Category: Links

When can a Judge Deny Bail?

Posted by David Traylor on

Get-Loved-One-Out-of-Jail-FastCircumstances When a Judge May Deny Bail

Bail may be denied pending trial for a Capital Felony

State District Judge may deny bail pending trial for a Non-Capital Felony in the following circumstances:

  1. When the accused is charged in a less than Capital Felony when twice convicted of a felony with the conviction and date of offense of the 2nd felony are both after conviction and date of offense of the 1st.
  2. When the accused is charged in a less than Capital Felony while on bail for prior felony for which already indicted.
  3. When the accused is charged in a less than Capital Felony involving use of deadly weapon after conviction of prior felony.
  4. When the accused is charged in a Violent or Sexual Offense while under supervision of criminal justice agency of the state or political subdivision of the state for a prior felony

…after a hearing and upon evidence substantially showing the guilt of the accused for the charged offense.

Order denying bail must be issued within 7 calendar days after the incarceration of the accused, however if the accused is not afforded a trial upon the accusation within 60 days of the time of his incarceration, the order denying bail shall be automatically set aside unless a continuance is obtained upon motion or request of the accused.

A right of appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeals is expressly accorded the accused for any order made denying bail on any of the above non-capital felonies and said appeal shall be given preference by the Court of Criminal Appeals.

TEX. CONST. art. 1, §11a

What Happens When I Have Probation Violations?

Posted by David Traylor on

Probation Violation Warrant – Bond or No Bond

This post will cover probation violations specifically as they relate to Dallas County and the surrounding areas. Especially in felony court, the court will put a warrant out and there won’t be a bond set on that warrant. In misdemeanor courts, they put out warrants but generally set bonds on them. So on misdemeanors, if you get arrested you can generally bond back out fairly quickly. But on felonies when you get arrested, booked and arraigned, the magistrate will not set a bond so you’ll have to wait all weekend before anything can be done on your case.

Getting Out of Jail

If you’re arrested out of county, you’ll not only have to wait all weekend, but you’ll have to wait to get transferred to the to the county where the probation is. Then you’ll have to see the judge in the court your case is from. And it’s hard to say how long it will take to get before that judge unless you get a lawyer hired to go to work on your case right away.

A lawyer can make a big difference in either keeping you out of custody or minimizing your time in custody. But even if you get a lawyer involved, the lawyer can only do certain things when the courts are open.

Dodging the Warrant vs. Handling it Quickly

I’ve had clients who have waited and laid low to try to avoid their warrant. Some of them have done so very successfully and, though it’s highly disfavored by courts and prosecutors, sometimes it can work out well. It shouldn’t, but sometimes it does. I don’t recommend this path though because despite its occasional success, generally it makes matters worse. What I do recommend is to call us and talk to us about your situation and we’ll discuss with you what your options are.

Improving the Outcome

Our entire job is to improve the outcome for our clients. It’s typically better to go ahead and try to handle a probation violation before getting arrested. Some courts will insist on having the warrant cleared before anything can be done on the case, but it isn’t universally necessary.

We have handled numerous probation violations where we were able to go to court right away and get the client’s probation discharged. This causes the Motion to Revoke to be withdrawn and the warrant to be recalled so that they are released and free from ever having to worry about their case again.

That’s a lot better than just waiting and waiting and waiting and ducking and dodging the warrant until finally they get you.

One thing some of you may already know is that there’s often a little bit of ‘give’ on these things. Usually, you can mess up in little ways a few times before probation gets fed up and puts a warrant out. Generally, the bigger ways you can mess up, you can’t have more than one or two of those before they put a warrant out. The best example of this is getting a new case, especially if you get a major case or a case of the exact same kind you’re on probation for.

What Are the Consequences

I always tell clients there are tools probation has to try to get people back in line, to get them in compliance with the terms of their probation again. And it’s kind of like a tool belt. Once a motion is filed and a warrant issued, they will typically want some sort of consequence for whatever the violation is. That can be anything from a warning to revocation and jail or prison time. Those are the two extremes. In the middle are options such as additional reporting, additional jail time as a condition of continuing on probation, electronic monitoring, house arrest, inpatient, outpatient, or custodial treatment, extending the term of probation, additional community service or classes, and so on. But once they’ve run through several tools on their tool belt and feel either they don’t have any more they can use, or any additional efforts will not be effective, that’s when you’re in danger of going to jail or prison for a sustained period.

