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2019BAIL BOND HANDBOOKTEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES1210 San Antonio Street, Austin, Texas 78701Honorable Renee CouchComal County Treasurer & Association PresidentSusan M. RedfordExecutive DirectorPREPARED BY ROBERT S. DAVISFlowers Davis, P.L.L.C.1021 ESE Loop 323, Suite 200Tyler, Texas 75701(903) 534-8063THIS PUBLICATION IS A RESEARCH TOOL AND NOT THE COUNSEL OF AN ATTORNEY. THISPUBLICATION IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE ADVICE OF AN ATTORNEY. It is provided without warrantyof any kind and, as with any research tool, should be double checked against relevant statutes, case law, attorneygeneral opinions and advice of legal counsel e.g., your county attorney. Each public officer is responsible fordetermining duties of the office or position held. Any question regarding such duties should be directed tocompetent legal counsel for a written opinion. Copyright March 2020, Texas Association of Counties
ABOUT THE AUTHORRobert S. DavisRobert Davis is a partner in the Tyler law firm FLOWERS DAVIS, P.L.L.C. After graduatingfrom law school, Mr. Davis served as Briefing Attorney to the Honorable Justice Sue LaGarde, 5thJudicial District Court of Appeals in Dallas, Texas from 1988 to 1989. Thereafter, Mr. Davis wasappointed as Law Clerk to United States District Judge William M. Steger from 1989 to 1991. Since1994, Mr. Davis has handled more than 600 lawsuits for governmental entities. Approximately 400of those lawsuits were dismissed by summary judgment or after Spears Hearings. Mr. Davis has triedmore than 100 lawsuits in state and federal court to verdict, with a win ratio of approximately 90percent. He has handled approximately 70 appellate cases during that same period. Mr. Davis isadmitted to practice at the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Fifth Circuit Courtof Appeals and the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, Southern and WesternDistricts of Texas and the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts ofArkansas. Mr. Davis has written papers for, and made numerous presentations to, such entities asthe State Bar of Texas, Sheriffs’ Association of Texas, Chief Deputies' Association of Texas, TexasAssociation of Counties, and the Texas Jail Association.Robert is always willing to consult with county officials concerning bail bond issues and anyother legal issue impacting counties, sheriffs, and other county officials or employees. His contactinformation is as follows:Robert S. DavisFLOWERS DAVIS, P.L.L.C.1021 ESE Loop 323, Suite 200Tyler, Texas 75701(903) 534-8063; (903) 534-1650 (facsimile)rsd@flowersdavis.com
TABLE OF CONTENTSINTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1I.NON-BAIL BOND BOARD COUNTIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1A.BAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -11.WHAT IS BAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1a.B.WHEN AND HOW BAIL MUST BE SET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -21.ACCUSED MUST BE TAKEN BEFORE MAGISTRATE . . . . . . . . . -2a.2.3.4.Art. 14.06. - Must Take Offender Before Magistrate . . . . . . . . . -2-DUTIES OF MAGISTRATE AND ARRESTING OFFICER FOLLOWINGARREST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -4a.Art. 15.17. - Duties of Arresting Officer and Magistrate . . . . . . -4-ARTICLE 17.033 TIME PERIOD FOR RELEASE FOR WARRANTLESSARRESTS AND CAPS ON BOND AMOUNTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -7a.Art. 17.033. - Release on Bond of Certain Persons Arrested Withouta Warrant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -7-b.Art. 17.22. - May Take Bail in Felony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -9-DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF BAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -10a.C.Art. 17.01. - Definition of "Bail" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1-Art. 17.15. - Rules for Fixing Amount of Bail . . . . . . . . . . . . . -10-DEFINITION AND REQUIREMENTS OF BAIL BONDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -101.WHAT IS A BAIL BOND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -10a.2.Art. 17.02. - Definition of "Bail Bond". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -11-WHAT IS REQUIRED ON A BAIL BOND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -12--iii-
