Bond conditions in Collin County: how they are set, monitored, and modified

By Reggie London & Njeri LondonState Bar of Texas #24043514 · #24043266 · Reviewed June 6, 2026 · ~5 min read · 1,186 words

In Collin County, bond conditions are set at the article 15.17 magistration after arrest and supervised by Collin County Pretrial Services. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 17.40 controls when and how those conditions can be modified, and the McKinney intake court handles most of the day-to-day bond practice.

What bond conditions are — and why Collin County uses them

When someone is arrested in Collin County, the article 15.17 first appearance happens at the McKinney intake court. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 17.40 lets the magistrate impose any condition "reasonably necessary to ensure the defendant's appearance at trial and the safety of the community." Those conditions ride with the bond until the case is disposed.

Conditions in Collin County range from routine reporting (pretrial check-ins, no new offenses) to highly restrictive (no-contact orders, GPS monitoring, ignition interlock, firearm surrender, residency limits). Violating a condition triggers exposure to a motion to revoke or, in family-violence cases, a separate criminal charge under Penal Code § 25.07.

How bond is set at the article 15.17 magistration

Texas law requires magistration within 48 hours of arrest. In Collin County, that hearing is held at the McKinney intake court by a rotating magistrate.

At magistration, the magistrate (a) informs the defendant of the charges and rights, (b) decides probable cause for continued detention, (c) sets bond using the article 17.15 factors, and (d) imposes conditions under article 17.40 where appropriate. The Collin County bond schedule is the starting point, but article 17.15 requires the magistrate to consider ability to pay, the offense, criminal history, community safety, and victim safety before fixing an amount.

Defense counsel can appear at the article 15.17 hearing (or coordinate with Collin County Pretrial Services beforehand) to argue for a lower bond, a personal-recognizance bond, or specific conditions consistent with a defendant's employment.

Conditions you should expect to see in Collin County

Common conditions imposed by Collin County magistrates and county-court-at-law judges include:

• Pretrial Services reporting — weekly for most felony cases; less frequent for misdemeanors.
• No new offenses — default condition on every bond.
• No-contact orders with named alleged victims (mandatory under article 17.292 in family-violence arrests).
• Firearm surrender (mandatory in family-violence cases under article 17.292 and federal Lautenberg).
• Drug or alcohol testing — random UA through a county-approved lab.
• Ignition-interlock in DWI cases with a prior, in DWI with BAC ≥ .15, and in any DWI with a minor passenger (CCP art. 17.441).
• SCRAM / continuous-alcohol monitoring — used in serious DWI cases.
• GPS or electronic monitoring — used in high-bond felony and family-violence assault cases.
• Travel restrictions — surrender of passport for federal or flight-risk cases.
• Curfew — typically paired with electronic monitoring.
• Stay-away orders from named residences, schools, or workplaces.

Family-violence cases get a magistrate's order for emergency protection (MOEP) under article 17.292 — that order can run up to 91 days and is independent of any later Family-Code protective order.

Who supervises bond conditions in Collin County

Collin County Pretrial Services supervises defendants released on PR bonds and on most surety bonds with reporting conditions. Pretrial Services tracks compliance, monitors drug-testing results, runs criminal-history checks for new arrests, and files notices of violation with the court.

The bondsman (or the defendant on a cash bond) is independently responsible for ensuring court appearance. Violations of substantive conditions go through Pretrial Services to the prosecutor; the prosecutor decides whether to file a motion to revoke or modify.

Modifying a bond condition: the article 17.40 motion

Either side can move to modify a bond condition at any time. The defense typically files when a condition becomes unworkable — a no-driving condition that blocks work, an alcohol condition that conflicts with the defendant's hospitality job.

The motion is filed in the court of jurisdiction (county court at law for misdemeanors, district court for felonies). The defense usually attaches employer letters, proposed alternative conditions, and documentation of compliance. The court holds a short hearing — often by Zoom — and rules on the record.

Section 17.40(b) requires that bond conditions be reasonable and proportional to the State's interest. A condition that has become unnecessary or punitive should be modified.

When a bond condition is violated

Article 17.40(b) authorizes the trial court, on a motion to revoke or modify, to (a) issue a warrant, (b) increase the bond, (c) add additional conditions, or (d) revoke the bond and order the defendant returned to custody.

Prosecutorial response depends on severity. A missed drug test or late check-in often draws a written warning followed by an added condition. A positive drug test, new arrest, or contact with a no-contact-protected person is a far stronger trigger for immediate revocation.

In family-violence cases, contact with the named victim — even at the victim's request — can be separately prosecuted as a violation of a protective order under Penal Code § 25.07.

Procedural details that are particular to Collin County

Local-practice points that come up often:

• The McKinney intake court is the magistration venue. Family members should call the Sheriff's office to confirm the schedule for a specific defendant.
• The Collin County bond schedule is the magistrate's starting point, not the ceiling. Defense counsel can argue downward at magistration using the article 17.15 factors.
• Pretrial Services intake typically happens within 24-48 hours of release. Defendants who skip intake are routinely returned to custody on a hold.
• Bond-modification motions in the misdemeanor county courts at law are commonly set within a week or two by Zoom. District-court felony motions take longer.
• Collin County uses centralized e-filing for bond motions; a direct call to the court coordinator can expedite a time-sensitive setting.

Cited authorities

• Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 15.17 — magistration / first appearance.
• Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.15 — factors for setting bond.
• Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.40 — conditions related to safety.
• Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.441 — ignition-interlock for DWI.
• Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.292 — MOEP.
• Tex. Penal Code § 25.07 — violation of bond condition.

Related resources

• Denton County bond conditions counterpart.
• Texas Bond Amount Estimator.
• Collin County criminal defense practice area.
• Family-violence defense.
• DWI defense.

Statutes referenced

• Magistration — Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 15.17 (read statute).
• Factors for bond — Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.15 (read statute).
• Conditions for safety — Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.40 (read statute).
• DWI interlock — Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.441 (read statute).
• MOEP — Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.292 (read statute).
• Violation of bond condition — Tex. Penal Code § 25.07 (read statute).

Statutes cited are current through the 2026 regular session of the Texas Legislature. Verify the latest text on statutes.capitol.texas.gov before relying on any provision in active litigation.

Frequently asked questions

Related on L and L Law Group

• Denton County bond conditions counterpart
• Texas Bond Amount Estimator
• Collin County criminal defense
• DWI defense
• Family-violence defense

Topic cluster: This article is part of the Criminal Defense practice cluster. Browse the complete directory for every related guide.

Unfamiliar with a term? Look it up in our Texas criminal-law glossary or the DefinedTerm reference.

About the authors

Reggie London

Co-Founding Partner · Texas Bar #24043514

Co-founder of L and L Law Group, PLLC. Licensed in Texas since 2005. Admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas. Handles state and federal criminal defense across the nine DFW counties.

Njeri London

Co-Founding Partner · Texas Bar #24043266

Co-founder of L and L Law Group, PLLC. Licensed in Texas since 2005. Trial-trained criminal defense attorney with deep experience in family-violence and licensing-intersection matters. Practices statewide.

L and L Law Group, PLLC publishes this material as legal information, not legal advice. Our editorial policy describes how we verify and update content.

Not legal advice. This article is general information about Texas criminal law and procedure. Every case turns on its specific facts. If you face a criminal charge, retain counsel licensed in Texas before any contact with law enforcement, prosecutors, or magistrates. Call (972) 370-5060 for a free consultation with L and L Law Group, PLLC.