Have Your Situation Evaluated

So, I think it’s better to at least talk to a lawyer upfront and see what your options are. Then you can consider whether you want to hire us to go in and negotiate on your behalf.

Don’t give up hope. If you think that you know you know what your outcome is going to be and you’re worried about it, try not to prejudge things. As humans, we tend to focus on the most disastrous possible outcomes when we’re worried about the unknown. But you never know what might happen. There’s a lot that can be done on these probations.

So, call if you have any questions about probation violations. It’s one of our favorite things to help people handle.

Arraignment at the Dallas County Jail – Lew Sterrett

Posted by David Traylor on

Lew Sterrett employs magistrates around-the-clock to arraign incoming inmates. Arraignmemt is simply the process of taking inmates before a magistrate where they are informed of their charges, and bail, if any, is set.

In recent years Lew Sterrett has gone from having one magistrate around-the-clock to two magistrates. Magistrate A arraigns people who come in through central intake while Magistrate B handles those in the towers and medical wards.

The magistrates are not tasked with ensuring all inmates are arraigned. Rather, they only arraign those the sheriff’s employees bring before them.

Inmates are typically arraigned before they leave the main floor but sometimes reach the towers without being arraigned. This can be because of medical issues, disruptive or unruly behavior, backlogs or scheduling issues or any number of other reasons.

If you have someone who has not been arraigned within 12 hours of their book-in, feel free to call us and we can check and see where they are in that process.

What will violate probation?

Posted by David Traylor on

If you’re on probation you already know there are many hoops to jump through and many conditions to trip you up. Probation isn’t easy. Many things you can do or fail to do can cause a motion to revoke (or in the case of a deferred adjudication, a motion to proceed to adjudication) to be filed. In Texas, there are three main ways to violate a probation: picking up a new criminal offense, missing probation meetings, and accruing three or more technical violations (dirty UA, missing probation appointment, etc.) Any of these will usually cause the probation officer to send a violation summary to the court. (failed to report, dirty UA, etc.) This typically results in a revocation motion which leads to a warrant.

If you have a warrant for probation violation, how to handle that is covered here: What do I do about a probation violation warrant?

Keep in mind, there are varying degrees of seriousness regarding violations. For example, if you fail to report or make contact with your probation officer for over a month, that is a violation. But missing probation check ins for three months makes you an absconder.

When the probation department decides to file a Motion to Revoke or a Motion to Proceed to Adjudication on a deferred adjudication, they put together a document to file with the court. This document lists all the ways in which they feel you have failed to live up to the terms of your probation agreement. For several reasons, this list can often look a lot scarier than it really should be.

The probation department will keep a running list of your progress on your probation. They’ll have a report from the field officer of how well you have performed, how cooperative or uncooperative you have been, what things you have completed, as well as what you have failed to do. Many probationers fall behind on their requirements, especially on things like courses, community service and monetary payment schedules, including payment of fines, court costs, supervision fees, and restitution. They will also keep tabs on whether you have picked up any new arrests or offenses. These things all become important when a problem crops up.

The list can seem daunting, especially at either end of the probation. Early in a probation, when few conditions have been met and much money is still owed, the motion will often include in the list of violations things like completion of community service hours or failure to take court-ordered courses or seek treatment. Conversely, late in the probation, they will list every violation, even ones that have already been resolved by the court. We can generally assess at a glance which of the items are critical.

Probation will serve the motion on you at their first opportunity. Especially if this document is served on you either before you have retained counsel or when your attorney is not present, the list of violations can be rather disconcerting. But understand that, along with the item or items that spurred them to file a motion, they also list every condition that has not yet been completed. A lawyer will immediately recognize which items are not in play and be able to help you focus only on the ones that matter.

