Bail Bonds Service in Dallas, TX

Every person arrested by the Dallas Police Department on a Class B misdemeanor or higher is booked into the same building: the Dallas County Jail, better known as the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, at 111 W. Commerce St. in downtown Dallas. A Way Out Bail Bonds has posted bonds at that facility for more than 35 years, serving families across the City of Dallas, Dallas County, with felony, misdemeanor, DWI, warrant and traffic bonds under Dallas County Bail Bond License #285, with bonds underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company. Our phones are answered live 24 hours a day, our agents are bilingual (Se habla espanol), and we offer payment plans, low down payment options and co-signer arrangements with no credit check. Call our Dallas County line at 214-760-9978 and an agent will begin checking custody status while you are still on the phone. Read what Dallas families say about A Way Out Bail Bonds.

About Bail Bonds in Dallas, TX

Dallas is the largest city in North Texas and produces the highest jail booking volume in the region, which makes the release process at Lew Sterrett the single most important thing a Dallas bail bondsman needs to understand. The 2020 census counted 1,304,379 residents inside a city of about 340 square miles that reaches beyond Dallas County into Collin, Denton, Kaufman and Rockwall counties. Four interstates meet here, I-35E, I-30, I-45 and I-20, fed by US-75, the Dallas North Tollway and the I-635 loop. Traffic enforcement on those corridors produces a constant stream of warrant and DWI arrests, while Deep Ellum, Uptown, Lower Greenville, Bishop Arts and the Cedar Springs strip in Oak Lawn drive the Friday and Saturday night bookings for public intoxication, assault and DWI.

The Dallas Police Department is organized into seven patrol divisions, and every one of them delivers arrestees to the same intake at Lew Sterrett. Weekend nights there are busy in a way no suburban city jail ever is, and a family that understands the sequence can save hours by having a bondsman ready before the bond amount is set.

What is magistration?

Magistration is the first hearing after an arrest, held before a magistrate judge inside the jail. The magistrate reads the charge, advises the defendant of their rights, reviews the Public Safety Report required by Texas law and sets the bond amount and any conditions, and Texas law requires it within 48 hours of arrest. See our How Bail Bonds Work page.

Which Jail Will Someone Arrested in Dallas Be Taken To?

Someone arrested by Dallas police on a Class B misdemeanor, Class A misdemeanor or felony charge is taken to the Dallas County Jail, the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, at 111 W. Commerce St., Dallas, TX 75202, where the inmate information line is 214-761-9025 and the bond desk operates 24 hours a day. The only city-operated facility is the Dallas City Detention Center at 1600 Chestnut St., run by the Dallas Marshal’s Office, which holds people on Class C municipal warrants and public intoxication.

Here is the path from a Dallas arrest to release, based on the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Dallas Court and Detention Services pages:

• Arrest by a DPD patrol division. The officer transports the arrestee directly to Lew Sterrett. There is no intermediate city holding stop for jailable charges.
• Intake and booking. Fingerprints, photographs, a medical screening and a warrant check happen at intake. The person appears in the Dallas County inmate search once booking is complete, which can take several hours when the intake floor is crowded.
• Magistration. Dallas County magistrates hold hearings around the clock inside the jail, review the Public Safety Report and set bond. On weekend nights the wait between booking and magistration is longest.
• Bond posting. Once a bond amount exists, our agent files the surety bond at the Dallas County bond desk on Commerce Street. The desk is open 24 hours, so we do not wait for a business day.
• Release processing. The jail verifies the bond, checks for holds or additional warrants and processes the person out onto Commerce Street, where a family member or our agent can meet them.
• Transfer to housing if no bond is posted. A person who is not bonded out within a day or two moves from intake to a housing tower (North Tower, West Tower or the Suzanne L. Kays Detention Facility). Bonding out from housing is still possible but generally slower.

Because the City of Dallas crosses county lines, the county where the arrest occurred controls where the case is filed and where the bond is posted:

Arrest area	County	Jail where bond is posted
Most of Dallas, including downtown, Oak Cliff, East Dallas, Pleasant Grove and North Dallas	Dallas County	Dallas County Jail (Lew Sterrett), 111 W. Commerce St., Dallas 75202
Far North Dallas north of the Collin County line	Collin County	Collin County Detention Facility, 4300 Community Ave., McKinney 75071
Far northwest Dallas near I-35E and the Denton County line	Denton County	Denton County Jail, 127 N. Woodrow Ln., Denton 76205
Southeast Dallas near the Kaufman County line	Kaufman County	Kaufman County Jail, Kaufman
Small portions near Lake Ray Hubbard	Rockwall County	Rockwall County Jail, Rockwall

A Way Out Bail Bonds is licensed in Dallas County and Tarrant County. If a Dallas arrest was booked into the Collin, Denton, Kaufman or Rockwall county jail, we will confirm the facility, explain that county’s process and connect you with the right licensed resource there. The vast majority of Dallas police arrests are booked at Lew Sterrett and are Dallas County cases we handle directly.

