The first 72 hours after arrest decide a lot of cases — bond amount, bond conditions, and whether the client stays in jail through indictment. The work at this stage is magistration appearance, bond-reduction motion practice under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 17.151, attacking unreasonable conditions (no-contact orders too broad, electronic monitoring without finding of necessity, drug-testing conditions in non-drug cases), and protecting the client's right to counsel before custodial questioning.
L and L Law Group, PLLC responds to magistration in real time across Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant county jails. We file bond-reduction motions within 24 hours of intake and litigate them on the first available setting.
Bond Conditions Defense
Read more →Bond Reduction Motion
Read more →Magistration Defense
Read more →Mental Health Court Diversion
Tex. CCP Art. 16.22 screening and Art. 17.032 personal-bond release, paired with Gov't Code Ch. 125 specialty mental-health court placement.
Read more →Texas bond forfeiture defense
Texas bond forfeiture defense under CCP Chapter 22: judgment nisi, citation, show-cause, exoneration under Art. 22.13, remittitur under Art.
Read more →Texas bond revocation hearing defense
Texas bond revocation hearings under Code Crim. Proc. arts. 17.40 + 17.09 — judicial revocation, modification, or remand of pretrial.
Read more →Texas bond violation defense
Texas bond condition violations under PC § 25.07 and art. 17.40 — pretrial release conditions, MOEP, GPS, no-contact orders. Frisco TX.
Read more →Texas personal bond defense
Texas personal recognizance bond under CCP Art. 17.04 — SB 6 / Damon Allen Act restrictions, Art. 17.42 pretrial services. Frisco TX.
Read more →Texas surety bond forfeiture & exoneration defense
Texas surety bond defense under Occ. Code Ch. 1704 + CCP Ch. 22 — forfeiture, judgment nisi, Art. 22.13 exoneration, Art. 22.16 remittitur.
Read more →Magistration, Article 17.151, and the first hours in custody
Every Texas arrest runs through the same statutory checkpoint: an appearance before a magistrate under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 15.17, which must happen without unnecessary delay and no later than 48 hours after arrest. The magistrate gives the statutory warnings, identifies the charge, and sets bail. What families experience as “waiting for the jail to post the bond amount” is usually the gap between book-in and magistration — and it is the first place counsel can make a difference, because a lawyer who reaches the case early can present employment, residence, and family-tie information before the number is set rather than fighting it afterward.
Each DFW county runs magistration on its own rhythm. Some use standing bond schedules for common charges; others individualize every case. Weekend and holiday arrests add timing wrinkles, and a defendant arrested on a warrant from another county faces transfer logistics on top of bail. None of that changes the legal standard — it changes how fast each step happens, which is exactly the information a local practice has on hand.
Two statutory levers deserve special attention. First, a writ of habeas corpus can put a bail amount in front of a district judge quickly when the scheduled amount is unworkable. Second, art. 17.151 requires release on personal bond or an affordable bond if the State is not ready for trial within 90 days of detention on a felony — with shorter windows for misdemeanors. The 17.151 clock runs whether or not anyone is watching it, so part of competent pretrial defense is simply calendaring it and moving the moment it expires.
The practical takeaway: bond work is front-loaded. The amount set at magistration shapes whether the client prepares a defense from home or from a cell, and conditions attached at the start — ignition interlocks, GPS monitors, no-contact orders — tend to persist. Getting counsel involved in the first hours, not the first weeks, is the single highest-value move a family can make.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a judge deny bail entirely?+
Yes, but only in narrowly defined circumstances. Article I, § 11a of the Texas Constitution authorizes denial of bail for a defendant accused of a felony while on bail for a prior felony, of a felony involving a deadly weapon after a prior felony conviction, or of a violent or sexual offense while on community supervision. Outside these categories, denial of bail violates the Texas constitutional right.
What is the difference between cash bond, surety bond, and PR bond?+
A cash bond requires the full bond amount deposited with the court — refundable on appearance. A surety bond involves a licensed bondsman who posts the bond in exchange for a non-refundable premium (typically 10%). A personal recognizance (PR) bond requires no money — the defendant's signed promise to appear and to comply with conditions. PR release under CCP Article 17.03 is governed by community-ties evidence and offense severity.
How fast can a bond reduction hearing happen?+
Most county and district courts in DFW set bond reduction hearings within 7–14 days of motion. For detained defendants with strong release plans, we frequently get the hearing within a week. Emergency hearings (medical issues, immediate childcare needs, military report dates) can sometimes be scheduled in 2–3 days.
Will GPS monitoring or ankle bracelets be required?+
Increasingly common as a condition under Article 17.40, particularly for family-violence, DWI, and certain felony cases. Costs are typically borne by the defendant ($300–$600/month). Where the alternative is high cash bond or pretrial detention, GPS monitoring is usually the better option, and counsel can negotiate the monitoring vendor, the monitoring level, and the duration.
Does posting bond mean the case is over?+
No. Bond only secures release pending trial. The case continues — discovery, pretrial motions, plea discussions, trial. Bond conditions remain in effect through final disposition, and violation of conditions can result in revocation and re-arrest under Article 17.40(b).
What happens if I violate a condition of my bond?+
The judge can revoke the bond and issue a warrant, and under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.40 the court may raise the bond amount or add stricter conditions when it is reset. Some violations carry independent criminal exposure — violating a protective-order condition, for example, can be charged as a separate offense under Penal Code § 25.07. Treat every condition as a court order, and raise compliance problems with your lawyer before they become motions.
Speak Directly With a Texas Criminal Defense Attorney
Reggie London and Njeri London handle calls personally. No screeners, no paralegals reading from a script — direct-to-attorney consultation, free of charge.
Talk to an attorney — not a screener.
Tell us about your case. Most clients hear back within an hour. Often within minutes.