What
is a Personal Bond?
A
type
of bond set by a magistrate or judge which authorizes the release of the
defendant without sureties or other security.
Who
Qualifies?
1. The Local Rules adopted by the District
Court of Kleberg and Kenedy Counties, Texas and the County Court-at-Law of
Kleberg County, Texas state:
Rule 6.03 Personal Bond Office
a.
The Magistrate shall presume that every person is eligible for personal bond,
regardless of the offense charged or the person’s previous record., except
as provided in sub-Rule c: On motion of the State and after a hearing,
upon a showing of good cause and with findings on the record, the Magistrate
may deny a personal bond to a person.
In
addition to the above local rules, the Personal Bond Office weighs various
positive and negative factors to determine personal bond eligibility.
Personal
Bond Fees
*A personal
bond fee of $20 or three percent (3%) of the amount of the bail, whichever is
greater will be assessed. The court may waive the fee or assess a lesser
fee if good cause is shown.
FAQ
Question
1. Do I get my money back after I show up to all court dates or if my
case is dismissed or rejected by the court?
Answer: No the personal bond fee is
non-refundable Question
2. If a personal bond is denied for my case, can I
still bond out on any other type of bond? Answer:
Yes, unless you have a detainer or “hold”, you may still qualify for
the other types of bond, such as cash (misdemeanor cases only), or surety.
Question
3. What is the difference between Personal Bond and Pretrial Services?
Answer:
The main function of the Personal Bond Office is to keep you up to date with
upcoming court dates and make sure you appear for court as scheduled.
The main function of Pretrial Services is to supervise you until your case is
disposed of. Pretrial Services also conducts a battery of tests necessary
to compile a Pre-Sentence Investigation Report or Alcohol Screening
Report that is provided to the sentencing court.
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