Code of Criminal Procedure · Art. 17.03

Personal Bond

Personal Bond is covered under Art. 17.03 and tested on the TCOLE peace officer licensing exam. Cadets typically encounter this topic under "Bail" on practice exams.

To prove this offense, the State must establish each of the following elements: Written promise to appear; No security deposit required; Excluded for many serious/violent offenses absent district judge approval.

Elements you must prove

  • Written promise to appear
  • No security deposit required
  • Excluded for many serious/violent offenses absent district judge approval

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Worked examples

Worked example 1

A 'personal bond' (Art. 17.03) is:

  1. A bond with surety
  2. A written promise to appear at trial without the requirement of a security deposit, generally available for low-level offenses (with specified exclusions) Correct
  3. A cash-only bond
  4. A bond payable only by the defendant's family
Why: A personal bond is the defendant's written promise to appear, without a security deposit. Art. 17.03 specifies offenses for which a magistrate other than a district judge cannot release on personal bond (e.g., capital murder, certain assault and family-violence offenses).
Statute: Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.03

Statutory definitions for this topic

Personal bond Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.03
A bond made by the accused alone, without sureties, by which he promises to appear at trial. No security deposit required. Excluded for many serious/violent offenses absent district judge approval.