Arrested on a Weekend or Holiday in Dallas County?

Arrests do not stop on weekends, holidays, or in the middle of the night — and neither does the bail process in Dallas County. The Lew Sterrett Justice Center at 111 West Commerce Street in Dallas operates around the clock, and the bond desk accepts bond postings 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. Dallas County’s seven full-time criminal magistrates conduct magistration hearings continuously, meaning that bail can be set and bonds can be posted at any hour. However, families should expect longer processing times during weekends and holidays because arrest volumes are typically higher on Friday and Saturday nights, and staffing levels at the facility may be reduced.

The most common source of delay during weekend and holiday arrests is the time between booking and magistration. During peak periods, the backlog of defendants waiting to see a magistrate can extend the wait from several hours to ten hours or more. Once magistration is complete and bail has been set, the bond posting process itself is the same regardless of the day or time — a licensed bail bond agent can post a surety bond at Lew Sterrett at any hour. Release processing after a bond is posted can also take longer during high-volume periods, with families realistically expecting four to twelve hours between bond posting and the defendant walking out of the facility.

This is why working with a bail bond agent who operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week is critical when an arrest happens outside normal business hours. An agent who is available immediately can begin gathering information, preparing paperwork, and monitoring the defendant’s booking status while the family waits for magistration to be completed. The moment bail is set, the agent can post the bond without delay. Act Quick Bail Bonds is available around the clock, every day of the year, including weekends and holidays — call (214) 744-1414.