Class C Charges and the Dallas Municipal Court

Fine-only Class C matters, including traffic citations, city ordinance violations and most public intoxication cases, run through the Dallas Municipal Court at 2014 Main St., Dallas, TX 75201, phone 214-670-0109, under the City of Dallas Court and Detention Services department. The Dallas Marshal’s Office at 1600 Chestnut St. processes Class C warrant arrests and accepts citation payments around the clock. A person picked up on a municipal warrant is held at the City Detention Center, not at Lew Sterrett, and is usually released by paying the fine, posting a bond in the amount of the fine or appearing before a municipal judge. If you have an outstanding Dallas municipal warrant, call us.

Bail Bond Services We Offer in Dallas

We post every category of bond that moves through the Dallas County system, from a Class C traffic warrant to a first-degree felony.

Felony Bail Bonds in Dallas

Felony bonds for Dallas arrests are set by the magistrate at Lew Sterrett and the cases are heard in the Dallas County Criminal District Courts at the Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 N. Riverfront Blvd. We write bonds for aggravated assault, drug possession and delivery, burglary, felony theft, weapons charges and evading arrest, including higher bonds that call for collateral or more than one co-signer. See our Types of Bail Bonds page.

Misdemeanor Bail Bonds in Dallas

Class A and Class B misdemeanors are the bulk of Dallas bookings: assault causing bodily injury, possession of marijuana, theft, criminal trespass and resisting arrest. Misdemeanor bonds are usually set quickly at magistration, and when our paperwork is ready in advance we can post the bond minutes after the amount appears in the system.

DWI and DUI Bail Bonds in Dallas

DWI arrests in Dallas cluster around Deep Ellum, Lower Greenville, Uptown and the highway ramps leaving them, and DPD runs no-refusal enforcement on holiday weekends. A first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor, a second is a Class A, and a third or a DWI with a child passenger is a felony. Magistrates commonly order an ignition interlock device as a bond condition, which we explain before release. Our DWI and DUI bail bonds page covers what to expect.

Warrant Bail Bonds in Dallas

Warrant arrests in Dallas most often begin with a traffic stop on I-35E, I-30, US-75 or Loop 12, where a records check turns up an active warrant. We post bonds on outstanding Dallas County warrants and can arrange a walk-through surrender at Lew Sterrett, where the person turns themselves in with the bond already prepared and is usually processed out the same day. For out-of-county warrants that appear at booking, we explain the hold and what has to happen before release.

Traffic and Class C Bonds in Dallas

For Dallas Municipal Court traffic warrants and other Class C charges, we explain what the court will accept and post a bond where the court permits one. The traffic ticket bail bonds page describes how a Class C bond differs from a county bond.

How the Bail Process Works in Dallas

The Dallas bail process runs through Lew Sterrett from start to finish, and these are the six steps a family should expect.

• Call 214-760-9978 as soon as you learn of the arrest. Tell us the person’s full legal name, date of birth, the charge if you know it and roughly where in Dallas the arrest happened. We answer live at every hour.
• We locate the person and check for a bond amount. We search the Dallas County inmate system and call the jail when the record has not posted yet. If magistration has not happened, we tell you honestly that the bond cannot be posted until it does, and we stay on the case until the amount appears.
• The co-signer completes the agreement. The indemnitor signs the bond agreement, provides a photo ID and proof of address, and arranges collateral when the bond calls for it. Paperwork can be completed by phone, fax or email, or a mobile agent can meet you anywhere in Dallas.
• We post the bond at the Dallas County bond desk. Our agent files the surety bond at 111 W. Commerce St. The desk runs 24 hours, so a bond set at 3:00 a.m. can be posted at 3:00 a.m.
• Release processing at Lew Sterrett. The jail confirms the bond, clears any holds and releases the defendant. On a quiet weekday this can take a few hours; on a Friday or Saturday night when intake is full it takes longer. We give you a realistic estimate rather than a promise.
• Court dates and check-ins. We provide every court date at the Frank Crowley Courts Building, send reminders and stay available to the defendant and co-signer until the case is resolved.

