At $13,115, Travis County has the lowest average bail amount when compared to Texas’ other largest counties.

However, that’s still a significant chunk of money for most families. Statistics from The Bail Project show that more than 60% of inmates in the Travis County Jail are in pretrial custody because they cannot afford to post bail.

If a friend or family member has been arrested in the Austin area, a primary concern  may be whether you can even afford to bail them out of jail.

How Much is Bail in Travis County?

Note that these are the averages for cash/surety bonds from the Office of Court Administration Public Safety Report System. Many defendants will be ordered to pay less, and some will be ordered to pay significantly more.

• Capital offense: $650,004.00
• First-degree felony: $86,118.74
• Second-degree felony: $26,240.78
• Third-degree felony: $14,903.90
• State jail felony: $10,864.79
• Class A misdemeanor: $5,521.20
• Class B misdemeanor: $3,382.73
• Class C misdemeanor: $199

Your specific bail amount will depend on several variables.

Bail amounts are set by a judge or magistrate based on the allegations against you, your criminal history, and whether you’re a flight risk. And bond may include specific conditions set by the judge. If you violate those conditions, you will likely be re-arrested and held in custody until your case has been resolved.

Types of Bail in Travis County

As you can see, bail can get expensive. However, there are a few different bail options available.

How much you’ll have to pay out of pocket will depend not only on the total amount of bail, but also on the type. You’ll pay more initially if you can post the full amount in cash, but that money is refundable. Surety bonds require a lower initial investment, but that money is not refundable. 

You can find the specific type of bail by searching on the inmate’s name in the county database. 

• Any type of bond: This means the defendant can post cash, surety, or a personal bond (in other words, they can choose to post more money to avoid the extra conditions required with a personal bond).
• Cash or surety: This means they can either post cash or money order, or secure a surety bond from a bail bond company. No personal bonds will be accepted
• No bond information available: This means bail has not yet been set

Personal Recognizance Bonds

If a judge believes that you aren’t a flight risk or threat to public safety, you may be released on what’s known as a Personal Recognizance bond. It is also commonly called a personal bond and can be referred to as ROR (released on recognizance). However, you won’t have to pay any money – aside from perhaps a small fee of about $15.

PR bonds are extremely common in Travis County.

“They’re the rule, not the exception,” said James Fletcher, one of our firm’s senior trial attorneys who is based in Austin. 

In Travis County, PR bonds are obtained through the Pretrial Services program, and having an experienced attorney can be a big benefit, because they will know the system and may be able to preemptively help you get a personal bond before you have to appear before a magistrate, Fletcher said.

Though these bonds are easier to acquire in the Austin area than most other parts of the state, there are still a few criteria for eligibility.

You may not qualify if you’re:

• Facing assault charges
• Are considered a flight risk
• Have an extensive criminal history
• Failed to appear in court in the past
• Have violated probation or parole

Fletcher said one client was denied a PR bond because it was the seventh time the client was arrested for shoplifting. 

In exchange for the personal bond, you must:

• Agree to appear for all court appearances
• Meet all conditions of the court
• Not be considered a flight risk

You may also be required to restrict travel, report to an officer, and be subject to protective orders. If you fail to comply, you’ll be rearrested and may be responsible for paying the total bond amount.

However, personal bonds are easier to get if you have an experienced attorney who will help you navigate the process.

Statistics: PR Bonds in Travis County

Offense	Number of personal bonds issued	% of PR bonds instead of cash bail
Capital murder	25	0%
First-degree felony	322	14.2%
Second-degree felony	336	7.5%
Third-degree felony	843	12%
State jail felony	2,280	25.12%
Class A misdemeanor	3,551	26.8%
Class B misdemeanor	3,287	32%
Class C misdemeanor	1	25%

READ MORE: Understanding personal bonds

Cash Bail

As it sounds, cash bail means posting the full bail amount in cash. You must be able to post the exact amount in cash (Travis County is unable to provide change), or a cashier’s check or money order payable to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. You must call 512-854-4180 to confirm the defendant’s location. That’s where you will need to go to post bail.

Cash bonds are refundable (minus some court costs) after a case has been resolved. 

Bail Bonds (Surety Bonds)

Not everyone can afford to pay cash or procure a money order for the full bail amount. In this instance, you’ll need to contact a bail bond company.

The bail bond company will post bail on your behalf. In exchange, you’ll pay a fee of about 10% of the total bail amount. So, if your bail is $15,000, you’ll have to pay about $1,500 for the bail bond. That $3,000 is not refundable. It is considered a service charge.

Statistics: Cash and Surety Bonds in Travis County

Offense	Number of cash/surety bonds issued	% of cash bail compared to PR bonds
Capital Murder	25	100%
First-degree felony	1,939	85.75%
Second-degree felony	4,127	92.4%
Third-degree felony	6,167	87.9%
State jail felony	6,796	74.8%
Class A misdemeanor	9,670	73.1%
Class B misdemeanor	7,045	68%
Class C misdemeanor	3	75%

It’s worth noting that if you co-sign the bail bond for a friend or family member, you could be required to pay the full bail amount if that person fails to appear in court. 

READ MORE: Bail vs bond

Other Less Common Types of Bond

Three more types of bonds are technically available in Travis County, but aren’t nearly as common as the first three options. 

Cash deposit bond: These are exclusive to Travis and Harris counties. With this type of bond, the county will collect a cash deposit — usually about 10% of the total bond amount, and Travis County will essentially serve as a bail bondsman. However, you must work with an attorney to be eligible for these.

Property bonds: These are often negotiated directly with a bail bond company. If you don’t have money to pay the fee for the bond, some companies will allow you to use your home as collateral. However, you must pay for a home appraisal, which in Texas has an average cost of $425 to $650. Additionally, homes must be appraised for at least 150% of the bond total, and a lien will be placed on your property.

Attorney bonds: Harris County allows attorney bonds for misdemeanor charges. They are similar to surety bonds, but in this case, your attorney will collect the fee — often 10% — and the attorney will pay for their client’s release. At Michael & Associates, we don’t offer attorney bonds. We believe that when a lawyer is a client’s attorney and bondsman, there is an obvious conflict of interest. You need to be able to confide in your attorney.

READ MORE: Types of Bonds

How are Bail Amounts Set in Travis County?

A magistrate judge typically sets bail within about 48 hours of your arrest. This process is called magistration.

Judges and magistrates must follow a few specific guidelines, but there’s no way to predict exactly how much your bail will be if you aren’t eligible for a PR bond. It will depend on the criminal charge, the judge ,the jurisdiction, and whether you’re considered a flight risk. 

However, the U.S. Constitution prohibits “excessive” bail. If your bail seems unfair, if you cannot afford it, or if you need help navigating the bail process, contact us immediately to set up a free consultation. We can help you through the process and even try to request a reduction.

More Austin-Area Resources

How to get someone out of jail in Travis County

How to find an inmate in Travis County

How to visit an inmate in Travis County