D.Art. 17.08. - Requisites of a Bail Bond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -12-b.Art. 17.026. - Electronic Filing of Bail Bond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -13-WHO MAY ACT AS SURETY ON A "SURETY BAIL BOND" . . . . . . . . . -131.2.E.a.CORPORATE SURETIES (INSURANCE COMPANIES). . . . . . . . . -13a.Art. 17.06. - Corporation as Surety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -13-b.Art. 17.07. - Corporation to File with County Clerk Power ofAttorney Designating Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -14-INDIVIDUAL SURETIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -15a.Art. 17.10. - Disqualified Sureties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -15-b.Art. 17.11. - How Bail Bond is Taken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -17-c.Art. 17.12. - Exempt Property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -17-d.Art. 17.13. - Sufficiency of Sureties Ascertained . . . . . . . . . . . -17-e.Art. 17.14. - Affidavit Not Conclusive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -18-f.Art. 17.141. - Posted List of Eligible Bail Bond Sureties in CertainCounties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -19-PERSONAL BONDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -191.Art. 17.03. - Definition of Personal Bond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -20-2.Art. 17.031. - Release on Personal Bond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -21-3.Art. 17.032. - Release on Personal Bond of Certain Mentally Ill Defendants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -22-4.Art. 17.04. - Requisites of a Personal Bond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -24-5.Art. 17.151. - Release Because of Delay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -25-6.Art. 17.42. - Personal Bond Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -26--iv-
7.F.G.WHO MAY ACCEPT OR "TAKE" BONDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -291.Art. 17.05. - When a Bail Bond is Given . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -29-2.Art. 17.20. - Bail in Misdemeanor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -29-3.Art. 17.21. - Bail in Felony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -29-4.Art. 17.22. - May Take Bail in Felony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -29-A BOND LASTS FOR THE DURATION OF THE CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONUNLESS THE COURT FINDS OTHERWISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -301.H.I.1.Art. 17.16. - Discharge of Liability; Surrender or Incarceration of PrincipalBefore Forfeiture; Verification of Incarceration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -31-2.Art. 17.17. - When Surrender is Made During Term . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -33-3.Art. 17.18. - Surrender in Vacation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -33-4.Art. 17.19. - Surety May Obtain a Warrant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -33-5.Art. 32.01. - Code of Criminal Procedure, Defendant in Custody and NoIndictment Presented. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -34-6.Art. 17.23. - Sureties Severally Bound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -35-RELEASING THE PERSON AFTER MAKING BOND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -35Art. 17.29. - Accused Liberated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -35-HOLDING A PERSON AFTER THE POSTING OF A BOND . . . . . . . . . . . -361.K.Art. 17.09. - Duration; Original and Subsequent Proceedings; New Bail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -30-DISCHARGE OF LIABILITY OF SURETY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -31-1.J.Art. 17.43. - Home Curfew and Electronic Monitoring as Condition . -28-Art. 17.291. - Further Detention of Certain Persons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -36-ORDER FOR EMERGENCY PROTECTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -37-v-
L.1.Art. 17.292. - Magistrate's Order for Emergency Protection . . . . . . . . -37-2.Art. 17.293. - Delivery of Order for Emergency Protection to Other Persons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -42-3.Art. 17.30. - Shall Certify Proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -42-4.Art. 17.31. - Duty of Clerks Who Receive Such Proceedings . . . . . . . -42-5.Art. 17.32. - In Case of No Arrest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -43-REVIEW OF BAIL UPON REQUEST OF DEFENDANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -431.M.N.BONDS FOR WITNESSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -431.Art. 17.34. - Witnesses to Give Bond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -43-2.Art. 17.35. - Security of Witness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -43-3.Art. 17.36. - Effect of Witness Bond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -43-4.Art. 17.37. - Witness May be Committed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -44-5.Art. 17.38. - Rules Applicable to all Cases of Bail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -44-RECORDS OF BAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -441.O.Art. 17.33. - Request Setting of Bail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -43-Art. 17.39. - Records of Bail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -44-ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS OF BOND IMPOSED BY COURT. . . . . . . . -451.Art. 17.40. - Conditions Related to Victim or Community Safety . . . . -45-2.Art. 17.41. - Condition Where Child Alleged Victim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . -45-3.Art. 17.44. - Home Confinement, Electronic Monitoring, & Drug Testing asCondition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -46-4.Art. 17.441. - Conditions Requiring Motor Vehicle Ignition Interlock -47--vi-
