If you’ve been arrested in Harris County, you’ll probably have to deal with posting bail. How much that will be depends on several factors, including the judge and the charges you’re facing. However, statistics show that bail in the Houston area averages $15,234.61.

This is a huge amount of money for many Texans, and even coming up with the fees required to obtain a bail bond is a struggle. More than 60% of inmates in Harris County are detained until trial due to their inability to afford bail. 

Statistics: Average Bail Amounts in Harris County

Note that these are the averages 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: $1,241,515.15
• First-degree felony: $92,273
• Second-degree felony: $29,733.59
• Third-degree felony: $16,997
• State jail felony: $6,528
• Class A misdemeanor: $2,818.13
• Class B misdemeanor: $1,561.69

Types of Bail in Harris County

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

Harris County has basically eliminated cash bail for many misdemeanor offenses. While trying to reduce expenses and jail overcrowding, the county’s bail system was reformed after findings showed that many people accused of low-level crimes within the county were in jail because they couldn’t afford to post bail.

Most misdemeanor arrestees will have to pay bail amounts of no more than $100, and they will be immediately released on what’s known as a personal recognizance – or PR – bond.

READ MORE: Types of bail

Personal Recognizance Bonds

If a judge believes that you aren’t a public safety threat or a flight risk, you may be released on what’s known as a Personal Recognizance bond. These are also called personal bonds, PR bonds, or ROR (released on recognizance). 

According to Charles Pelowski, senior trial attorney in Michael & Associates’ Houston office, these are extremely common in Harris County. However, Pelowski notes that a few notable exceptions will prohibit PR bonds, including family violence cases. 

A PR bond may require you to pay a nominal fee, but there are some instances in which you may not have to pay any money.

For example, if your income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, if you’re a full-time student, or if you’re homeless or have been homeless within the past six months, you aren’t required to pay any fees for a PR bond. 

In exchange, you must:

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

However, if getting released from jail quickly is a priority, a PR bond may not be your best option. Chris Denuna, a senior trial attorney for Michael and Associates who handles cases in Harris, Montgomery, and Waller counties, says it could take longer for you to be released from custody.

“It can take up to 12 hours longer to be released from jail on a PR bond than it would take with a cash or surety bond,” he said. 

Statistics: Personal Bonds in Harris County

Personal bonds are significantly more common in Harris County for misdemeanor offenses. However, they account for 8% of first-degree felony cases involving bail, which is significantly higher than Texas’ other largest counties.

Offense	Number of personal bonds issued	% of PR bonds compared to cash bail
Capital murder	0	0
First-degree felony	299	8.28%
Second-degree felony	1,494	13.1%
Third-degree felony	5,014	31.3%
State jail felony	8,182	64.1%
Class A misdemeanor	14,308	69.4%
Class B misdemeanor	7,346	69.7%

SOURCE: Texas Office of Court Administration Public Safety Report System

READ MORE: Understanding personal bonds

Cash Bail

Posting cash bail means you must pay the full bail amount in person, by cash, cashier’s check, or money order, and a local bank must issue checks and money orders. You can also pay with a credit card or debit card through AllPaid.com. However, AllPaid charges a fee, which will be disclosed on the website. Cash bond is refundable minus a processing fee that the courts charge once your 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 must contact a bail bond company, which posts bail on your behalf. In exchange, you’ll pay a fee of about 10% of the total bail amount. So, if your bail is $30,000, you’ll have to pay about $3,000 for the bail bond. That $3,000 is not refundable. It is considered a service charge.

Statistics: Cash and Surety Bonds in Harris County

In Harris County, statistics show that the percentage of defendants offered cash/surety bonds is lower than other Texas counties. This is due to Harris County’s emphasis on low-cost personal bonds.

Offense	Number of cash/surety bonds issued	% of cash bonds compared to PR bonds
Capital murder	33	100%
First-degree felony	3,307	91.65%
Second-degree felony	9,851	86.6%
Third-degree felony	10,955	68.6%
State jail felony	12,755	35.8%
Class A misdemeanor	6,296	30.5%
Class B misdemeanor	3,193	30.3%

SOURCE: Texas Office of Court Administration Public Safety Report System

It’s worth noting that if you co-sign the bail bond for someone else, such as a family member or friend, 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

These three types of bonds are technically available in Harris County but aren’t nearly as common as the first three options. Speak with your attorney to learn whether these options work for you.

Cash deposit bonds: These are only offered in Harris and Travis counties. With this type of bond, the county will collect a cash deposit — typically about 10% of the total bond amount, and the county essentially acts as a bail bondsman. You must work directly with an attorney to be eligible for a cash deposit bond.

Property bonds: These are often negotiated directly with a bail bond company. Some companies will allow you to use your home as collateral if you don’t have the money to pay the bond fee. However, you’ll have to pay for a home appraisal, which typically costs between $425 and $650.

Additionally, your home must be appraised for at least 150% of the bond total. A lien will be placed on your property until the debt has been repaid.

Attorney bonds: Harris County allows attorney bonds for misdemeanor charges. They are similar to surety bonds, but in this case, the attorney will collect the fee, often 10%, and the attorney will pay for their client’s release.

Michael & Associates has decided not to offer attorney bonds. We believe that when a lawyer serves a dual function as a client’s attorney and bondsman, it creates an obvious confict of interest. You need to be able to confide in your attorney.

How are Bail Amounts Set in Harris County?

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

Judges and magistrates have some guidelines they must follow, but there’s no way to say for sure exactly how much your bail will be. It will depend on the criminal charge, the judge, the jurisdiction, and whether you’re considered a flight risk. 

Pelowski said Harris County handles bail a bit differently than Texas’ other biggest counties. 

Following a class action lawsuit (O’Donnell et al. vs. Harris County), the county is required by a consent decree to follow a local rule that ensures that most people charged with a misdemeanor offense are released promptly after an arrest on a personal bond without seeing a judge.

However, Harris County has particularly strict bail requirements for felony offenses. The county requires bail bond companies to collect at least 10% of the total bail amount set by the judge for these offenses. An appellate court upheld the controversial policy in 2024.

• Murder (Texas Penal Code § 19.02)
• Capital murder (§ 19.03)
• Attempted murder
• Aggravated assault (§ 22.02)
• Aggravated kidnapping (§ 20.04)
• Trafficking of persons (§ 20A.02)
• Continuous trafficking of persons (§ 20A.03)
• Continuous sexual abuse of young child or disabled individual (§ 21.02)
• Indecency with a child (§ 21.11)
• Sexual assault (§ 22.011)
• Aggravated sexual assault (§ 22.021)
• Repeated violation of certain court orders or conditions of bond in family violence, child abuse or neglect, sexual assault or abuse, indecent assault, stalking, or trafficking case (§ 25.072)
• Continuous violence against the family (§ 25.11)
• Aggravated robbery (§ 29.03)
• Sexual performance by a child (§ 43.25)
• Burglary of a habitation with the intention of committing a serious violent or sexual offense
• Engaging in organized criminal activity involving a serious violent or sexual offense

The U.S. Constitution prohibits “excessive” bail. If your bail seems unfair, you cannot afford it, or 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 Harris County Resources

More Harris County Resources

How to find an inmate in Harris County

How to get someone out of jail in Harris County

Harris County warrant search: How to see if you have one