October 2020 PBT Newsletter Released- All About Risk Assessments

 



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Summary of the 2025 Texas Legislative Session- Bail Matters

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  This is a summary of the bail bills or bills that may relate to the bail industry that were enacted in the 2025 Texas Legislative Session. HB 1522-  This bill amended the Texas Open Meetings Act to change the notice requirement from 72 hours to 3 business days.  The biggest impact of this change will impact Bail Bond Board meetings.  The notice now must be posted 3 business days before the meeting.  A weekend cannot be counted in that time period. To see the final bill CLICK HERE .  HB 1778- This bill created Section 43.032 of the Texas Penal Code with creates a new offense "Continuous Promotion of Prostitution." Additionally, the bill amends article 17.081 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to add 43.032 to the list of offenses.  This section requires that for the list of offenses, the bail bond must include the address and driver's license number for the defendant and the surety.  Additionally, article 17.465 (b) of the Texas Code of Crim...
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Celebrating the Life of Longtime Bondsman Ricky Wade

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Ricky Lane Wade, born April 16, 1953, in Shelbyville, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on July 8, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. He was 72.   Ricky was the son of Vernon Wade and Mary Tipton (Harper), and a proud graduate of Shelbyville High School. He built a long and respected career in the bail bonds industry, working to establish both A Way-Out Bail Bonds and Just Bail Bonds. His commitment to his profession led him to become an active member of the Professional Bondsmen of Texas, where he was known for his unwavering honesty and bold personality—Ricky never had a filter and never backed down from speaking the truth. He is survived by his devoted wife, Jeanie Wade; two beloved stepdaughters, Crystal Padgett and Jennifer Beck; grandchildren Brett Estrada and wife Layla, Jezzica Polk and husband Brendan, Evan Beck, and Parker Beck; and one cherished great-granddaughter, Aurora Estrada; and nephew Kyle Tipton and wife Carolyn. Ricky also leaves behind his brothers Greg Tipton and Ve...
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"The Cost of Bail Reform was My Daughter's Life"

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Less than a year ago, life was good.  I was the proud mother of  two beautiful daughters and grandma to the sweetest eight-month old girl  you'd ever seen.  We were planning a gender-reveal for the arrival of  Caitlynne's second baby when everything went wrong. My daughter's husband, Alex Guajardo, had been on a downward spiral.  In May 2019, he  was arrested for a second DWI and a hit-and-run.  He received what is called a personal recognizance or free PR bond and was released from  jail.  In July, he was arrested again on a charge of assault-family  violence for assaulting Caitlynne, who was then 17-weeks pregnant.  My daughter made a brave move and filed criminal charges against Alex for  beating her up. Immediately following Alex's arrest, I begged Caitlynne to stay with me so I could protect her and the babies.  She refused.  Caitlynne had convinced herself that the system would protect h...
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The Bail Post Podcast- Episode No. 4- Did the 5th Circuit Just End Federal Bail Litigation?

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This is big.  The Fifth Circuit has issued an en banc opinion in the Dallas Federal litigation called Daves v. Dallas County.  The opinion was issued yesterday.  This is a huge opinion that addresses three issues.  Listen to our podcast to learn more.   Also available on: Apple Podcasts-            CLICK HERE Spotify-                        CLICK HERE Google Podcasts-        CLICK HERE Podcast Index-            CLICK HERE Amazon Music-          CLICK HERE Stitcher-                      CLICK HERE iHeart-                        CLICK HERE TuneIn + Alexa          CLICK HERE Po...
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Amendment to Article 17.19 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure

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HB 2697- This bill amended article 17.19 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.  Article 17.19 authorizes a surety or bail bondsman to file a request for a warrant with the magistrate or the trial court based upon some action on the part of the defendant.   The existing statute required the surety or bail bondsman to give notice of the request to the defense attorney if the defendant was represented by counsel.  That notice must comply with Rule 21a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.  Further, the statute requires that  the affidavit set out certain matters regarding the defendant including the reason why a warrant is needed. Section 17.19 states that if the request for a warrant meets the statutory requirements the trial court or magistrate must or shall issue a warrant of arrest for the defendant.   If the trial court refuses to issue a warrant, then the surety or bail bondsman has an affirmative defense to any subsequent failure to appear...
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