P.5.Art. 17.45. - Conditions Requiring AIDS and HIV Instruction . . . . . . -48-6.Art. 17.46. - Conditions for a Defendant Charged with Stalking . . . . . -48-7.Art. 17.47. - Conditions Requiring Submission of Specimen. . . . . . . . -48-8.Art. 17.49. - Conditions for Defendant Charged With Offense InvolvingFamily Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -49-POST-TRIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -521.II.Art. 17.48. - Post-trial Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -52-BAIL BOND BOARD COUNTIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -52A.DEFINITIONS UNDER THE ACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -531.B.C.D.COUNTIES TO WHICH CHAPTER 1704 APPLIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -541.§ 1704.051. Mandatory Creation of Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -54-2.§ 1704.052. Discretionary Creation of Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -54-WHO SERVES ON THE BOARD AND HOW THEY ARE ELECTED ORAPPOINTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -541.§ 1704.053. Board Composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -55-2.§ 1704.0535. Election of Certain Bail Bond Board Members . . . . . . . -56-ELECTION OF PRESIDING OFFICER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -571.E.F.§ 1704.001. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -53-§ 1704.054. Presiding Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -57-MEETINGS AND WHAT CONSTITUTES A QUORUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -571.§ 1704.055. Meetings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -57-2.§ 1704.056. Quorum; Majority Vote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -57-OBLIGATIONS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -58-vii-
G.1.§ 1704.101. Administrative Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -58-2.§ 1704.102. Enforcement Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -58-3.§ 1704.103. Disbursements from County Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -59-4.§ 1704.104. Posting of Board Rule or Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -59-5.§ 1704.105. Licensed Bail Bond Surety List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -59-6.§ 1704.107. Notification of License Suspension or Revocation . . . . . -60-7.§ 1704.108. Notification of Default by Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -60-SOLICITATION AND ADVERTISEMENTS BY SURETIES. . . . . . . . . . . . -601.H.LICENSE REQUIRED TO WRITE A BOND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -611.I.J.§ 1704.109. Solicitation and Advertisement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -60-§ 1704.151. License Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -61-PERSONS OR ENTITIES ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR LICENSE . . . . . . . . -621.§ 1704.152. Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -62-2.§ 1704.153. Ineligibility Because of Criminal Conviction . . . . . . . . . -63-THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND HEARINGS ON APPLICATIONS. . -631.§ 1704.154. Application Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -63-2.§ 1704.155. Real Property List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -66-3.§ 1704.156. Reappraisal of Real Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -67-4.§ 1704.157. Preliminary Determinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -67-5.§ 1704.158. Hearing on Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -67-6.§ 1704.159. Decision on Application; Board Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -67--viii-
