Denton Area Bail Bonds

A personal note from Cason Cagle, Owner

In the more than 19 years that I have owned this company, the one thing that most people do not realize about the bail bond industry is that anyone can end up needing our services. Most people assume that they will never end up in jail because they follow the law, but often times, that is not good enough. We here at 20-Minute Bail Bonds recognize that, and we treat each individual like a person, not a criminal.

We pride ourselves on helping people understand their situation, and everything they need to navigate through such a difficult situation.

About

What To Expect

Testimonials

Court Guidelines

• Premier Bail Bond Company in Denton County, Texas Our positive reviews speak for themselves. At 20 Minute Bail Bonds we pride ourselves with quality service that is second to none, and we have an excellent track record of treating our customers with the utmost respect and integrity.

  Government Licensed Bail Bonds for all of Denton County, TX.

  Expert Advise While on bond with us, we are here to answer any and all questions you may have about the criminal process. And with over 19 years of experience in denton county, you can expect expert consultation.

  20 Minute Service A bond can be posted any time day or night. You need us in the middle of the night? We are there for you.

  Locally owned and operated.

  FREE confidential advice is offered for all clients.

  We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most of our bonds can be posted as quickly as 20 MINUTES.

• A bail bond is a way to obtain the release of a defendant awaiting trial of criminal charges from the custody of law enforcement officials. The defendant, the defendant's family and friends, or a professional bail bond agent (or bail agent) executes a document that promises to forfeit the sum of money determined by the court to be equal to the gravity of the alleged offense if the defendant fails to return for the trial date.

  Finding yourself in this situation can be highly stressful and take time. While working with us, we can generally be at any jail and processing your paper work with in approximately 20 minutes. That being said the the longest part of this process is the client being booked out and released from the said jail.

  Upon your release you will be required to come to our office where we can further discuss your available options for how to deal with your particular case.

  While on bond we will assist you with being informed of your court case as to further avoid and legal troubles you could encounter.

• Really helped me. Everyone else wanted $5000 cash, they got me out for $500! Really fine people, thanks!

  ★★★★★

  - James

  Yahoo! Local Review

  Great service! Pam was very helpful with all of my questions. I had a boyfriend in jail and had absolutely no clue what to do. Thank you so much for all the help!

  ★★★★★

  - Kaylee

  Yahoo! Local Review

  Case Cagle is PHENOMENAL!! When my son got in jail, he called Cagle's office, and in less than two hours he was out. I highly recommend his services for all of those in need of bail bond. Something different is Cagle treat you with respect...that's something you don't find in any other bail bond office!! Thank you Case Cagle.

  ★★★★★

  - Lucy

  Yahoo! Local Review

  Never posted bail before and Case was very friendly and helpful and even called my husband on 3 way for me while I was in jail. I highly reccommend them to anyway who is looking for a bailbonds company. Hopefully I will never have to use one again, but if I do....I will def call Case Cagle again!

  ★★★★★

  - Amberbock78

  Yahoo! Local Review

  Only friendly live voice in Denton County @ 6am! Immediately took care of things. Still only 10% of bond charged. This is the guy to call!

  ★★★★★

  - A Yahoo! Local User

  Yahoo! Local Review

  This is the best place to go ever. They are very nice.

  ★★★★★

  - Desariyah

  Yahoo! Local Review

  Cagle was very easy to work with. I have never posted bail for anyone before and they made it quick and easy. I had to drive from one hour away and Kaylee was great. She helped me find her location easily and the paperwork took a couple of minutes. Also, the best part was that they only charged 10% of the bond!

  ★★★★★

  - A Yahoo! Local User

  Yahoo! Local Review

  Pam is one of the best people you will ever find on this earth. The entire family seems to be in the bail bond business and they all treat you the same: very friendly and understanding. They work with you on issues that otherwise you would still be in jail for. Case is about as good of a dude as you can find. Call them if you ever have trouble come your way!

  ★★★★★

  - Oil Man 22

  Yahoo! Local Review

• This information is a general introduction to the Criminal Justice System. It is not intended to offer legal advice. Its purpose is to provide a basic explanation of court terms and describe how a criminal case progresses through the legal system. We highly recommend that you hire an attorney of your choice and carefully follow your attorney's advice at all times.

