Category Archives: Bail Bonds
What Happens at a Federal Detention Hearing?
A federal detention hearing is where a federal magistrate judge decides, under 18 U.S.C. § 3142, whether you are released on conditions or held in custody until your trial. It is one of the most important early moments in a federal case, because the result often decides whether you fight the charges from home or…
Will You Be Detained Before Trial? Federal Pretrial Detention Rates by District
How often does a federal court detain a defendant before trial, and how much does it vary from one district to the next? This tool maps the measured pretrial detention rate for all 93 U.S. district courts, estimates how the charge and prior record shift the odds, and lays out the factors a judge weighs…
Can You Get a Bond on Federal Charges?
Yes, you can usually be released on federal charges, but federal bail does not work the way Texas state bail does. There is no bail bondsman, there is no posted bail schedule, and there is no quick cash payment at the jail window. Instead, a federal magistrate judge decides whether you are released or held…
The Mandatory Federal Detention Provisions in the Laken Riley Act
Earlier this year, the Laken Riley Act became federal law. Many are concerned or confused about this new federal legislation. Specifically, the Act’s mandatory federal detention provisions. What about undocumented persons? Visa holders? DACA people? Who can be detained if charged with theft or a violent act? Consider the following: 1. The 2025 Laken Riley…
Why You May Need a Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer in Texas
Every lawyer in Texas has to graduate from law school and pass the bar prior to licensure allowing them to practice law in this state. In Texas, lawyers are licensed to practice law by the State Bar of Texas (SBOT) after being approved for admission by the Texas Board of Law Examiners. Any Texas attorney…
Coronavirus in Texas Jails and Federal Prisons: Release Pending Trial
The Coronavirus Pandemic is unprecedented in its impact upon our lives, and this includes the criminal justice system. The danger of coming into contact with COVID-19 is so great that “Stay at Home” Orders have been issued for Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant Counties as well as other communities across the state. The Incarcerated are…
ICE Holds, Bail Bonds, and Getting Freed from Jail in Texas
Arrests are not the same as being charged with a crime. For instance, a police officer (or sheriff’s deputy or state trooper) can pull someone over here in Texas and place them under arrest. Here is when the Miranda rights must be given to the accused, which include explaining that the person has a right…
Dallas County Bond Schedule 2017
The latest Dallas County Bond Schedule has been placed into Michael Lowe’s Digital Library on Scribd. It’s provided for free as a public service. The Dallas County Bond Schedule is effective February 2017. As explained in the document: “These are recommended amounts. Bonds may be set higher or lower than the amounts shown if justified…
2017 Dallas RIGHT Program: Mentally Ill Avoid Bail and Jail
Mental illness often leads to arrest here in Dallas and North Texas. All too often, people suffering from any number of psychological issues find themselves behind bars of local state and county jails. Frequently they remain in jail, and without treatment, because they are unable to make bail. This isn’t news. It’s a problem that…
Out on Bail: Pre-Trial Conditions in Dallas, Fort Worth, and North Texas
We’ve discussed being detained versus being arrested, and the process of getting out of jail on bail if you are arrested here in Texas. Far too many people sit in jail here in Dallas, Fort Worth, and the rest of North Texas because they cannot make bail. That’s why there’s a big movement today for…