One important difference in the way felony and misdemeanor probation violations are handled stems from the potential consequences. Because felony revocations can carry substantial prison time, bonds are generally not given except by the district court judge who presides over the case. Also, felony court prosecutors often say they won’t negotiate on a probation revocation matter until the person is in custody. So getting a feel for what the outcome might be before the warrant is served can sometimes be harder. Having an experienced lawyer will offer several advantages in this regard. First, the lawyer may be able to finesse information from either the prosecutor or probation officer despite their reticence. Second, the lawyer might be able to reach an agreement on the disposition anyway. Third, the lawyer may, through prior experience or connections, be able to provide a fair idea of what the range of likely outcomes will be. This can help guide decisions and planning.

We like to tell our clients several things when they begin probations. First, everyone at the courthouse wants to see them succeed on their probation. They don’t want to see probationers back in the courtroom with problems. Ultimately, they prefer people who get their conditions done, especially those who complete requirements early. But a key mindset to help people succeed on probation is to treat those who are working their case not as enemies, but as teammates. Too often people start probation with the idea that the people supervising them are their adversaries. And, make no mistake, sometimes probation officers start off with a hardline attitude as a way to establish authority and control. But once they realize they have a willing and cooperative probationer, most tend to soften and can even become helpful.

Another thing we tell clients is that if there are problems, you’d much rather go to someone you’ve been thinking of and treating as a teammate than an enemy. They may be able to help smooth over difficulties. Of course, it’s always best to call us for advice if you know you have a problem. But sometimes the field probation officer can be your best ally in smoothing things over. It’s part of their job to help keep people on track.

Certainly, there are limits to what they can overlook or resolve. But they, the court probation officer, the prosecutor, and the judge have a wide range of options to try to help probationers get back on track. This ranges from doing nothing to revoking the probation and entering a jail or prison sentence. And there are many options in between. (In Dallas, these include terms you may have heard such as IOP, ISF, and the infamous SAF-P).

A probation may be extended or continued with added conditions such as treatment or monitoring. You can be given days in jail as a condition of continuing. Some courts advertise a zero-tolerance policy; you slip up, you get sentenced. But even in courts that make that claim, there are often ways to get back on track. And we have had numerous probation violations where not only do they not tack on any additional punishment or conditions, but they end the probation and discharge the case.

Whatever the situation, you don’t want to be the unlucky one who gets hit with the zero-tolerance punishment. Nor do you want to be the person with so many slip-ups that the probation department has already used all the tools in their tool belt on you. So try to make it through as smoothly as possible. But when you encounter problems, call us first. We’ve done so many cool and unexpected things for people who were either arrested on or worried sick about their probations. We’d love to try to help fix yours.

How to clear a Probation Violation Warrant

Posted by David Traylor on

Finding you have a warrant for a probation violation can be very stressful. We’ll help you understand how these things work and what you should do, but the first piece of advice is always to call us. Every situation is different and your level of fear can get in the way of handling a probation violation properly. So, how to clear a Probation Violation Warrant?

The best way to clear a probation warrant is to get the probation reinstated or discharged. If the matter is resolved the probation violation warrant is cleared. This is definitely a spot where having expert help is critical. It’s not something you can go in and do yourself. This won’t always work but when it does it’s magical and should be the first thing your lawyer should try to do for you. It happens more than you might expect.

The next way to clear a probation violation warrant is to turn yourself in. The warrant gets cleared when the probationer gets arrested. This can happen either by surprise when their name is run by police, for example, in a traffic stop. You may also turn yourself in if you have a probation violation warrant. Any law enforcement officer who encounters you is commanded to take you into custody. You may also find you get cuffed when you go to your meeting with your probation officer. Any of these will start the process of arrest, book-in, arraignment, and setting of bail. On misdemeanors, the magistrate will usually set bail. So on misdemeanors, unless you have some sort of bad history of failing to appear for court, it’s usually pretty straightforward to have bail set and bond out.

On felonies, however, bail will typically not be set at arraignment. Th e problem with this is you’ll likely get stuck in jail for days or even weeks, possibly longer. And if you have the misfortune to be arrested out of state, you could get stuck for long periods as well. (In that case, please call, and remember – it can sometimes be critical not to sign a waiver of extradition.)

