Bail in Bexar County isn’t cheap. If you’re facing first-degree felony charges, statistics show that the average bail amount here is $21,097.

Most families can’t afford that, and many households can’t even afford the 10% fee that a bail bond company charges. Approximately 85% of the county’s jail population are people being detained before trial because they cannot afford bail. That’s higher than the statewide average of about 70%.

Here’s what you need to know about bail costs in Bexar County.

Statistics: Average Bail Amounts in Bexar County

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

• Capital offense: $719,565.22
• First-degree felony: $79,749.79
• Second-degree felony: $60,804.42
• Third-degree felony: $30,159.27
• State jail felony: $21,242.36
• Class A misdemeanor: $7,612.31
• Class B misdemeanor: $3,132.62
• Class C misdemeanor: $2,481.25

Michael & Associates Senior Trial Attorney R.C. Pate says he recently saw bail set at $250,000 in a case involving assault and unauthorized use of a vehicle. This is substantially higher than the average amount for a first-degree felony, and it means the defendant – or his family or friends – would have to pay a non-refundable fee of at least $25,000 to obtain a surety bond to get him released until his case has been resolved.

“How many people in America have $25,000 sitting around?” Pate asks.

Types of Bail in Bexar County

As the numbers show, bail can be expensive. Statistics show that Bexar County’s average of $21,097 is the highest of all of Texas’ largest counties. Luckily, you don’t have to come up with the full amount in cash, though it will cost less in the long run if you can.

There are different types of bail. To learn whether bail has been set, the type of bail, and the total amount, you must call 210-335-6201. You will need the arrestee’s full name and birthdate. The different types will have different out-of-pocket costs.

Cash Bail

Posting cash bail means paying the full amount in person, though ironically, Bexar County doesn’t accept cash. You must have a cashier’s check or money order made payable to Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. You must also show a valid ID. You must pay at Bexar County Jail, located at 200 N. Comal in San Antonio. Cash bail (minus court costs) will be refunded to you when your case has been resolved.

Bail Bonds (Surety Bonds)

Not everyone can afford to hand over a money order for the entire bail amount. If this is the case, you must contact a bail bond company. The bail bond company will post bail on your behalf. In exchange, they charge a fee of about 10% of the total bail amount. So, if your bail is $25,000, you’ll have to pay about $2,500 for the bail bond. That 10% will not be refunded.

Offense	Number of cash/surety bonds issued	% of cash bonds compared to personal bonds
Capital felony	46	100%
First-degree felony	3,310	98.3%
Second-degree felony	7,892	97.9%
Third-degree felony	17,108	96.6%
State jail felony	11,313	93.2%
Class A misdemeanor	21,705	94.1%
Class B misdemeanor	18,988	85.1%
Class C misdemeanor	16	100%

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

Personal Recognizance Bonds

Personal bonds, also called personal recognizance bonds or PR bonds, allow an individual to leave jail without paying any bail money upfront (though you will be required to pay a nominal fee). Instead of securing the bond with cash or collateral, the defendant promises to appear at all court dates and comply with any conditions the judge imposes.

This is also sometimes called ROR (released on recognizance).

However, not everyone is eligible for a PR bond. In Bexar County, PR bonds are reserved for first-time offenders, those accused of low-level offenses, or people with strong ties to the community.

Requirements include:

• You must be a Bexar County resident who has been jailed on a Bexar County offense
• You must not currently be on parole, bond, or probation
• You must provide an official government ID

In exchange, you must:

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

PR bonds are primarily available to misdemeanor or low-level felony offenders in Bexar County. While some of Texas’ large counties, particularly Harris and Travis counties, use these low-cost bonds to help mitigate jail overcrowding, statistics indicate that PR bonds are not used as frequently in Bexar County.

In Bexar County, PR bonds are obtained through the Pretrial Services program. You will be required to pay a fee of $20 or 3% of the bail amount set by the judge, whichever is greater. The court may waive or lower the fee if you can show it would cause financial hardship.

Offense	Number of personal bonds issued	% of personal bonds set vs. cash bonds
Capital felony	0	0%
First-degree felony	56	1.6%
Second-degree felony	168	2%
Third-degree felony	597	3.3%
State jail felony	823	6.8%
Class A misdemeanor	1,363	5.9%
Class B misdemeanor	3,305	14.8%
Class C misdemeanor	0	0%

READ MORE: Understanding personal bonds

Other Less Common Types of Bond

These three types of bonds are technically available in Bexar County but aren’t as common.

Satellite bonds: Bexar County’s Satellite Office allows people with active arrest warrants to post bond at the courthouse rather than the jail. This can save you the embarrassment of a public arrest. However, to take advantage of the satellite office, you must obtain a bail bond before you turn yourself in. Your lawyer may call this a “satellite bond.” They are referring to the bond paperwork you will need to take to the satellite office. However, it’s still a traditional surety bond.

Property bonds: These are typically negotiated directly with a bail bond company. If you can’t afford to pay the bail bond company’s fee, some companies 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: Bexar 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

Bail in Bexar County

Bail is a tricky issue in Bexar County. The Texas Organizing Project has been actively working to reduce cash bail for many offenders who otherwise would have to remain in custody until their case is resolved. However, this effort has backfired in some cases, as a few offenders have gone on to commit other crimes after they were released on lower bail amounts.

Take, for example, the controversial case of Shane James. James, 34, was arrested and charged with the assault of his parents and a sibling in 2022. The organization intervened and posted cash bail of $300 on James’ behalf.  A day later, he cut off his ankle monitor. 

In early 2024, James was arrested and charged with capital murder in the deaths of his parents and four other people.

Public response to high-profile incidents involving repeat offenders – including the James case –  may have made judges skittish about the risk of repeat offenders out on bail – the opposite of what the Texas Organizing Project was trying to accomplish.

How are Bail Amounts Set in Bexar 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. 

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 Bexar County Resources

How to visit an inmate in Bexar County

How to get someone out of jail in Bexar County