HARBORING RUNAWAY CHILDTexas Penal Code (PC) § 25.06

Harboring Runaway Child is a Class A misdemeanor under Texas PC § 25.06.

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.

70% ended without a conviction, 8% in deferred adjudication and 22% in a conviction.

How 152 resolved HARBORING RUNAWAY CHILD charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 13 counties (Bastrop, Bell, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, Denton, FortBend, Galveston, Harris, Hays, Travis, Williamson):

Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (1) covers waived counts, bond forfeitures, transfers and unrecorded outcomes. Bexar County records disposition dates but not outcomes, so it counts toward time-to-disposition only. Tarrant County criminal records are not in this dataset.

Typically about 11 months: half of resolved cases closed within 341 days of filing.

Across 152 resolved HARBORING RUNAWAY CHILD charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 341 days. The middle half took between 189 and 594 days.

Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.

Up to 1 year in county jail and a fine up to $4,000.

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

The median bail is $4,000, and 7% of defendants were released on a personal bond.

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.