The quickest check is the Dallas County Inmate Search.

Adults are booked at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, 111 W. Commerce St., Dallas, TX 75202 (214-761-9025).

Tips for the call:

• Give their full legal name.
• Give their date of birth.
• Ask whether bail is set.

Staff may not discuss the charges.

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The District Clerk is at 600 Commerce, Ste 122, Dallas, TX 75202 (214-653-7301). District courts hear felony cases (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 4.05).

Bond filings for felonies land there.

Call about hours and payment types.

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Class A and B cases go to county court (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 4.07). Justice courts take fine-only cases (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 4.11). Municipal courts handle city cases (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 4.14).

A justice of the peace can act as magistrate too (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 2A.151).

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A board is required here. Counties over 110,000 people must have one (Tex. Occ. Code §1704.051). Bondsmen there need a county license (Tex. Occ. Code §1704.151).

Bondsmen may not solicit at the jail (Tex. Occ. Code §1704.304). Jail staff cannot steer you to one (Tex. Occ. Code §1704.304).

Ask the board for its license list.

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Magistrates see Dallas County arrestees at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center.

Hearings often run by video (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 15.17). The 48-hour clock starts at arrest (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.028).

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The sheriff or a licensed jailer may take misdemeanor bail (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.20). Felony bail is paid in the amount set (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.21).

No felony release happens before magistration (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.21(b)).

Ask the jail about cash, cards, and hours.

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City police contacts:

• Dallas police arrests: Lew Sterrett Justice Center, 111 W. Commerce St., Dallas, TX 75202 (214-761-9025). Dallas police book adults into the county jail, not a separate city lockup.
• Irving City Jail: 305 N. O'Connor Rd., Irving, TX 75061 (972-721-3608).
• Garland Detention Center: 1900 W. State St., Garland, TX 75042 (972-485-4890).
• Grand Prairie Detention Center: 1525 Arkansas Ln., Grand Prairie, TX 75052 (972-237-8951).

Short city holds usually end in transfer to the county. For felonies, city police cannot take bail (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.21).

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Contact the Dallas County Pretrial Services, 133 N. Riverfront Blvd., Room A9, Dallas, TX 75207 (214-875-2302).

Counties may set up personal bond offices (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.42). They gather background facts for magistrates (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.42). There can be a fee for the bond (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.42).

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A second DWI usually brings an interlock (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.441). Intoxication assault and manslaughter trigger it too (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.441). A magistrate may waive it for good reason (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.441).

Some get alcohol monitoring instead (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.44).

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Schedules cannot replace a real bail decision (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.028(d)). Each case gets individual review (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.028). Anyone held on a schedule amount must be warned (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.028(e)).

Call the jail after magistration for the amount.

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A surety may surrender the person (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.16). The surety may also file an affidavit if the person is jailed elsewhere (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.16). The person may make bail again (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.16).

Ask the bondsman about refund terms.

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The arrested person goes before a magistrate within 48 hours (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 15.17). Many hearings run by video from the county jail (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 15.17). The magistrate makes the bail decision in that window (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.028).

Only a trained magistrate may release on most jailable charges (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.023).

Ask the magistrate for an appointed lawyer if needed (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 15.17).

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For Class B and above, a public safety report is required (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.022). It sums up criminal history and bond eligibility (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.021). The report should arrive within 48 hours (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.022).

The magistrate must read it first, then set bail (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.022).

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Often, yes. A personal bond needs no cash up front (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.03). The law asks for the least restrictive terms needed (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.028).

It is not allowed for:

• Offenses involving violence, as the statute lists them (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.03).
• Unlawful gun possession by a felon (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.03).
• Breaking a bond or protective order (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.03).

The delay rule is an exception (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.151).

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The main options are:

• Personal bond: release on a signed promise (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.03).
• Cash bond: cash deposited for the whole bond (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.02).
• Surety bond: a bondsman or other surety guarantees it (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.11).
• Property bond: the surety states what property backs it (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.13).

Each surety needs assets of twice the amount (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.11).

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The magistrate weighs these:

• Bail must secure appearance without being a tool of oppression (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.15).
• What the charge involves, including violence (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.15).
• The person's ability to pay (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.15).
• Safety of the victim and community (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.15).
• Criminal history, including the report (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.15).
• Whether the person is a citizen (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.15).

