What Is Magistration in Tarrant County? What Families Need to Know
Magistration is the first hearing after an arrest in Texas. A magistrate tells the person the charge and their rights, including the right to a court-appointed lawyer, reviews a Public Safety Report, and sets bail and any conditions. Texas law requires it within 48 hours of arrest. In Tarrant County, magistrates hold these hearings every day, often by video from city jails such as Arlington. Once it ends, a bondsman like A Way Out Bail Bonds (817-261-2828) can post the bond.
What Happens at Magistration?
Magistration is a short hearing, often only minutes long, that turns an arrest into a case with a bond amount. Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 15.17, the magistrate must:
- Inform the arrested person of the accusation against them.
- Explain their rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.
- Explain how to request a court-appointed attorney if they cannot afford one.
- Set the amount of bail, or decide on a personal bond, where bail is available.
- Impose any bond conditions and, in family violence cases, consider an emergency protective order.
When Does Magistration Happen?
Texas law requires magistration without unnecessary delay and no later than 48 hours after arrest. Tarrant County magistrates work every day of the year, including weekends and holidays, so it often happens sooner. For Arlington arrests, the hearing is usually held by video from the Arlington City Jail at 620 W. Division St. For many other cities, it happens at the city jail or after transfer to the Tarrant County Corrections Center.
Waiting for magistration?
This is the best time to call. A Way Out Bail Bonds can finish the co-signer paperwork now so the bond is posted minutes after the magistrate sets it. Call 817-261-2828 or contact us online.
How Does the Magistrate Decide the Bail Amount?
The magistrate applies the factors in Code of Criminal Procedure Article 17.15. Bail must be sufficient to secure appearance but not be used as an instrument of oppression. The magistrate considers the nature of the offense, the safety of the victim and the community, the defendant’s criminal history and ability to make bail, and other factors. Our posts on how a bail amount is determined and when a judge sets bail go deeper.
What Changed Under Senate Bill 6?
Since December 2021, magistrates must review a Public Safety Report before setting bail. The report summarizes criminal history and other safety information. SB 6, known as the Damon Allen Act, also restricted personal bonds for defendants charged with certain violent offenses. The result is more surety bonds in Tarrant County, because some defendants who might once have received a personal bond now need a bondsman. The Texas Justice Court Training Center bail summary explains the current rules.
Can the Magistrate Deny Bail?
Only in limited situations. Texas voters approved Proposition 3 in November 2025, allowing judges to deny bail in defined violent and sexual felony cases when the state proves by clear and convincing evidence that no conditions would be adequate. The Texas Constitution has long allowed denial in capital cases and certain repeat felony situations. For the misdemeanors and non-violent felonies that fill most Tarrant County jails, bail is set. Read more in our post on when bail can be denied in Texas.
What Conditions Can Be Set at Magistration?
Conditions are set along with the bail amount and take effect at release. Common Tarrant County conditions include an ignition interlock for many DWI charges, no-contact and stay-away orders in family violence cases, drug or alcohol testing, Pretrial Services reporting and travel limits. See our full guide to common bond conditions in Texas.
Should the Arrested Person Ask for an Appointed Lawyer?
If they cannot afford a lawyer, magistration is the right time to say so. The magistrate explains how to request appointed counsel, and asking early starts that process. An attorney can later ask the court to lower bail or change conditions. The person should not discuss the facts of the case at magistration or on jail phones.
Can Family Members Attend Magistration?
Usually not in a practical sense. In Tarrant County, magistration commonly happens by video inside the jail, not in an open courtroom families can walk into. What families can do is prepare: find the person, gather their full name and date of birth, choose a co-signer and call a bondsman. Our guide on finding someone in jail explains how.
What Happens Right After Magistration?
- The bond amount appears in the jail record, often within a short time.
- A bondsman posts the bond at the city jail or the 24-hour Tarrant County Bond Desk at 100 N. Lamar St.
- The jail processes release, which commonly takes several hours.
- The defendant receives written conditions and court information.
