TYPES OF BAIL BONDS IN TEXAS

A cash bond requires the full bond amount to be paid directly to the Dallas County court. Whatever bond amount the magistrate sets, the defendant or their family must deliver the full amount in cash or certified funds to the court before release. The primary advantage of a cash bond is that the full amount is refundable — minus administrative fees — once the defendant fulfills all court obligations, regardless of whether the case results in conviction, dismissal, or acquittal.

Cash bonds are most practical for lower bond amounts where the family has immediate access to the full sum. For higher bond amounts common in felony cases, most families in Dallas County find surety bonds more accessible because they require only a fraction of the total. Cash bonds are posted at Lew Sterrett Justice Center during the intake process, and the refund is processed through the Dallas County court system after the case concludes.

A surety bond is the most common type of bail bond used in Dallas County. The defendant or their family pays a non-refundable premium to a licensed bail bond agent, who then posts the full bond with the court as a guarantee that the defendant will appear for all scheduled court dates. The premium amount depends on the bail amount and the specifics of the case.

The bail bond agent assumes the financial risk. If the defendant fails to appear, the agent is responsible for the full bond amount and may employ a fugitive recovery agent to locate the defendant. Act Quick Bail Bonds is a licensed Texas bail bond company that posts surety bonds at Lew Sterrett Justice Center 24 hours a day. We also offer payment plans for families who need assistance covering the premium. The premium is non-refundable regardless of case outcome.

A personal recognizance bond — commonly called a PR bond — allows the defendant to be released without paying any money to the court or a bail bond agent. Instead, the defendant signs a written promise to appear for all court dates and comply with any conditions the magistrate sets. PR bonds are not available to every defendant; Dallas County Pretrial Services conducts an evaluation to determine eligibility.

The evaluation considers the nature of the current charge, the defendant’s criminal history, employment and housing stability, community ties, substance abuse history, and assessed flight risk. First-time offenders charged with non-violent misdemeanors have the highest approval rate for PR bonds in Dallas County. Defendants charged with violent felonies, those with prior failures to appear, and those who pose a documented flight risk are rarely granted PR bonds. Even when a PR bond is granted, conditions like drug testing, curfews, and regular check-ins with pretrial services are common.