You’ve been arrested. The first thing most people want to know is: can I get out of jail while my case is pending? In most cases — yes. The Texas Constitution guarantees the right to bail for most criminal charges. But how much that bail is, and what conditions come with it, is up to the judge. That’s where things get complicated.
Here’s what you actually need to know about bond in Collin County. For a step-by-step guide to the booking process and how bond gets set in Collin County, see .
Three Types of Bonds
Not all bonds work the same way. There are three options, and which one applies to you depends on the charge, your history, and what the judge decides.
Cash Bond
You — or someone on your behalf — pays the full bond amount directly to the county in cash, money order, or cashier’s check. After your case is resolved and you made all your court appearances, the court refunds the amount minus any administrative fees. If you can front the full amount, this is cleaner than using a bondsman.
Surety Bond (Bail Bondsman)
A bail bond company posts the full amount on your behalf. You pay them a fee — typically around 10% of the bond — and that fee is non-refundable, regardless of how your case turns out. The bondsman assumes the financial risk if you don’t appear. Most people go this route when the bond amount is too high to pay out of pocket.
Personal Recognizance (PR) Bond
You sign a written promise to appear at your court dates. No cash. No bondsman. The court releases you on your word. PR bonds are typically available to lower-risk defendants — first-time offenders, non-violent charges, strong community ties. If you qualify, it’s the best outcome: you walk out without spending a dollar on bond.
How Judges Set Bail in Texas
Bail isn’t arbitrary. Article 17.15 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure requires judges to consider seven specific factors when setting the amount:
- Is the bail high enough to give reasonable assurance you’ll show up to court?
- Is it being used as punishment? (It’s not supposed to be — bail is not an instrument of oppression.)
- What’s the nature of the offense? Was it violent? Did it involve a peace officer?
- Can you actually make this bail? The judge is required to consider your ability to pay.
- What’s the safety risk to the alleged victim, law enforcement, and the community?
- What does your criminal history look like — prior convictions, pending charges, any prior failures to appear?
- What’s your citizenship status?
Beyond those seven, courts also weigh your employment, family ties, how long you’ve lived in the area, and any aggravating circumstances alleged in the offense. All of that goes into the number the judge lands on.
The PR Bond Safety Valve — Article 17.151
Most people don’t know this exists. If the State isn’t ready to go to trial within a set window after your arrest, you’re legally entitled to a PR bond or a reduction in bail — regardless of the original amount set.
The deadlines under Article 17.151 are:
- Felony: 90 days from the start of your detention
- Misdemeanor punishable by more than 180 days: 30 days
- Misdemeanor punishable by 180 days or less: 15 days
- Fine-only misdemeanor: 5 days
This doesn’t happen automatically. You need an attorney to file the motion and push for the release. But if the State has let the clock run out — and it happens more than people realize — this is a real path to getting out of jail without posting a cent.
Conditions the Judge Can Impose
Getting released on bond doesn’t always mean walking out free and clear. Under Article 17.40 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, a judge can attach any reasonable condition to your bond as long as it relates to the safety of the alleged victim or the community. In Collin County, common conditions include:
- Commit no further criminal offenses
- No contact with the alleged victim — directly or indirectly
- Stay away from the victim’s residence, school, or workplace
- Notify the court clerk if your address changes
- Submit to a home curfew
- Wear an electronic monitoring device
- Submit to home confinement
- Submit to weekly drug or alcohol testing
- Attend counseling or an education program
- Provide a DNA specimen to a local law enforcement agency
DWI Cases — Ignition Interlock
If you’re charged with a subsequent DWI offense, the judge is required to order an ignition interlock device installed on any vehicle you drive — at your expense, before you’re released. This is a breathalyzer built into the ignition. The car won’t start if alcohol is detected. It’s mandatory for repeat offenses, not discretionary.
Family Violence Cases — GPS Monitoring
In family violence cases, a judge can require you to wear a GPS ankle monitor and order an electronic receptor device for the alleged victim that alerts them if you approach a prohibited location. These conditions can be imposed even before any conviction — just on the bond.
What Happens If You Violate a Condition
The judge revokes your bond and issues an arrest warrant. That warrant typically carries no bond — meaning you go back to jail and stay there until your case is resolved. No automatic release. No posting a new bond and walking out.
In some cases, with an attorney pushing for it, the judge can be persuaded to reinstate the original bond or set a new one. That’s not guaranteed, and it gets harder the more serious the violation. The time to take conditions seriously is before you violate one.
I’ve seen people treat bond conditions like suggestions. They’re not. A violation can turn a manageable situation into months in county jail waiting for trial.
How I Help With Bond Issues
Getting you out is step one — but the conditions attached to your bond affect your daily life, sometimes for months while your case is pending. I can challenge a bond that’s been set too high, argue for a PR bond if you qualify, push for less restrictive conditions, and file an Article 17.151 motion if the State has let the clock run out.
If your bond has been revoked or you’ve been told no bond will be set on a new warrant, call me. There may be more options than you’ve been told.
What is a PR bond in Texas?
A personal recognizance (PR) bond allows you to be released from jail without paying any money. You sign a written promise to appear at your court dates. No bail bondsman, no cash deposit. PR bonds are typically available to first-time offenders, people charged with non-violent offenses, and defendants with strong community ties and no history of failing to appear.
How does a judge decide how much bail to set?
Under Article 17.15 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, judges must consider seven factors: whether the amount is sufficient to ensure you’ll appear, whether it’s being used as punishment (prohibited), the nature of the offense, your ability to pay, safety risks to the victim and community, your criminal history, and your citizenship status. Employment, family ties, and community connections also factor in.
Can I get a PR bond if I can’t afford bail in Collin County?
Possibly. A judge may grant a PR bond based on your background, the nature of the charge, and your ties to the community. There’s also Article 17.151 — if the State isn’t ready for trial within the required timeframe (90 days for felonies, 30 days for most jailable misdemeanors), you’re entitled to a PR bond or bail reduction. That clock starts running from the day you’re detained.
What conditions can a judge put on my bond?
Any reasonable condition related to the safety of the alleged victim or the community. Common examples include no-contact orders, stay-away orders, drug or alcohol testing, electronic monitoring, home curfew, and home confinement. DWI cases involving repeat offenses require an ignition interlock device. Family violence cases can include GPS ankle monitoring.
What happens if I violate a condition of my bond in Texas?
The judge revokes your bond and issues an arrest warrant. That warrant typically carries no bond — you go back to jail and stay there until your case is resolved. In some cases, an attorney can persuade the judge to reinstate the original bond or set a new one, but that’s not guaranteed and gets harder the more serious the violation.
What is Article 17.151 and how does it help me?
Article 17.151 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure entitles a detained defendant to a PR bond or reduced bail if the State isn’t ready for trial within a set window — 90 days for felonies, 30 days for misdemeanors punishable by more than 180 days, and 15 days for misdemeanors punishable by 180 days or less. It doesn’t happen automatically — you need an attorney to file the motion. But if the deadline has passed and the State isn’t ready, it’s a legitimate path to getting out of jail.
Serving All of Collin County
I defend clients throughout Collin County, including:
Charged with a Crime?
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