For the full timeline, read how long the bail bond process takes in Tarrant County.
What Can Families Do if the Bail Amount Is Too High?
Start with a surety bond, then ask an attorney about a reduction. A bondsman can often make a high bail manageable with a payment plan, several co-signers or collateral. If the amount is still out of reach, a defense attorney can ask the court to lower bail under the Article 17.15 factors, including the defendant’s ability to pay. That request goes to a judge after magistration and usually takes days to schedule. Our guide on how to get someone out of jail with no money lists every option.
What Should the Arrested Person Avoid Saying?
Magistration is not the time to explain the case. The magistrate is setting bail and explaining rights, not deciding guilt, and anything said can be recorded. The same caution applies to jail phone calls, which are typically recorded. The safest approach is to listen, ask for appointed counsel if needed, answer basic identifying questions and save the details for an attorney.
If the person does say something at magistration they regret, it is not the end of the world. Tell the defense attorney exactly what was said as soon as possible so they can address it.
Magistration vs. Arraignment: What Is the Difference?
People often use the words interchangeably, but they are different steps. Magistration happens right after arrest and deals with rights, counsel and bail. A later court setting in the trial court is where the case itself moves forward and where a plea may eventually be entered. After release on bond, the defendant must attend every later setting in the Tarrant County courts at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
How A Way Out Bail Bonds Helps Tarrant County Families
A Way Out Bail Bonds has helped Arlington and Tarrant County families for decades from our office at 633 W. Division St., Suite A, directly across from the Arlington City Jail. We hold Tarrant County Bail Bond License #218, every bond is underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, and a live agent answers 817-261-2828 24 hours a day. We track magistration timing at the Arlington City Jail and the county jail every day and post bonds the moment they are set. We offer payment plans, no credit check and Spanish-speaking agents. Read reviews from families we have helped.
Magistration in Tarrant County: Frequently Asked Questions
What does magistration mean in Texas?
Magistration is the first hearing after an arrest, where a magistrate explains the charge and the person’s rights, including the right to an appointed lawyer, and sets bail and any conditions.
How long after arrest is magistration in Tarrant County?
Texas law requires magistration within 48 hours of arrest. Tarrant County magistrates work every day, so it often happens sooner.
Where does magistration happen for Arlington arrests?
For Arlington Police arrests, magistration is usually conducted by video from the Arlington City Jail at 620 W. Division St.
Can bail be posted before magistration?
Usually not, because there is no bail amount until the magistrate sets it. A bondsman can complete paperwork before magistration so the bond is posted right after.
What is a Public Safety Report?
It is a report the magistrate must review before setting bail under Senate Bill 6. It summarizes criminal history and other safety-related information.
Can a magistrate give a personal bond?
Yes, a magistrate can grant a personal bond in eligible cases. Senate Bill 6 limits personal bonds for certain violent offenses.
Can family members talk to the magistrate?
Magistration in Tarrant County usually happens by video inside the jail, so families generally do not participate. An attorney can later ask the court to review bail.
Is magistration the same as arraignment?
No. Magistration happens right after arrest and covers rights and bail. Later court settings in the trial court move the case itself forward.
Can bail be denied at magistration?
In limited cases. Proposition 3, approved in November 2025, allows denial in defined violent and sexual felony cases under a clear and convincing evidence standard. Most cases still receive a bail amount.
What should someone ask for at magistration?
If they cannot afford a lawyer, they should request a court-appointed attorney. They should avoid discussing the facts of the case.
Get the Bond Ready Before Magistration Ends
A Way Out Bail Bonds is licensed in Tarrant County and answers live 24 hours a day. Call now and the bond can be posted minutes after the magistrate sets it. Call 817-261-2828 right now, or contact us online and an agent will call you back. For Dallas County matters, call 214-760-9978. A Way Out Bail Bonds, 633 W. Division St., Suite A, Arlington, TX 76011. Tarrant County: 817-261-2828. Dallas County: 214-760-9978. Tarrant County Bail Bond License #218.