Two Texas laws shape how bail is set at Lew Sterrett today. Senate Bill 6, the Damon Allen Act, in effect since December 2021, requires the magistrate to consider a Public Safety Report before setting bail, requires magistration within 48 hours and prohibits personal recognizance bonds for a list of violent offenses. Proposition 3, approved by Texas voters on November 4, 2025, lets a judge deny bail entirely in defined violent and sexual felony cases on clear and convincing evidence. Most Dallas arrests fall outside those categories, and for them the magistrate sets a bond that a licensed surety can post. The Texas Justice Court Training Center bail page summarizes both.

Affordable Bail Bonds in Dallas: Payment Options

Affordability at A Way Out Bail Bonds comes from how the fee is structured, not from a number on a sign. A surety bond means your family pays a fee to the bondsman rather than depositing the full bail amount with Dallas County, and we build that fee around what you can actually do.

• Payment plans. On many bonds the fee can be split into scheduled installments.
• Low down payment options. Approved co-signers can often start the release with a reduced initial payment and pay the balance over time.
• No credit check. We look at the charge, the defendant’s court history and the co-signer, not a credit score.
• Co-signer options. A parent, spouse, sibling or employer can serve as indemnitor, and responsibility can be shared among several co-signers.
• Collateral only when required. Most misdemeanor bonds require none. When a felony bond does, we explain what qualifies and how it is returned when the case closes.
• Multiple ways to pay. Major credit cards, American Express, Western Union, personal checks and cash in some situations, with payment available at the jail.
• Written terms. Every fee and condition is in the agreement you sign, with nothing added later.

Our bail payment options page explains each of these. If you are not sure you can afford a bond, call anyway; the conversation costs nothing.

Why Dallas Residents Choose A Way Out Bail Bonds

What We Offer	What It Means for You
Dallas County Bail Bond License #285 (plus Tarrant County License #218)	We are approved by the Dallas County Bail Bond Board and listed on the county’s official licensed bail bond companies list, so the bond desk accepts our bonds without question.
Bonds underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company	Each bond is backed by an admitted surety, the guarantee Dallas County requires before releasing anyone.
More than 35 years working the Lew Sterrett bond desk	We know the intake rhythm, the magistration schedule and the release process at 111 W. Commerce St.
24/7 live answer	Lew Sterrett books around the clock and so do we. A real agent answers at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Direct knowledge of Dallas’s two-facility system	We know which arrests go to Lew Sterrett and which go to the Marshal’s City Detention Center at 1600 Chestnut, so no time is lost calling the wrong building.
Bilingual agents (Se habla espanol)	Spanish-speaking families receive every explanation and document in Spanish.
Mobile bond service	An agent can meet you at the jail, at home in Oak Cliff or Pleasant Grove, or at work in Uptown.
Payment plans, low down payments and no credit check	The release moves forward based on the case and the co-signer, not your credit history.
Confidential handling	Your information stays within the bond process.
Trusted by Dallas families for decades	4.1 Google rating, 30+ reviews.

Local Knowledge: Dallas Courts, Districts and Rules

Dallas arrests follow geography. Deep Ellum along Elm, Main and Commerce streets east of downtown generates assault, public intoxication and weapons cases on weekend nights; Lower Greenville, Knox-Henderson, Uptown’s McKinney Avenue and the Cedar Springs corridor in Oak Lawn produce DWI arrests on the drive home; Bishop Arts in North Oak Cliff has become a nightlife district of its own. The State Fair of Texas at Fair Park each fall, concerts at the American Airlines Center in Victory Park and traffic around Dallas Love Field on Mockingbird Lane add seasonal spikes. Highway enforcement on I-35E through the Stemmons corridor, I-30 through East Dallas and US-75 through North Dallas accounts for most warrant arrests.

Court matters for Dallas arrests split by charge level:

• Class C (fine-only): Dallas Municipal Court, 2014 Main St., Dallas, TX 75201, 214-670-0109. Class C warrant arrests are processed at the Dallas Marshal’s Office City Detention Center, 1600 Chestnut St.
• Class A and B misdemeanors: Dallas County Criminal Courts, Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207.
• Felonies: Dallas County Criminal District Courts, also at the Frank Crowley Courts Building.
• Arrests booked in Collin, Denton, Kaufman or Rockwall County: that county’s courts, with bonds posted at that county’s jail.

One quirk that catches Dallas families off guard: a person booked into Lew Sterrett on a jailable charge may also have an old Class C warrant from Dallas Municipal Court. The county bond covers the county charge only; the municipal warrant becomes a hold that must be resolved separately, usually by paying the fine or posting a municipal bond. When we check custody we look for those holds and tell you about them up front.