  What To Do If You or a Loved One Has Been Arrested
  If you can make a bond (money to secure release), then release will be authorized from jail, but only if there are no other holds. (A hold is a detainer placed on the prisoner by another government agency which requires the prisoner be held pending clearance of the hold). Example: if the prisoner has unpaid traffic tickets, a hold will remain until the tickets are paid or served out with jail time. If the prisoner cannot make bond, or does not qualify for pretrial release, then the prisoner will remain in jail while the case is pending.

  If Free on Bond
  In most courts if the Defendant (the person charged) has been able to make bond, then he/she will be expected to hire an attorney for representation. However, in some courts if the defendant can prove that are indigency (unable to afford to hire an attorney), then the defendant may request that the court provide a court-appointed lawyer. The court itself must pay for the services of the court appointed lawyer. The cost of this representation may be passed onto the defendant at a later time, in the form of court fees. A court appointed lawyer may be either a private lawyer who takes court appointments or may be a public defender. (See Defense Attorney.)

  If in Jail
  If the defendant remains in Jail (incarcerated and unable to make a bond) he/she may hire a private attorney or if indigent, the court will automatically appoint an attorney. If the defendant is unable to make a bond and is indigent, the court will appoint an attorney within 24 hours of incarceration. The defendant may be contacted by the lawyer at this time but may not actually meet with the lawyer until the police formally file a case. This may take up to 72 hours or longer.

  If Not a U.S. Citizen
  If the defendant is not a U.S. Citizen and remains in jail, in most cases the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) will place a hold on the defendant. This INS hold will keep the defendant in jail, whether or not a bond is made on the criminal case. The way in which the criminal case is handled will directly affect the defendant's resident status. This should be one of the main issues discussed with the attorney. Therefor, the defendant should seek the advice of an attorney who specializes in immigration.

  Different Levels of Offenses
  At the Frank Crowley Courthouse, offenses are prosecuted at the lowest level of Class B misdemeanors up to the highest level of First Degree felonies. Examples of the level of each type of offense and the possible ranges of punishment are as follows:

  Class B Misdemeanor

  • Confinement for a term not to exceed 180 days in the county jail; and/or a fine not to exceed $2,000.
  • Example: DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), Criminal Trespass, Theft by Check $50 to $500, evading arrest or detention.

  Class A Misdemeanor

  • Confinement for a term not to exceed one year in county jail; and/or a fine not to exceed $4,000
  • Examples: a second DWI, Assault, Burglary of a Vehicle, Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon.

  State Jail Felony

  • Confinement for a term from 180 days to two years in a state jail; and/or a fine not to exceed 4,000.
  • Example: Credit Card Abuse, Unauthorized use of a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Injury to a Child.

  Third Degree Felony

  • Confinement for a term from two to ten years in prison; and an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.
  • Example: a third DWI, Indecency with a Child, Kidnapping, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.

  Second Degree Felony

  • confinement for a term from two to twenty years in prison; and an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.
  • Example: Aggravated Assault or Kidnapping (if the victim is released unharmed), Arson, Robbery, Sexual Assault.

  First Degree Felony

  • confinement for life or a term from five to ninety-nine years in prison; and an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.
  • Example: Murder, Aggravated Kidnapping, Robbery or Sexual Assault.

  Capital Felony

  • Punishment in prison for life or death penalty. If the State does not seek the death penalty, upon conviction, an automatic life sentence is imposed.
  • Where the State seeks the death penalty, upon conviction, the jury must answer questions which may result in either a sentence of life imprisonment or the death sentence.
  • Example: Murder during the commission of another felony such as kidnapping, rape or robbery.

  How the Case is Filed and Processed

  Misdemeanor Offenses

  • Misdemeanor cases are filed by the police agency with the District Attorney's Office.
  • If the District Attorney's Office decides to prosecute the case, a document is created called an information. (The information is a written statement filed and presented on behalf of the State of Texas by the district attorney, charging the defendant with an offense.) It provides the defendant with notice as to the offense for which he stands charged.
  • Once an information has been processed, a file is generated and the case is randomly assigned to a misdemeanor court.