In Covid-19 times, most agencies are more restrictive about what cases they’ll pick up prisoners on. All agencies are still confirming warrants and picking up prisoners on violent felonies, but for many non-violent felonies, as well as most misdemeanors, many agencies aren’t confirming the warrants when they get the call, or they confirm but then elect not to pick up. We can check with the fugitive section and see what they are planning to do on cases we’re hired on. And it can even be difficult to turn yourself in on warrants during the pandemic. So if you need to get your case resolved quickly, you have one more reason to go ahead and hire a laywer who can work to get you moved through the system.

lew sterrett

Often, we can avoid much of the delay in this process by getting a bond pre-set and arranging a walk-through to clear the warrant. In fact, sometimes we can shortcut the whole process and resolve the violation altogether. In that case, the warrant is recalled and you are never arrested. This obviously avoids a lot of stress and prevents the expense of posting bond.

We haven’t touched on the many ways a person can be found to have violated probation. This topic is covered in our post, What will violate probation?

Criminal Defense Attorney Service Area

Posted by David Traylor on

If someone you know has been arrested and sent to jail for the first time, you may be overwhelmed, nervous and confused. This can be a difficult situation in any circumstance, especially if you don’t know everything that goes on in the process. While it may be tempting to immediately call a bail bondsman in these situations, it’s actually more important to call a jail release lawyer to help you get out of jail easier and faster than bail bondsmen can.

Check Your Area First

Before finding a release lawyer, consider the location of the jail where your friend is incarcerated. Release lawyers typically have a large service range, but it’s helpful to know before you call that your area is serviced. Our firm covers a wide area to best serve you. We’re based in Dallas, TX, but we also service surrounding cities, including:

  • Garland
  • Addison
  • Balch Springs
  • Lancaster
  • Grand Prairie
  • DeSoto
  • And many more

If you’re in the Dallas area or in surrounding cities, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Why Hire a Release Lawyer?

So, why is it so important to hire a release lawyer instead of hiring a bail bondsman? The answer is simple. More likely than not, you’re going to need some kind of legal help after you get out of jail. While bail bondsmen can get you out of jail quick, they can’t help you with your legal needs after you’re out. Release lawyers can get you out of jail fast and represent you in court. Why hire a bail bondsman when they can only do half the job? Our firm can get you out of jail quick and continue to represent you as needed when it comes to criminal cases.

Release Lawyers Know the System

If you live in Dallas County, you may know how difficult it is to work with the Dallas County jail at times. If you don’t know the system, you can easily get lost in the sea of employees and jailers. If you don’t know exactly who to talk to, you can waste essential time and money running around in circles.

At Traylor Law Firm, we know the system and we know the jails in Dallas County. We also know that you want to get your friend or loved one out of jail as soon as possible. Because of this, we know the most effective way to go about things and will keep you involved in every step of the process.

Give Us a Call

If you need a release lawyer in Dallas, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We will answer your questions and get to work immediately so you can rest assured that your friend or loved one is in good hands.  Remember, calling a bail bonds company can only get you half of the way. At Traylor Law Firm, we can get your friend or loved one out of jail and represent them in court. Give us a call today!

What to Do If You Are Caught Possessing Marijuana

Posted by David Traylor on

In recent years, there has been much debate about the legality of marijuana. Some states have decriminalized the drug and a handful of states have legalized it. Other states, including Texas, retain a strong stance against marijuana, enforcing harsh punishment for the possession of a small amount.

The controversy of legalizing the drug has stemmed in large part from the supposed relaxing and pain relieving effects it has on users. Certain states contend that marijuana is also an effective treatment for seizures, Epilepsy, pain management, PTSD, depression and nausea.

Some limited studies have indicated that marijuana may help fight cancer.

Current Texas Marijuana Possession Laws

Regardless of whether you use marijuana for personal or medical use or you buy and sell it, any kind of marijuana possession is illegal in the state of Texas.

