If you’ve been arrested for assault, before you can turn your mind to hiring an attorney and preparing to defend yourself against criminal charges, you’ve often first got to handle the matter of bail. How much is it going to cost to get you or a loved one out? How does it work? Should you go straight to a bail bondsman? How much is bail for assault in Texas?
We’re going to go through how bail is set, what the difference between bail and bond is in Texas, as well as some common bail amounts for common charges — but we can tell you now that your bail can range from $500 to $50,000, depending on how serious your charge is and what kind of background you have.
Keep reading to find out how much bail for your assault charge may be or, if you or a loved one has been arrested for assault, call the assault attorneys in Houston at Thiessen Law Firm today at (713) 864-9000 for trusted defense.
Difference between bail and bond
While many people use the terms “bail” and “bond” interchangeably, they are not the same thing. So let’s get this straight:
- Bail refers to the amount of money a defendant must pay to secure release from jail before trial. If the defendant appears at all court dates, the money is refunded (minus any court fees).
- Bond, on the other hand, is a financial guarantee provided by a bail bondsman, to secure a defendant’s release.
Bail isn’t intended to be a financial punishment for those who have been charged with a crime, but rather a way to make sure they cooperate with the conditions of the court during the trial — although it can be pretty expensive. Bonds exist because bail can be beyond expensive for the average joe. Without the bond system many people awaiting trial would have to remain in custody, overcrowding jails and eating up public resources, as well as keeping many people behind bars whose guilt has yet to be ruled on.
What is the lowest charge of assault?
The lowest charge of assault in Texas is simple assault — sometimes referred to as misdemeanor assault. According to Texas Penal Code § 22.01, simple assault occurs mostly in two common scenarios:
- Someone is threatened but not physically harmed; or
- Someone is physically touched in an offensive or unwanted manner, but no injuries are sustained.
Simple assault charges don’t often result in defendants needing to post bail, as they often don’t result in any arrests at all — but there are circumstances under which you’ll find yourself posting bail for simple assault, and that bail will probably range from the high hundreds to the mid-thousands.
No matter how minor you think a charge may be, you’ve got to hire a lawyer that knows how to fight and win assault cases if you want to protect your future. At Thiessen Law Firm, we know how to beat a simple assault charge and have done so for countless clients in tough situations. If you or a loved one has been charged with assault and you need an advocate in your corner, Thiessen is here for you when you need it most.
What is the most common bail amount?
Bail for assaults, similar to bail for DWI in Texas, largely depends on the severity of the offense and your previous criminal history. While we can’t pin down exactly what the most common bail amounts are, there are some general guidelines for bail in Texas:
- Bail for first offenses with no criminal history can be as low as $500 dollars.
- Bail for repeat offenses will at least be a few thousand.
- Bail for misdemeanor offenses will range from the high hundreds to the low thousands.
- Bail for felony offenses generally starts in the high thousands, and can go much higher depending on the circumstances.
Because each case is unique, and bail is set on a per-case basis, we’ll go through a handful of common assault offenses and discuss possible bail ranges below.
How much is a bond for assault in Texas?
While bail amounts vary massively in Texas, bond amounts are generally pretty predictable. Although it will depend on which bond company or bail bondsman you enter into an agreement with, bond sellers usually charge between 10% and 15% of the total bail amount as a non-refundable one-time fee.
How much is bail for assault in Texas?
As we’ve mentioned repeatedly, bail for assault charges in Texas varies significantly depending on the type of assault committed; a judge will set a significantly lower bail for a first-time assault charge in Texas than they would a repeat offense for aggravated assault.
Below are some common scenarios:
How much is bail for misdemeanor assault?
For misdemeanor assault in Texas, which ranges all the way from assault by threat to causing bodily injury to another person, bail is typically set between anywhere from $500 to $10,000.
Keep in mind that real bail amounts will likely fall somewhere in the middle of this range, and that judges may increase bail if the assault involved domestic violence or a repeat offender.
How much is bail for aggravated assault?
Aggravated assault in Texas is a second-degree felony minimum, which means that bail prices are generally much higher than they are for misdemeanor assault.
Bail for felony assault cases typically starts at $10,000, but can go as high as $50,000 or more, depending on circumstances and criminal history.
How much is bail for assault with a deadly weapon?
Assault with a deadly weapon in Texas is a type of aggravated assault. Assault with a deadly weapon is also a second-degree felony but can become a first-degree felony under the following circumstances:
- You have a previous conviction for aggravated assault
- You are accused of using a deadly weapon to assault a protected class, such as a public servant, emergency worker, or a witness or informant in a criminal case.
Second-degree felony assaults can have bail set as low as $10,000, but first-degree assault can see bail set as high as $100,000 or higher!
How much is bail for assault on a police officer?
Assault on a police officer is a form of assault on a public servant, which also includes firefighters, emergency workers, or others carrying out their duty or serving in a public office. Assault on a public servant is charged as second-degree felony aggravated assault, but can see its status elevated by use of a deadly weapon, prior convictions, and other circumstances.
Like aggravated assault and assault with a deadly weapon, assault on a police officer can mean bail anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 plus.
Punishments for assault crimes in Texas
Much like assault bail amounts, penalties for assault run the gamut in Texas more than the penalties for any other category of crime. Simple assault could see you avoiding jail time entirely while a first-degree assault can land you in prison for the rest of your life.
| Offense | Charge | Maximum Fine | Jail time |
| Simple assault | Class B misdemeanor | $2,000 | Up to 180 days |
| Simple assault | Class A misdemeanor | $4,000 | Up to 1 year |
| Felony assault | State jail felony | $10,000 | 180 days – 2 years |
| Felony assault | Third-degree felony | $10,000 | 2 – 10 years in prison |
| Aggravated assault | Second-degree felony | $10,000 | 2 – 20 years in prison |
| Aggravated assault | First-degree felony | $10,000 | Life in prison |
In addition to these lengthy jail sentences and steep fines, assault convictions lead to myriad secondary and tertiary penalties like probation, restraining orders, mandatory classes, and records that will follow you around impacting your personal and professional lives forever.
Out on bail? You haven’t been convicted yet. Defend yourself with Thiessen Law Firm.
Posting bail does not mean your legal troubles are over; in fact, it usually means they’re only beginning. Once you answer the question “how much is bond for assault?” for yourself or a loved one, it’s time to hire an experienced assault lawyer to build a defense that can help protect your future.
Thiessen Law Firm has made our name taking tough criminal cases to court and winning them for our clients. Whether you need defense for a DWI first offense or you believe you’ve been falsely accused of assault, you can count on the attorneys at Thiessen to fight until the end for your freedom.
We’ve got the knowledge and the courtroom experience to protect your future. Call us today at (713) 864-9000 or contact us online and ask us to start building your defense.
More Helpful Articles by Thiessen Law Firm:
- Is It Illegal To Threaten Someone in Texas?
- Is Assault on a Family Member in Texas a Felony?
- What Is the Assault Statute of Limitations in Texas?
- Can You Get Arrested for Fighting?
- Is Aggravated Assault a Felony in Texas?
