ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity in Texas: what bail is set at, how often a personal bond is granted, and what usually happens to the charge.
What “ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY” means
Texas Penal Code § 71.02 defines engaging in organized criminal activity. The State must prove the accused, with intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination, or as a member of a criminal street gang, committed or conspired to commit one of the predicate offenses the statute lists, which include murder, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, and various controlled-substance felonies. A "combination," defined in Texas Penal Code § 71.01, means three or more persons who collaborate in carrying on criminal activities; conspiring to commit a predicate requires an agreement plus an overt act performed in pursuance of it. Under the grading rule in § 71.02(b), the offense is classified one category higher than the most serious predicate offense committed, so a first-degree felony filing reflects a second-degree felony predicate.
Also appears on court records as:
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-degree felony | 5 to 99 years or life in prison (TDCJ) | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.32 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
Bail for ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY in Texas
Across 29,891 Texas bail settings for this charge (101 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $10,000 (middle half: $5,000 – $30,000). 5% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 1,801 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (4,408 records), the median was $20,000 and 3% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 3,921 | $5,000 | $1,500 – $15,000 | 1% | 3% |
| Travis | 2,061 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $20,000 | 21% | 2% |
| Dallas | 1,691 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $25,000 | 1% | 9% |
| Cameron | 1,249 | $20,000 | $7,000 – $50,000 | 4% | 2% |
| Hays | 1,101 | $5,000 | $2,500 – $15,000 | 19% | 1% |
Showing the 5 counties with the most records; use the selector for any county with at least 30. Per-charge bond settings on original magistrations, from Texas OCA bail reporting under SB 6. Bail is set case by case — these are statistics, not a prediction.
How real ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY cases ended
Individual cases from the public court record, with the disposition and sentence text exactly as the clerk entered it. Every case is decided on its own facts.
Ended without a conviction
Deferred adjudication
Ended in a conviction
Charged with ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY?
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Find a Defense AttorneyBail data: Texas Office of Court Administration magistration reports (SB 6), Apr 2022 – Jun 2025. Court outcomes: county district and county clerk records. Statistics describe past cases and are not legal advice; every case is decided on its own facts.