  Felony Offenses

  • Felony level offenses are filed by the police agency with the District Attorney's Office.
  • The District Attorney's Office then generates a charging instrument known as an indictment. (An indictment is the written statement of a grand jury accusing a person therein named of some act or omission which, by law, is declared to be an offense.) The indictment puts the defendant on notice regarding the charges being brought.
  • Once the paperwork has been generated the case is then set tobe heard by the grand jury. (the grand jury is a panel of citizens who briefly review the information provided by the police who then make a determination whether there is sufficient evidence to believe that an offense has occurred.)
  • Any person charged with a felony offense has an absolute right to have his/her case indicted by the grand jury.
  • Once filed, a felony case is randomly assigned to a felony court. It may take weeks to months before a case is actually heard by the grand jury.
  • The grand jury will either issue a true bill of indictment or a no bill. True bill means that the grand jury found that there was enough evidence to believe that an offense did occur and the case will then be forwarded to the felony court which it was assigned. A no bill means that the grand jury did not believe that there was enough evidence to proceed with the case as it was filed.

  What Happens When I Go To Court?
  If the defendant remains in jail he/she will be brought to the court on the jail chain (inmates are brought to the courts in a group through secured access). The defendant will not be brought to court on his/her own request, but at the request of the court or the attorney. In most courts this occurs within two business days after arrest. If the defendant is not brought down to court or notified that an attorney has been appointed, then the defendant should request the sheriff allow written communication with the court.

  If the defendant is set for a jury trial (six chosen citizens in mesdemeanors / twelves chosen citizens in felonies, hear the case and render a verdict) the defendant will be dressed out in the clothes original worn when arrested. Family or friends may bring additional clothes for the trial (see discussion of proper clothes below). The clothes should be taken to the jail, and the sheriff will be able to provide them the day of the trial. At all other times, the defendant is brought to court in jail uniform.

  If on bond, the defendant will be notified by mail (at the address the defendant provides when the bond is signed) as to the date, time and particular court to appear. On the court date, the defendant should do directly to that court and have a seat inside the courtroom at the time indicated on the letter from the court and if represented by an attorney, follow instructions of the attorney. The defendant must be in court on the date and time instructed or the judge will forfeit the bond for failire to appear which will cause a warrant to be issued for arrest!

  How the Case Proceeds

  Misdemeanor Cases: This process begins once the case has been filed by the police and the District Attorney's Office drafts an information.

  Felony Cases: This process begins when the Grand Jury issues a true bill of indictment. Once the case has been indicted, the process begins.

  The First Appearance Setting

  • If on bond, the defendant must appear in court. It will be determined at this setting if the defendant must hire an attorney or qualify for a court appointed lawyer.
  • If in jail, the person will be brought to the court on the jail chain. If the defendant cannot afford to hire an attorney a court appointed attorney will be appointed.

  Announcement (Pre-Trial) Settings
  These settings allow both the defense lawyer and the assistant district attorney an opportunity to discuss the case and determine if the case will be dismissed, plea bargained (a plea bargain is a resolution of the case where both the disctrict attorney and the defendant agree to a certain punishment). If no plea bargain is reached, the case may be set for a jury trial or a trial before the court. (A trial before the court is a trial to a judge without a jury.)

  Generally, a case may be set and postponed two or three times or more before the defendant must decide whether to set the case for a plea of guilty or trial (plea of not guilty). One additional choice theb defendant has is to set the case for a plea of guilty, even though no plea bargain is reached and elect to have either the judge or a jury decide the punishment/sentence. A defendant on bond may be required to appear in court every time the case is set on the court's docket, regardless of the type of setting and regardless of whether that person's attorney must also appear. If the person is in the jail he or she will automatically be brought to court for all disposition settings (a disposition setting is a plea of guilty, no contest or a trial or formal pre-trial).

  Final Announcement Setting
  At this setting it must be determined and decided by the defendant whether to accept a plea bargain agreement with the Assistant District Attorney or to have a trial.

  In many courts, once a case is set for trial of any kind, any plea bargain offer is considered rejected and may not be offered again.

  Plea Setting
  If a defendant chooses not to have a jury or bench trial, then the case is set for a plea. At the plea setting a person enters a plea of either guilty or nolo contendre to the charges. (A plea of nolo contendre means the person is not pleading guilty but chooses to "not contest" the charges brought against him. It has the same legal effect as pleading guilty to the charge.) A defendant who pleads guilty to the charge may accept either the plea bargain offered by the District Attorney, or may enter a plea of guilty and request the judge or jury to set the punishment/sentence.

