Warrants

There are two types of warrants that may be issued by the court:

Capias Warrants

For most "Class C Misdemeanor" offenses, the initial punishment assessed does not include jail time. A fine may be imposed, or the Judge may require a person to participate in other agreed-upon programs. When you sign the citation issued by the Police Officer, you promise to appear in Court. You may be arrested if you do not voluntarily come to Court to address your citation, as you have promised. In addition, you may be arrested if you do not abide by the judgment set forth by the Court.

The Court issues two types of warrants:

  • Warrant of Arrest-Capias Warrant
  • Post-Judgement Warrant-Capias Pro-fine

A Capias Warrant is issued for:

  • not appearing at the Court as promised
  • not taking care of original Class C citation

 

If it is necessary to issue an arrest warrant, a $50 warrant fee will be added to your fine.

If you would like to enter a “no contest” or “guilty” plea, learn more about how to address your warrant.

In most cases, when a warrant for arrest is necessary, a notice may be sent to you at the address shown on your ticket. This notice outlines the violations charged against you and fines associated with them.

Capias Pro Fine Warrant

A Capias Pro-Fine Warrant may be issued if an adult defendant fails to satisfy a judgment. Examples of failure to satisfy a judgment include failure to pay the fine or failure to perform community service that has been ordered by the Court. The purpose of a Capias Pro Fine Warrant is to bring the defendant before the Court to allow the defendant to explain why they did not comply with the Court ordered judgment. A defendant may be committed to jail on a Capias Pro Fine Warrant. 


If you would like to enter a “no contest” or “guilty” plea, learn more about how to address your warrant.

In most cases, when a warrant for arrest is necessary, a notice may be sent to you at the address shown on your ticket. This notice outlines the violations charged and fines associated with them.

A warrant can be issued for your arrest when you:

  • Do not respond to your citation within 21 days
  • Do not appear for your court date
  • Do not pay a fine assessed by a judge
  • Do not complete the Driving Safety Course requirements and failure to appear to the show cause hearing
  • Do not comply with the terms of your probation and failure to appear at the probation revocation hearing
  • Default on payment arrangements
  • Fail to comply with a community service order

Dispose of a Warrant

To address your warrant, you can plead “no contest” or “guilty” to the warrant charge and pay your fine at any court location in full or online.

Bonds

If you want to plead “not guilty” to the warrant charge you must post the required bond so that your case can be assigned a trial date. There are three types of bonds:

Cash bonds can be posted at any of our locations by the defendant(PDF, 37KB) or by a third party(PDF, 31KB). You may pay bail for a person in custody online. Online bail bond payments are for Fort Worth Class C offenses only.

Surety bonds are accepted from approved bail bond agencies or attorneys. View a sample surety bond(PDF, 33KB)View a sample intention to surrender form(PDF, 14KB). Note: Please be advised that our surety bond forms have changed and require a notary signature. Personal appearance bonds(PDF, 25KB) must be submitted to the court in person.

Attention Bondsmen and Attorneys

Surety bonds for non-custodial defendants received after 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday will not be processed until the next business day. Bonds received after noon Friday will not be processed until the next business day.

Business days are Monday through Friday during regular operating hours for the Municipal Court Bond Desk. Saturdays, city holidays, furlough days and days on which the city is closed due to inclement weather do not constitute business days.

Surety bonds received prior to these deadlines will be processed the same day. Cash bonds. bonds for custodial defendants, and Personal bonds will continue to be processed in accordance with current policy.

For more information on this policy, contact the court at 817-392-6700.