Address:
2811 Public Road
Tyler, TX 75710
Phone:
903-590-2661
Smith County Pre-Trial Release and Personal Bond Office
Smith County Courthouse Annex
200 E. Ferguson, Room 213
Tyler, Texas 75702
Phone: (903) 590-2620
Fax: (903) 590-2626
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed for lunch:
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Smith County?
Who can set bail in Smith County?
When is bail set in Smith County Texas?
Yes, Smith County recognizes most types of bonds.
There are four types of bail available in Smith County:
Bail is set by a magistrate or judge.
Texas law requires bail be set “without delay and no later than 48 hrs.” after arrest.
Bail is what the arrested in Smith County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in Texas feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Smith County Low Risk Detention Center until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different. The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions. Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Smith County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid.
Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid.
Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
In Bexar County for example, the requirements for a personal recognizance bond are as follows; you must be a resident of Bexar County and must not be on parole, bond, or probation for another offense.
However, Bexar County Pretrial Services is unable to write a PR bond for certain types of criminal offenses. These offenses include first degree felony charges and those who have a history of bond forfeitures.
There is a disadvantage to a PR bond in that If the accused doesn’t show up to court, they will be liable to pay the entire bond amount.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back.
This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The ban charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Yes, Smith County recognizes most types of bonds.
There are four types of bail available in Smith County:
Bail is set by a magistrate or judge.
Texas law requires bail be set “without delay and no later than 48 hrs.” after arrest.
Yes, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Texas could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Yes, Smith County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Smith County Low Risk Detention Center for more information about the jails in Smith County.
Most all jail and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Smith County Low Risk Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Smith County.
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount. If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up. A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
The Smith County Low Risk Detention Center or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company. You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.
The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.
Since Smith County and Texas may periodically update their bail bond procedures, it is always a good idea to contact either Smith County Low Risk Detention Center at 903-590-2661, or the court in the appropriate jurisdiction (i.e., Municipal Court, District Court, etc.) where the defendant was charged, immediately after an arrest has been made.
When you contact Smith County Low Risk Detention Center or the Smith County Court Clerk, be sure to ask the following important questions:
If the bail amount seems too high, you can seek a reduction by contacting a lawyer or the defendant's public defender, who may be able to expedite the process and secure a lower bail.
Having a criminal attorney or a bail agent manage this process will often make it more efficient and less stressful.
Option 1 - How to Post Bail with Cash for a Defendant at Smith County Low Risk Detention Center
One way to post bail is by paying the full amount in cash, cashier’s check, or money order. Personal checks are not accepted.
Depending on the crime, the bail could range from $100 to $75,000 or more.
To post a cash bond, visit Smith County Low Risk Detention Center or the court where the bail hearing took place. Visiting the jail directly can expedite the defendant’s release, as paperwork from the court must first be transferred to the jail.
Cashier’s checks and money orders should be made payable to Smith County Low Risk Detention Center, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, or the Smith County Court, depending on where the defendant is being held.
Money orders can be purchased from Western Union, Moneygram, or any Post Office.
Option 2 - How to Post a Private or Surety Bond for a Defendant at Smith County Low Risk Detention Center
If the full bond amount is not available, a private bond or surety bond is another option. This involves working with a bail agent or bondsman who will post the entire bail amount in exchange for a premium payment, usually 10-15% of the total bond.
For example, if bail is set at $5,000, the premium would typically cost between $500 and $750.
Bail agents may require collateral, such as a lien on a house, car, or valuable items like jewelry, to secure the bond. This collateral ensures the bail agent is compensated if the defendant fails to appear in court.
By signing an agreement with a bail agent, the signatory accepts responsibility for the full bail amount if the defendant does not show up in court.
Option 3 - How to Post a Property Bond for a Defendant at Smith County Low Risk Detention Center
If you own property in Smith County, you may be able to post a property bond to secure the defendant's release. Property located within Smith County can be used as collateral, but all property owners must be present to sign the bond.
For questions about using property outside Smith County, contact a local bail agent or defense attorney for guidance.
For more information, click here for details on posting bail at Smith County Low Risk Detention Center.
Anyone over the age of 18 who can produce a valid government-issued photo ID can post bail. Accepted forms of ID include a Photo Driver's License, Passport, or Motor Vehicle issued ID.
In many circumstances, if the defendant has the resources, they can post their own cash bail from jail.
Surety Bonds are arranged by a third party, typically a Texas state licensed Bail Bond firm.
Juveniles may only be bailed or bonded out of custody by a parent or legal guardian.