Penalties and punishment for marijuana possession are based on the quantity you are accused oc possessing. First time offenders usually only possess small amounts for personal use and will likely be charged with a misdemeanor
Typically that will include penalties up to a $2,000 fine and or 180 days in jail. Note, this is for possessing two ounces or less of the substance.

Penalties for possessing 2-4 ounces of marijuana can be up to a $4,000 fine and/or up to a year in jail.

Possessing more than 4 ounces and for repeat offenders, the crime will likely escalate from a misdemeanor to a felony, with possession of 200 pounds of marijuana meriting up to a life-term prison sentence and a fine of up to $50,000.

Possessing the drug with the intent to sell it also comes with harsh consequences. Possessing less than .25 ounces will result in a misdemeanor and possessing more than .25 ounces warrants a felony charge. Selling marijuana to a minor or conducting a sale in a drug-free zone will result in the penalties being doubled.

Certain courts and counties in Texas offer ways to have some possession cases dismissed. It is important to have a lawyer who “knows the ropes” so to speak so you can have the best possible outcome on your case.

Misdemeanors vs Felonies

Possessing a very small amount of marijuana for personal use or to sell it is often a misdemeanor.

Misdemeanors have lighter penalties and are often not left on one’s record. Misdemeanors typically carry a penalty of less than a year in jail.

Felonies are for the most severe types of crimes, will stay on one’s record, involve a court trial and typically carry a prison sentence of more than a year.

What to Do If Caught Possessing Marijuana

There are many factors that are considered when the judge hands down your sentence. Hiring a lawyer is highly recommended as he or she will be knowledgeable about all the legalities of your case.

Before hiring a lawyer, it is important that you know your rights and make sure that you cooperate with officials and avoid saying anything that may incriminate you.

Whether you face a misdemeanor or a felony, the Traylor Law Firm may be able to help. David L. Traylor in Dallas has more than 20 years of experience in marijuana possession cases and offers a range of legal services for your marijuana possession case including warrants, probation and bail.

It isn’t advisable to handle your marijuana possession case alone. Contact us today at the Traylor Law Firm and let us help you get the best outcome possible for your case.

Phases of a Criminal Trial – Jury Selection

Posted by David Traylor on

Jury Selection

During a criminal trial a judge or jury examines the evidence presented by the defense and prosecutors to decide whether, “beyond a reasonable doubt,” a defendant committed a crime. A fair trial allows for the government and the defendant to argue their sides of the case. When a criminal case is tried before a judge and not a jury, the judge decides all issues of law and fact. In a jury trial, however, a fair trial starts with picking a fair jury.

Trial Phases for a Crime

A criminal jury trial typically has seven phases:

  1. Choosing a Jury
  2. Opening Statements
  3. Witness Testimony and Cross-Examination
  4. Closing Arguments
  5. Jury Instruction
  6. Jury Deliberation and Announcement of Verdict
  7. Punishment Hearing

(Note that criminal trials will not all have seven phases. For example, criminal defense lawyers at Traylor Law Firm work extremely hard before trial to see if we can obtain a dismissal without ever going to trial. This can happen through pretrial negotiation but also by the judge ruling on legal issues before trial. For instance, if the state’s evidence gets suppressed at a pretrial hearing, a scheduled trial might have zero phases because the state, without the ability to present evidence at trial, may have little choice but to dismiss. Also, sometimes trials end early such as when the judge orders a mistrial. And, of course, when we win and the defendant is found not guilty, no seventh phase is needed because there will not be any punishment.)

Here we focus on the first phase; selecting a jury.

Choosing a Jury (Voire Dire)

The first step of a criminal trial is to select the jury. During jury selection, the judge, the prosecutor (representing the government), and the defendant (through his or her lawyer) screen potential jurors from a pool of jurors.

Once a jury pool is formed the potential jurors are summoned to the courthouse on a particular date and time. The jury pool waits in a room until they are called to a courtroom. Once in the courtroom, the jury selection process begins with questioning. This process of questioning to determine any potential biases is called “voir dire.”