K.SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOLLOWING CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OFLICENSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -681.L.LICENSE FORM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -701.M.§ 1704.204. Payment of Final Judgment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -76-STATE AND LICENSEE MAY SETTLE BAIL BOND FORFEITURE CASES -771.T.§ 1704.203. Bail Bond Limit; Additional Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -75-DUTY OF LICENSEE TO PAY FINAL JUDGMENT ON FORFEITURE . . -761.S.§ 1704.202. Record Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -74-BAIL BOND LIMIT FORMULA AND ADDITIONAL SECURITY POSTING 751.R.§ 1704.201. Acceptance of License Holder Bail Bonds . . . . . . . . . . . -73-RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENTS OF LICENSEES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -741.Q.§ 1704.163. Attorney Exemption. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -72-ACCEPTANCE OF BAIL BONDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -731.P.§ 1704.162. License Expiration and Renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -70-ATTORNEYS ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS CHAPTER AND MAY POST BONDFOR AN ACCUSED THAT THEY REPRESENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -711.O.§ 1704.161. License Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -70-LICENSE EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -701.N.§ 1704.160. Security Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -68-§ 1704.205. Bail Bond Settlement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -77-REPLACEMENT OF SECURITY BY LICENSE HOLDER FOLLOWINGJUDGMENT ON FORFEITURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -771.§ 1704.206. Replacement of Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -77--ix-
U.SURRENDER OF PRINCIPAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -771.V.W.BONDSMAN RELIEVED OF LIABILITY UPON DISMISSAL, ACQUITTAL ORCONVICTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -791.§ 1704.208. Bond Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -79-2.§ 1704.209. Bond Discharged on Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -79-LICENSE HOLDER MAY WITHDRAW SECURITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -801.X.CC.§ 1704.251. Investigation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -83-DISCRETIONARY LICENSE SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION. . . . . . . . -831.BB.§ 1704.212. Effect of Default by Corporation; Notice Required. . . . . -82-BOARD INVESTIGATION FOLLOWING COMPLAINT OR ON ITS OWNMOTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -821.AA.§ 1704.211. Corporate Power of Attorney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -80-DEFAULT BY CORPORATE SURETY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -821.Z.§ 1704.210. Withdrawal of Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -80-AGENTS OF CORPORATE SURETIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -801.Y.§ 1704.207. Surrender of Principal; Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -78-§ 1704.252. Discretionary License Suspension or Revocation: Grounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -83-MANDATORY SUSPENSION - FAILURE TO MAINTAIN REQUIREDSECURITY OR PAY JUDGMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -841.§ 1704.253. Mandatory License Suspension or Revocation: Grounds -85-2.§ 1704.2535. Failure to Pay Final Judgment by Bail Bond Surety . . . -85-NOTICE AND HEARING PROCEDURES TO REVOKE OR SUSPEND LICENSE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -85--x-
1.DD.APPEAL OF A BOARD ORDER DENYING A LICENSE OR RENEWAL ORSUSPENDING OR REVOKING A LICENSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -861.§ 1704.255. Appeal; Venue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -86-2.§ 1704.256. Standard of Judicial Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -87-3.§ 1704.257. Effect of Board Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -87-EE.RETURN BY BONDSMAN OF SECURITY OF THE PRINCIPAL . . . . . . . -881.§ 1704.301. Return of Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -88-FF.BAIL BONDSMEN PROHIBITIONS AND OFFENSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -88-GG.1.§ 1704.302. Prohibited Referrals of or Employments with Bonding Business;Offense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -88-2.§ 1704.303. Bail Bond Surety Activity; Offense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -89-3.§ 1704.304. Prohibited Recommendations or Solicitations; Offense . -90-4.§ 1704.305. Bail Bond Receipt and Inspection; Offense . . . . . . . . . . . -91-5.§ 1704.306. Records; Offense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -92-DISBURSEMENTS FROM COUNTY FUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -921.HH.§ 1704.103. Disbursements from County Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -92-OFFICE LOCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -931.III.§ 1704.254. Notice and Hearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -85-§ 1704.213. Office Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -93-FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -93A.NON-BAIL BOND BOARD COUNTIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -93-B.BAIL BOND BOARD COUNTIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -100--xi-