An inability-to-pay affidavit is allowed (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.028).

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The Texas Constitution guarantees bail for most (Tex. Const. art. I, §11). The first exception is a capital charge with strong proof (Tex. Const. art. I, §11).

Other no-bail cases include:

• A felony follows two prior felony convictions (Tex. Const. art. I, §11a).
• A felony happens while on felony bail (Tex. Const. art. I, §11a).
• A release condition tied to safety is broken (Tex. Const. art. I, §11b).
• Someone violates a protective order in a family case (Tex. Const. art. I, §11c).

These steps need a hearing before a judge (Tex. Const. art. I, §11a).

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Voters approved Proposition 3 on Nov. 4, 2025 (Tex. Const. art. I, §11d). It reaches murder, aggravated sexual assault, and related charges (Tex. Const. art. I, §11d). Bail must be denied if the State proves the risk (Tex. Const. art. I, §11d).

Flight risk needs a preponderance (Tex. Const. art. I, §11d). Safety risk needs clear and convincing proof (Tex. Const. art. I, §11d).

A lawyer may appear for the accused (Tex. Const. art. I, §11d).

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A new felony while on felony bail goes to the first court (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.027). The old bond can be revoked or modified (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.027(a-1)).

Under SB 9, the State can request a district judge review (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.029).

Review comes by the next business day (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.029).

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A warrantless arrest needs a probable cause finding (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.033).

• Misdemeanor: bond of $5,000 or less by hour 24 (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.033(a)).
• Felony: bond of $10,000 or less by hour 48 (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.033(b)).

Those who cannot pay get a personal bond (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.033). The State may ask to extend to 72 hours (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.033(c)).

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If the State is not ready, release comes after:

• 90 days for a felony (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.151).
• 30 days for a Class A misdemeanor (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.151).
• 15 days for a Class B (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.151).
• 5 days for a fine-only case (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.151).

The fix is a lower bond or personal bond (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.151). Some people, such as those held for safety violations, are excluded (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.151).

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Bond can carry conditions for safety (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.40). These include curfew and electronic monitoring (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.43). Drug testing is another option (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.44).

A repeat DWI usually means an interlock device (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.441).

Breaking a term can mean a hearing and revocation (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.40).

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Expect a magistrate's emergency protection order (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.292). It is mandatory with serious injury or a weapon (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.292). Bond can add no-contact and GPS terms (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.49).

Breaking those terms can mean no bail (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.152).

Officers cannot set the amount on violent charges (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.20(d)).

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Bail can be changed for good cause (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.09). A lawyer usually files a motion in the trial court. Show what the family can pay (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.15).

Ask the Dallas County District Clerk where to file.

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First, the court calls the name at the door (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 22.02). Then a judgment nisi forfeits the bond (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 22.02).

• On a felony, it is a third-degree felony (Tex. Penal Code §38.10).
• On a misdemeanor, it is a Class A misdemeanor (Tex. Penal Code §38.10).
• On a fine-only case, it is a Class C misdemeanor (Tex. Penal Code §38.10).

Contact the court clerk quickly.

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Sureties get a citation to answer (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 22.03). Some reasons excuse the surety, like illness (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 22.13). A remittitur may return some money (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 22.16).

Sureties can return the person to jail (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.16).

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A cash bond goes back to the receipt holder (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.02). Court costs can be deducted first (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.02). The fee paid to a bondsman stays with them.

Ask in writing; collateral is due within 30 days (Tex. Occ. Code §1704.301).

Ask for a written receipt (Tex. Occ. Code §1704.305).

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A child goes to a juvenile office or is released (Tex. Fam. Code §52.02). Release to a parent is common (Tex. Fam. Code §52.02). A held child sees a judge within two working days (Tex. Fam. Code §54.01).

The juvenile judge sets release terms instead (Tex. Fam. Code §54.01).

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Federal cases from Dallas County go to the Dallas Division of the Northern District (28 U.S.C. §124). A U.S. magistrate judge decides release (18 U.S.C. §3142).

Court sits at Dallas.

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Office hours and payment rules can change.

Call before you go.

• Carry photo ID.
• Bring the booking or case number.
• Ask how payment can be made.

This is general help, not legal advice.

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