Code of Criminal Procedure › Title 1 › Chapter 17

Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 17.04

Requisites of a Personal Bond

Bail

(a) A personal bond is sufficient if it includes the requisites of a bail bond as set out in Article 17.08, except that no sureties are required. In addition, a personal bond shall contain:

(1) the defendant's name, address, and place of employment;

(2) identification information, including the defendant's:

(A) date and place of birth;

(B) height, weight, and color of hair and eyes;

(C) driver's license number and state of issuance, if any; and

(D) nearest relative's name and address, if any; and

(3) except as provided by Subsection (b), the following oath sworn and signed by the defendant:

"I swear that I will appear before (the court or magistrate) at (address, city, county) Texas, on the (date), at the hour of (time, a.m. or p.m.) or upon notice by the court, or pay to the court the principal sum of (amount) plus all necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in any arrest for failure to appear."

(b) A personal bond is not required to contain the oath described by Subsection (a)(3) if:

(1) the magistrate makes a determination under Article 16.22 that the defendant has a mental illness or is a person with an intellectual disability, including by using the results of a previous determination under that article;

(2) the defendant is released on personal bond under Article 17.032; or

(3) the defendant is found incompetent to stand trial in accordance with Chapter 46B.

Official text of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure as published by the Texas Legislative Council.

Official source
Legislative history

Acts 1965, 59th Leg., vol. 2, p. 317, ch. 722.

Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 623, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 936 (S.B. 49), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2021.

This section refers to

Art. 17.08Art. 16.22Art. 17.032

Sections that refer to this one

Civ. Prac. & Rem. § 121.001