Felony vs. Misdemeanor Bail in Dallas County: Key Differences
Compares how Dallas County handles bail for felony versus misdemeanor charges — bond amount ranges, magistration differences, court divisions at the Frank Crowley Courts Building, and typical bond conditions.
Dallas County processes felony and misdemeanor charges through separate court systems, and the bail process differs significantly between the two. All criminal cases — both felony and misdemeanor — begin with booking and magistration at Lew Sterrett Justice Center. After release, misdemeanor cases are handled by one of the eleven County Criminal Courts located on the third and fourth floors of the Frank Crowley Courts Building at 133 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207. Felony cases are prosecuted in one of the seventeen Criminal District Courts, also housed in the Frank Crowley Courts Building. Class B misdemeanors carry a potential fine of up to $2,000 and confinement up to 180 days, while Class A misdemeanors carry penalties of up to $4,000 and up to one year in county jail.
Felony bail amounts in Dallas County are substantially higher and come with more restrictive bond conditions. State jail felonies carry potential confinement of 180 days to two years, third-degree felonies carry two to ten years in prison, second-degree felonies carry two to twenty years, and first-degree felonies carry five to ninety-nine years or life. Capital felonies carry life imprisonment or the death penalty. The bond conditions imposed on felony defendants at magistration often include GPS monitoring through Dallas County Pretrial Services, mandatory drug testing, no-contact orders, and travel restrictions that do not typically apply to lower-level misdemeanor charges.
Under Article 17.151 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, a defendant detained in jail must be released on personal bond or reduced bail if the State is not ready for trial within specific timeframes: ninety days for felonies, thirty days for Class A misdemeanors, and fifteen days for Class B misdemeanors. Understanding these differences is critical when navigating the Dallas County system. For help posting bond on any charge level, call Act Quick Bail Bonds at (214) 744-1414.