HARBORING RUNAWAY CHILD

Texas Penal Code § 25.06 defines harboring a runaway child. A person commits the offense by knowingly harboring a child while being criminally negligent about whether the child is younger than 18 and has escaped from the custody of a peace officer, a probation officer, the juvenile justice authorities, or a juvenile detention facility, or is voluntarily absent from the child's home without the consent of a parent or guardian for a substantial length of time or without intent to return. The mental-state structure is distinctive: the harboring itself must be done knowingly, while criminal negligence suffices as to the child's age and runaway or escape status. The statute supplies defenses for certain close relatives and for persons who promptly notify law enforcement or the child's home of the child's presence. The offense is a Class A misdemeanor.

Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.

Across 858 Texas bail settings for this charge (5 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $4,000 (middle half: $2,500 – $10,000). 7% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 18 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (313 records), the median was $3,500 and 14% got a personal bond.

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.