During jury selection, the judge, prosecutors, and defense team ask potential jurors about any beliefs or life experiences that may cause them to be biased as jurors. After hearing from the jurors about these things both sides and the judge assess the ability of each juror to be fair, impartial and follow the law. If either prosecution or defense wishes to excuse a potential juror for a valid legal reason, he or she must use a challenge for cause, which is a request to disqualify an individual from the jury. A challenge for cause is when a request to dismiss a potential juror is based on a specific and stated legal reason. Typically this reason is because the prosecution or defense has identified the potential juror has a potential or actual bias. A defendant (through his or her lawyer) can have the judge dismiss unfair jurors from the jury panel. This is called dismissing “for cause.” The prosecutor may also ask for specific jurors to be dismissed for cause. Attorneys are given unlimited challenges for cause. But the judge can dismiss jurors as well even if neither side requests it. This allows a fair jury to be selected by all parties involved.

Jurors can also be dismissed without stating a reason as part of a peremptory challenge. This challenge is usually based on an attorney’s experience and gut feeling when it comes to choosing a juror. There are typically limited amounts of peremptory challenges that an attorney may use during jury selection.

Potential jurors cannot be dismissed due to a particular characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, and gender. This rule does not apply to challenges based on age or mental and physical disabilities.

While jury duty may be a burden and feel like wasted time, the role of juror is important. They decide the future of the defendant on trial. A juror must hear the evidence presented during trial, consider all the evidence, and decide if the defendant is guilty of the charged crimes. An unbiased jury is key. And for a defendant, having fair and impartial jurors can mean the difference between a life sentence (or worse) and freedom.

Alternate Trial Jurors

Once a jury is selected, alternate jurors are selected in case a regular juror needs to be replaced because of inability to perform jury duty. Alternate jurors are questioned and selected in the same manner as the regular jurors.

Input from Defendant

Both sides and the judge have input into who is included and excluded from the jury. While a criminal defense lawyer makes the final decision about selecting jurors for the defendant, these decisions are not made without the defendant’s input. Your criminal defense lawyer handles all questioning during the voir dire process because a defendant is not allowed to address the potential jurors. The only exception to this is if the defendant is representing him or herself.

The goal of jury selection is to find an unbiased jury that will follow the law, hold the state to its burden of proof and only consider evidence presented during trial so that a fair decision will be made. With all these things in mind a jury is selected.

If You Are Arrested and Detained

lew sterrett visitation

 

If you are arrested and detained in jail, remember there are still ways to incriminate yourself. General guidelines you should follow include the following:

  1. Do not discuss anything over the phone. Conversations are recorded and can be used against you in court or investigations.
  2. Do not discuss with fellow inmates. Remember that many in jail are looking for a way out. That could include giving information about you to make a better deal for themselves.
  3. Do not make statements or answer questions without an attorney present.
  4. Never waive your rights to something without first speaking with an attorney.
  5. Know how to be steadfast that you have an attorney be present during any interrogation or questioning.

Working with a Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal charges can be complex, requiring much gathering of evidence and information. It’s best to work with an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can advise you on your best defense. Once you have discussed the charges against you with your lawyer, they will inform you of the strengths and weaknesses of your case, as well as any risk of conviction and punishment you face.

A criminal defense law firm such as the Traylor Law Firm can investigate crime scenes, facts and witnesses, negotiate your case’s outcome, seek to suppress evidence, or decide to take the case to trial, all while working constantly to make sure your best interests are served. Contact Traylor Law Firm today at 214-382-0900 with any questions or to set up a free consultation.

Misdemeanor and Felony Writs

Posted by David Traylor on

Writs of Habeas Corpus

Today we’re going to cover Writs of Habeas Corpus. There are several reasons to file a writ of habeas corpus. The one we primarily see in our practice is to set a bond for a person who is being held in jail without bail. Normally in Dallas County, this comes up when somebody is being held in a suburban jail which doesn’t have a judge round the clock to set bail. If you have somebody who has just been arrested and taken to a suburban jail, you may have been told they’ll have to see a judge in the morning before you can bond them out. What many jailers fail to mention is that often you can hire a lawyer to get a bond set so they will not have to wait overnight to see a judge. This is called a “writ” or “writ bond.” Writs can be done on most misdemeanors and felonies. There are some cases for which writs the cannot be done such as assault family violence and DWI 2nd. But despite these exceptions, bonds can still be set via a writ on regular assaults and 1st DWI’s.