INTRODUCTIONThis Handbook is designated and written as a reference tool. It is not intended to providelegal advice. Every situation is factually different, and your county attorney or outside legal counselshould be contacted to obtain legal advice.I. NON-BAIL BOND BOARD COUNTIESIn a county without a bail bond board, the taking of bail bonds is generally governed byChapter 17 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Op. Tex. Att'y Gen. No. JC-0541 (2002); seeCastaneda v. Gonzalez, 985 S.W.2d 500, 503 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1988, no writ). Neitherthe sheriff nor other county officials in a non-bail bond board county may adopt licensing rulesmodeled on the Bail Bond Board Act rules. Op. Tex. Att'y Gen. No. LO98-105 (1998). If the countyis not a "bail bond board county," the county and its officials are limited to complying with theprovisions of Chapter 17.A.BAIL1.WHAT IS BAILBail is defined in Texas by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure as follows:a.Art. 17.01. - Definition of "Bail""Bail" is the security given by the accused that he will appear and answer before theproper court the accusation brought against him, and includes a bail bond or apersonal bond.It must be recognized that bail is not meant as a punishment. It is meant to secure theappearance of the accused. The ability to be accorded reasonable bail is something that the foundersof our nation believed in strongly enough to include in the Bill of Rights. Specifically, the EighthAmendment leads off by stating that "excessive bail shall not be required . . ." From a practicalstandpoint, reasonable bail and people who are willing to post reasonable bail for inmates areessential to keeping jail population down.-1-
B.WHEN AND HOW BAIL MUST BE SET1.ACCUSED MUST BE TAKEN BEFORE MAGISTRATEArticle 14.06 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides as follows:a.Art. 14.06. - Must Take Offender Before Magistrate1(a) Except as otherwise provided by this article, in each case enumerated in thisCode, the person making the arrest or the person having custody of the personarrested shall take the person arrested or have him taken without unnecessary delay,but not later than 48 hours after the person is arrested, before the magistrate who mayhave ordered the arrest, before some magistrate of the county where the arrest wasmade without an order, or, to provide more expeditiously to the person arrested thewarnings described by Article 15.17 of this Code, before a magistrate in any othercounty of this state. The magistrate shall immediately perform the duties describedin Article 15.17 of this Code.(b) A peace officer who is charging a person, including a child, with committing anoffense that is a Class C misdemeanor, other than an offense under Section 49.02,1Article 2.09 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure identifies magistrates for purposes of setting bond andperforming other duties of a "magistrate" listed under the Code. It states as follows:Each of the following officers is a magistrate within the meaning of this Code: The justices of theSupreme Court, the judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals, the justices of the Courts of Appeals, thejudges of the District Court, the magistrates appointed by the judges of the district courts of BexarCounty, Dallas County, or Tarrant County that give preference to criminal cases, the criminal lawhearing officers for Harris County appointed under Subchapter L, Chapter 54, Government Code, thecriminal law hearing officers for Cameron County appointed under Subchapter BB, Chapter 54,Government Code, the magistrates or associate judges appointed by the judges of the district courtsof Lubbock County, Nolan County, or Webb County, the magistrates appointed by the judges of thecriminal district courts of Dallas County or Tarrant County, the associate judges appointed by thejudges of the district courts and the county courts at law that give preference to criminal cases inJefferson County, the associate judges appointed by the judges of the district courts and the statutorycounty courts of Brazos County, Nueces County, or Williamson County, the magistrates appointed bythe judges of the district courts and statutory county courts that give preference to criminal cases inTravis County, the criminal magistrates appointed by the Brazoria County Commissioners Court, thecriminal magistrates appointed by the Burnet County Commissioners Court, the magistrates appointedby the El Paso Council of Judges, the county judges, the judges of the county courts at law, judges ofthe county criminal courts, the judges of statutory probate courts, the associate judges appointed bythe judges of the statutory probate courts under Chapter 54A, Government Code, the associate judgesappointed by the judge of a district court under Chapter 54A, Government Code, the magistratesappointed under Subchapter JJ, Chapter 54, Government Code, the magistrates appointed by the CollinCounty Commissioners’ Court, the magistrates appointed by the Fort Bend County Commissioners’Court, the justices of the peace, and the mayors and recorders and the judges of the municipal courtsof incorporated cities or towns.-2-