Response Time to Dallas

Our office at 633 W. Division St., Suite A, Arlington, TX 76011, is roughly a 25 to 30 minute drive to the Lew Sterrett Justice Center at 111 W. Commerce St. via I-30 East in normal traffic, and the Frank Crowley Courts Building is a few blocks farther along Riverfront Boulevard. Our agents post bonds at the Dallas County bond desk every day, and paperwork by phone, fax or email means your part of the process rarely waits on a drive. A mobile agent can come to you anywhere in Dallas or meet you outside the jail at release. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dallas Bail Bonds

How do I find out if someone is in the Dallas County Jail?

Use the Dallas County inmate search at dallascounty.org/jaillookup or call the jail’s inmate information line at 214-761-9025, which is answered 24 hours a day. You will need the person’s full name and, ideally, date of birth. Recent arrests can take several hours to appear, especially on weekend nights. Call A Way Out Bail Bonds at 214-760-9978 and we will run the search for you and keep checking until the record posts.

How long does release from Lew Sterrett take after a bond is posted?

Release typically takes a few hours after the bond is accepted at the desk, though it can run longer when intake is full. The jail has to verify the bond, check for other warrants or holds and complete out-processing, and on Friday and Saturday nights those steps slow down. Weekday mornings are usually fastest. We give families a realistic window rather than a guaranteed time.

What is the difference between the Dallas city jail and Lew Sterrett?

The Dallas City Detention Center at 1600 Chestnut St. is run by the Dallas Marshal’s Office and holds people on Class C municipal warrants and public intoxication. Lew Sterrett, at 111 W. Commerce St., is the Dallas County Jail, where all Class B, Class A and felony arrests by Dallas police are booked. Bail bonds for county charges are posted at Lew Sterrett. Class C matters are handled through the Dallas Municipal Court at 2014 Main St.

Do you offer 24-hour bail bonds in Dallas?

Yes. A Way Out Bail Bonds answers the phone live around the clock, including weekends and holidays, and the Dallas County bond desk accepts bonds 24 hours a day, so a bond set at midnight can be posted at midnight. Mobile agents can meet Dallas families at any hour when paperwork needs to be signed in person.

What do I need to bring to bail someone out in Dallas?

Bring a valid government photo ID, proof of your current address, and a way to pay the bond fee or the agreed down payment. It also helps to have the defendant’s full name, date of birth and booking number. If collateral is required for a larger felony bond, we will tell you what documentation is needed before you come.

How do I find the bond amount for a Dallas arrest?

The bond amount appears in the Dallas County inmate record once the magistrate has set it, and the jail information line at 214-761-9025 can read it to you. Until magistration occurs there is no amount to find. We monitor the record for you and call the moment a bond is set.

What happens if the defendant misses a court date at Frank Crowley?

The court can forfeit the bond and issue a warrant for failure to appear. Call us right away if that happens. In many cases the defendant can appear voluntarily, and we can ask the court to set aside the forfeiture and reinstate the bond. The sooner the defendant comes forward, the more options remain.

Are weekend arrests in Dallas handled differently?

The steps are the same, but the timeline is longer. Weekend nights bring the heaviest booking volume of the week at Lew Sterrett, so intake, magistration and release all take more time. Bonds can still be posted at any hour because the bond desk never closes, so call as soon as you learn of the arrest and the paperwork will be finished before the bond amount is set.

Areas We Also Serve Near Dallas

Around Dallas, families also turn to us for bail bonds in Irving, bail bonds in Garland, bail bonds in Mesquite, bail bonds in Richardson, bail bonds in Grand Prairie, bail bonds in Highland Park and bail bonds in Farmers Branch. Browse the complete list of cities we serve.

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Call for Dallas Bail Bonds Now

If someone you love has been booked into the Dallas County Jail, A Way Out Bail Bonds can be at the Lew Sterrett bond desk with the paperwork ready as soon as a bond is set. We hold Dallas County License #285 and answer the phone live at every hour. Call 214-760-9978 now, use 817-261-2828 for Tarrant County arrests, or request service online.

A Way Out Bail Bonds, 633 W. Division St., Suite A, Arlington, TX 76011. Dallas County Bail Bond License #285. Tarrant County Bail Bond License #218. Agent for United States Fire Insurance Company. Owner: Jeanie M. Wade.

Reviewed by Jeanie M. Wade, Licensed Bail Bond Agent. Last reviewed September 2026.