
After being arrested in Dallas County, inmates most likely go to the Dallas County Jail. Of course, this depends on the nature of the crime and the criminal themselves. Even paperwork for the smallest of crimes—involving jail time—can take too long for most bail bondsmen. A class A misdemeanor (the most severe of low crimes) results in up to one year in jail. While misdemeanors may be seem easy to process, for many bail bondsmen, they're not.
Picked up on a criminal charge in the city of Wylie? The first course of action will be to make sure you're properly 'booked' (i.e., fingerprinted, photographed, charged, etc.). From there, it becomes a guessing game as to whether you'll be granted bail or what the amount of your bond will be. The next step rests squarely in the hands of the city's magistrate judge. He or she will hold a formal hearing. Here's what you can expect.
The Wylie Municipal Court is where most hearings will take place. If it's a less serious (class C misdemeanor) crime, then you'll likely be staying in the Wylie City Jail. Otherwise, you'll be held for a maximum of 72 hours and either released or transferred to the Collin County Detention Center. Within 24 hours of booking, however, the judge has a decision to make. And that's where the magistrate's hearing comes into play.
The Magistrate Judge will expect you to be on your best behavior and adhere to the court's rules of etiquette, which are available at this link. Some examples:
The Richardson Jail is located at 140 North Greenville Ave. If you end up here, one of two things will happen. You'll stay for the entire duration of your arrest and/or bonding period (class C misdemeanors only), or you'll be transferred to a county holding facility until those determinations can be made.
But what goes into determining your bond eligibility, and what should you do when/if bail is set? In the following article, we'll be examining the answers to these questions so if you or someone you love should ever need the 411 you'll have it. Let's go.
The Richardson Jail is located in the same area as the city's police department. Holding periods are short-term. They're not equipped to hold inmates for longer than 72 hours. To help speed along the process, the RPD will book you and set up an arraignment date at the municipal court nearby.
Your arraignment is a meeting with the judge to determine bond eligibility. Some probable disqualifying factors would include the following:
The North Texas city of Plano is one of the larger suburbs in the DFW Metroplex. Located just 20 miles north of downtown Dallas, it can sort of blend in. That can cause a degree of confusion if you get a call from your loved one telling you they've been arrested.
You probably think your loved one will know what your next steps to help them should be. But unless they're a veteran at being incarcerated, that's unlikely. Jurisdiction can be a confusing thing, so we've put together a handy-dandy blog post to help out. Here's what you can do to find out if your loved one is in the Plano City Jail as well as what you should do about getting them out.
Despite the city's substantial size, the city jail is just a short-term detention center. You're not meant to be here for any longer than 72 hours, regardless of the crime. If your loved one has been picked up for something like small-scale theft (less than $50, a class C misdemeanor), then they'll be staying here for the duration until bonded out or a hearing date can be set.
With six offices in 5 counties, Doc's Bail Bonds serves the following areas, including but not limited to Dallas, Denton, McKinney, Bonham, Garland, Sherman, Allen, Frisco, Richardson, Carrollton, Irving, Mesquite, Farmers Branch, Flower Mound, Lewisville, The Colony, Dallas County, Fannin County, Denton County, Collin County, and Grayson County.
The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.
I have read and understand the Disclaimer and Privacy Policy.