In most cases, it is illegal to hold a person without setting bond. There are exceptions, but for most new arrests the arrested person is entitled to have a bond set. However, many suburban jails manage arraignments of new inmates by having a judge come to the jail in the morning to set bonds. Typically a judge will come in each day and arraign the new prisoners. The problem is that leaves people sitting in custody with no bonds set and no way to secure their own release. The writ process gives attorneys and their clients a sort of safety valve for this problem. But it’s only a safety valve if people know to ask about it. We find many people aren’t aware they can hire a lawyer to shortcut the jail release process. Their friends or family members end up having to spend the night in jail waiting for the judge to come arraign them and set their bond. Unfortunately, that overnight stay can cost them their jobs or cause other problems. We help our clients avoid this by giving them the ability to get their person bonded out quickly.

Get-Loved-One-Out-of-Jail-Fast

 

For misdemeanor cases in Dallas County, we know the bonds are preset at $500. In Collin County they can be higher or lower depending on the charge. Felonies vary according to many factors, including criminal history and the seriousness of the offense. Judges and magistrates in Dallas County use a bond schedule which gives them a range of amounts they can use for various charges. Many times the magistrate at Lew Sterrett will also contact the arresting agency for more information about the offense.

Please keep in mind that writs cannot be done for people in Lew Sterrett because they have a magistrate on site around the clock to arraign inmates. The contrary is true of people held in Collin County jail. In Collin County, writs can be done either while they remain in the suburban jails or after they’ve been transferred to Collin County (as long as they have not already been arraigned.)

Call us with all your jail release needs and questions. But certainly, if you have a friend or family member in custody with no bond set, call us to see if we can help you get a bond set quickly to secure their release.

Class C Warrants

Posted by David Traylor on

We’re writing today about something we know very well which is getting people out of jail on Class C warrants. A lot of people get tickets and then for whatever reason they forget about them, they don’t handle them. Now maybe this doesn’t describe you but if it describes you or someone you know, someone you’re trying to get out of jail then you’re going to need to read this. If you get arrested on warrants, it’s possible you’re going to jail for multiple warrants out of multiple local agencies. People can have warrants all over the Metroplex. If you were driving around without a license, without insurance, without an inspection or registration sticker and you were speeding, then every time you get stopped you’re going to get four or five tickets. Then if you’re the type of person who doesn’t take care of those tickets, you’ll likely have four or five warrants everywhere you got stopped. So, you’ll have multiple agencies that want you in the sense that they want you in their court. And those warrants will hold you in jail until they’re taken care of.

Now, what happens if you don’t do anything? You’ll bounce around from jail to jail over a period of days, sometimes even a period of weeks taking care of these warrants, sitting them out or paying them off or doing whatever it takes just to try to get out of jail. And so, if that describes you well, call us before you get arrested and we can help you get them cleared up so that you don’t get stuck in jail. But if you happen to be stuck in jail, call us, … Or have a relative call us and we’ll strategize about how we’re going to get you released from the claws of all these cities that are trying to grab you. There are ways to do it; ways to go about it efficiently. And you know, if you need nothing more than advice, we can give that too because a lot of these tickets, if you just try to sit them out, you may be using your time to pay off tickets at a rate even more than you make in a day, but you’re going to be shooting yourself in the foot a lot of ways. You’re going to be damaging your driving record, getting yourself surcharges, possibly license suspensions and digging a much deeper hole for yourself when it comes to trying to get a valid license. Note that getting a valid license and having good insurance and keeping your car registered and inspected are very good ways to keep from getting four or five tickets every time you get stopped. Then if you get stopped you only get one ticket for the traffic offense. A lot of agencies won’t even write four or five tickets. They’ll just take you straight to jail.

So, we know this stuff backwards and forwards. We deal with it all the time. We can help you fix your license, get you out of jail, keep you from going to jail, clear your warrants, clear your omni fees, and advise you how to deal with your surcharges,…We want you not to have to worry when you’re driving around day to day.