Penal Code, may, instead of taking the person before a magistrate, issue a citation tothe person that contains: written notice of the time and place the person must appearbefore a magistrate; the name and address of the person charged, the offense charged;information regarding the alternatives to the full payment of any fine or costsassessed against the person, if the person is convicted of the offense and is unable topay that amount; and the following admonishment, in boldfaced or underlined typeor in capital letters:2IF YOU ARE CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSEINVOLVING VIOLENCE WHERE YOU ARE OR WERE ASPOUSE, INTIMATE PARTNER, PARENT, OR GUARDIAN OFTHE VICTIM OR ARE OR WERE INVOLVED IN ANOTHER,SIMILAR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VICTIM, IT MAY BEUNLAWFUL FOR YOU TO POSSESS OR PURCHASE AFIREARM, INCLUDING A HANDGUN OR LONG GUN, ORAMMUNITION, PURSUANT TO FEDERAL LAW UNDER 18U.S.C. SECTION 922(G)(9) OR SECTION 46.04(B), TEXASPENAL CODE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WHETHERTHESE LAWS MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR YOU TO POSSESS ORPURCHASE A FIREARM, YOU SHOULD CONSULT ANATTORNEY.(c) If the person resides in the county where the offense occurred, a peace officerwho is charging a person with committing an offense that is a Class A or Bmisdemeanor may, instead of taking the person before a magistrate, issue a citationto the person that contains written notice of the time and place the person mustappear before a magistrate of this state as described by Subsection (a), the name andaddress of the person charged, and the offense charged.(d) Subsection (c) applies only to a person charged with committing an offenseunder:2(1)Section 481.121, Health and Safety Code, if the offense is punishableunder Subsection (b)(1) or (2) of that section;(1-a)Section 481.1161, Health and Safety Code, if the offense ispunishable under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) of that section;(2)Section 28.03, Penal Code, if the offense is punishable underSubsection (b)(2) of that section;The admonishment does not deal with any bonding issues.-3-
(3)Section 28.08, Penal Code, if the offense is punishable underSubsection (b)(2) or (3) of that section;(4)Section 31.03, Penal Code, if the offense is punishable underSubsection (e)(2)(A) of that section;(5)Section 31.04, Penal Code, if the offense is punishable underSubsection (e)(2) of that section;(6)Section 38.114, Penal Code, if the offense is punishable as a Class Bmisdemeanor, or(7)Section 521.457, Transportation Code.As set forth in Article 14.06 above, a person arrested with or without a warrant must be takenbefore a magistrate within 48 hours of arrest, and the magistrate must perform the duties set forthin Article 15.17. One of those duties is to set the bond of the accused.The 48-hour-rule is exceptionally important, not only for the purpose of setting a reasonablebond within a reasonable period of time, but also for complying with the Fourth Amendmentrequirements relating to unreasonable seizures. If an accused is held for more than 48 hours after awarrantless arrest, it presumptively violates the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.County of Riverside v. McLaughlin, 500 U.S. 44, 55-57, 111 S.Ct. 1661, 114 L.Ed.2d 49 (1991).The Fourth Amendment requires a prompt determination of probable cause by a magistrate followinga warrantless arrest, and failure to provide such a determination within 48 hours shifts the burdento the government to demonstrate a bona fide emergency or extraordinary circumstances justifyingthe lengthier delay. Id.; United States v. Adekunle, 2 F.3d 559, 561 (5th Cir. 1993).2.DUTIES OF MAGISTRATE AND ARRESTING OFFICER FOLLOWINGARRESTIn cases where an arrest has been made either with or without a warrant, the magistrate hascertain duties, as set forth below, that must be performed. One of those duties is to set bond. Article15.17 states as follows:a.Art. 15.17. - Duties of Arresting Officer and Magistrate(a) In each case enumerated in this Code, the person making the arrest or the personhaving custody of the person arrested shall without unnecessary delay, but not laterthan 48 hours after the person is arrested, take the person arrested or have him takenbefore some magistrate of the county where the accused was arrested or, to providemore expeditiously to the person arrested the warnings described by this article,before a magistrate in any other count
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Robert S. Davis Robert Davis is a partner in the Tyler law firm FLOWERS DAVIS, P.L.L.C.After graduating from law school, Mr. Davis served as Briefing Attorney to the Honorable Justice Sue LaGarde, 5th
