When you – or a family member or friend – are arrested, bail is one of the first problems you’ll need to solve. The average bail amount in Tarrant County is $7,614. 

While that’s lower than the averages in Texas’ other major counties, it’s still a significant amount to have to come up with on a moment’s notice. More than 60% of inmates in Tarrant County jails are in custody because they can’t afford to pay the cash bail – or the fee for a bail bond – that’s required for their release. 

Here’s what you should know about bail in the Fort Worth area.

How Much is Bail in Tarrant 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: $337,605.17
• First-degree felony: $50,803.10
• Second-degree felony: $21,192.32
• Third-degree felony: $8,776.15
• State jail felony: $4,860.31
• Class A misdemeanor: $1,937.71
• Class B misdemeanor: $964.09
• Class C misdemeanor: N/A

Types of Bail in Tarrant County

As you can see, bail can be expensive. 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.

The first step is to learn whether bail has been set, and if it has, what that bail amount is. To do this, call the Tarrant County Jail Inmate Information Line at 817-884-3000.

Cash Bail

Posting cash bail means you pay the full amount in person. You can pay with a certified check or a money order. Ironically, the Tarrant County Jail does not accept cash for cash bonds. You will likely need to show a valid government-issued photo ID. Cash bail can be posted at any time, 24/7 at the bond desk at the Tarrant County Corrections Center, which is located at 100 N. Lamar in Fort Worth. 

“Once the case is disposed, a cash bond will be returned,” said Thomas Murphree, one of our senior trial attorneys based in Fort Worth.

However, the county will deduct a small administrative fee that may not exceed $50 (Sec. 117.055).

Bail Bonds (Surety Bonds)

Not everyone can afford to hand over a cashier’s check or a money order for the full bail amount, particularly for felony-level offenses, where bail could total $20,000 or more. If this is the case, Murphree says a bail bond company can help.

“You can use a bondsman and pay 10%,” Murphree says. This means that if your bail is set at $10,000, you’ll have to pay a fee of about $1,000 for the bail bond. However, Murphree says the disadvantage is that the 10% fee will not be refunded.

Statistics: Cash and Surety Bonds in Tarrant County

Offense	Number of cash/surety bonds issued	Percentage of cash/surety bonds vs. personal bonds
Capital felony	88	100%
First-degree felony	3,256	99.5%
Second-degree felony	7,361	97%
Third-degree felony	12,990	95.1%
State jail felony	11,375	88.6%
Class A misdemeanor	17,442	86.5%
Class B misdemeanor	12,497	69.1%
Class C misdemeanor	0	0%

READ MORE: Bail vs bond

Personal Recognizance Bonds

In Tarrant County, personal recognizance bonds (often called PR bonds) are less common than in Texas’ other major cities, which have implemented more progressive bail reform policies. 

Personal bonds allow an individual to leave jail without paying any bail money upfront (though you may 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. A defendant who fails to appear as scheduled will be assessed the full amount of the PR bond. 

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

Despite overcrowding and a history of problems at Tarrant County Jail, the county has traditionally been more conservative in its bail approach, relying heavily on cash and surety bonds. Generally, PR bonds in Tarrant County are reserved for first-time offenders, those accused of low-level offenders, or people who have strong ties to the community.

While you aren’t required to have an attorney to be eligible for a PR bond in Tarrant County, an experienced attorney with an established reputation will be able to advocate on your behalf, which may increase your chances.

Statistics: PR Bonds in Tarrant County

Offense	Number of personal bonds issued	Percentage of PR bonds vs. cash/surety bonds
Capital felony	0	0%
First-degree felony	12	.4%
Second-degree felony	212	2.8%
Third-degree felony	660	4.8%
State jail felony	1455	11.3%
Class A misdemeanor	2,716	13.4%
Class B misdemeanor	5,579	30.8
Class C misdemeanor	1	100%

READ MORE: Understanding personal bonds

Other Less Common Types of Bond

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

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: Tarrant 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. 

READ MORE: Types of Bonds

How are Bail Amounts Set in Tarrant County?

A magistrate judge will typically set bail within about 48 hours of your arrest. This process is referred to as magistration.

Judges and magistrates have a few guidelines they must follow, but there’s no way to say for sure exactly how much your bail will be. The judge has almost total discretion.

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