  Trial Setting
  Every defendant charged with a criminal offense has an absolute right to plead not guilty to the charge and have a trial by jury or a trial before a judge (bench trial). In either case, the State of Texas, through an Assistant District Attorney, must prove the defendant guilty of the offense charged beyond a reasonable doubt. In a misdemeanor trial there are six jurors who hear the evidence presented in the trial. At the felony level there are twelve jurors. There are three possible phases to each jury trial. They are: voir dire (jury selection phase); guilty/innocence phase (the time during the trial when evidence is presented); and, if the defendant is determined to be guilty, the punishment phase.

  A jury's decision with regard to guilt or innocence must be unanimous (this means that all six or 12 people must reach the same conclusion as to the guilt or innocence of the person on trial). If the jury does not reach a unanimous verdict the judge may declare a mistrial (also known as a "hung jury") and the case may be retired.

  A defendant who has been found guilty of an offense may choose whether the jury or the judge will set his or her punishment.

  In a bench trial the judge determines the guilt or innocence of the defendant and sets the punishment. In a jury trial, the defendant elects whether to have the judge or the jury set the punishment.

  Probation
  Depending on a number of factors, the defendant may be eligible to have a jail sentence probated. (Probated means that they are not sent to jail but are released and supervised by the Department of Community Supervision).

  The Roles of Various Courtroom Personnel

  Judge
  Each Misdemeanor and Felony Court has an elected judge that presides over the court. In our system the judge is to be impartial and is to base decisions on the law and evidence that is presented in the courtroom. For this reason, the judge will not speak with a person accused of a crime or their friends or family. You should never attempt to contact the judge in person, on the telephone or in writing. You may speak to the judge if you are in the courtroom with defense counsel present.

  Assistant District Attorney
  An Assistant District Attorney is a lawyer employed by the District Attorney. There are two to three Assistant District Attorneys assigned to each court. They conduct jury and bench trials, as well as making plea bargain recommendations. They are required to have no contact with the defendant other than through the defendant's attorney.

  Defense Attorney
  The defense attorney can be either retained (hired by the defendant) or appointed by the court to represent the defendant. Many of the courts that provide court appointed attorneys use both private lawyers and public defenders. Private lawyers may accept criminal cases for a fee and are paid by the county. Public defenders are lawyers who are employed directly by the county and are assigned to work in a particular court on a full-time basis.

  Court Coordinator/Administrator
  This person works for the judge and handles the day to day business of the court. The coordinator is usually responsible for determining if a person is eligible to receive a court appointed lawyer and is well informed with regard to the policies and procedures of each individual judge. If you have questions regarding court appearances and any other similar matters concerning your case, you may contact this person.

  Court Clerks
  The clerks assigned to each court do not work directly for the judge, but rather, work for the county or district clerk's office. They process all the paperwork that is generated in the court. They determine a person's back time (time already spent in jail) and calculate applicable fines and court costs.

  Court Bailiff
  This person is an employee of the Dallas County Sheriff's Department. The bailiff is responsible is responsible for ensuring the safety of the court, handling jail prisoners or those taken into custody in the court. They may also call the docket of the court and inform the judge is a defendant has appeared in court on the proper date and time.

  Courtroom Do's and Dont's

  Proper Clothes
  Any time you are to appear in court you should dress as though you are going to a job interview. Men shouldl wear pants and a shirt with a collar. A suit, jacket or tie is always appropriate. Women should wear a dress, skirt or pants that are not too tight, too short, or low cut. It is never proper to wear shorts, t-shirts, or sandals. Excessive make-up pr jewelry should not be worn. In the courtroom itself, it is never proper to wear a hat, read a newspaper, eat or chew gum.

  Children and Court
  While it is important for a person charged with an offense to have family members and/or friends present for a trial or sentencing on a case, it is seldom, if ever, beneficial to have small children present. If there is a possibility that you may be arrested at the court or sentenced to jail time you should not bring children to the court unless you have someone to care for your child in the event you are placed in jail. The court may actually contact CPS (Child Protective Services) to take the child into custody if a parent is going to jail.

  Nothing stated herein should be construed or interpreted to grant rights or remedies not otherwise granted under federal or state law.

  This information is provided as a public service and is not intended as a substitute for legal advice or representation by a lawyer.