HINDERING APPREHENSION OR PROSECUTIONTexas Penal Code (PC) § 38.05(a)
Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution is a Class A misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 38.05(a). It is punishable by up to 1 year in county jail and a fine up to $4,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “HINDERING APPREHENSION OR PROSECUTION” mean?
Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution is a Class A misdemeanor under Texas PC § 38.05(a).
Texas Penal Code § 38.05(a) defines the base offense of hindering apprehension or prosecution. A person commits the offense if, with intent to hinder the arrest, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of another for an offense — or the arrest, detention, adjudication, or disposition of a child for delinquent conduct violating a felony-grade penal law — the person harbors or conceals the other person, provides or aids in providing the other with any means of avoiding arrest or effecting escape, or warns the other of impending discovery or apprehension. The statute supplies a defense to the warning prong where the warning was given in connection with an effort to bring another into compliance with the law. This Class A misdemeanor version applies when the State does not prove the actor knew the person assisted was under arrest for, charged with, or convicted of a felony.
What usually happens to a HINDERING APPREHENSION OR PROSECUTION charge?
49% ended without a conviction, 15% in deferred adjudication and 36% in a conviction.
How 61 resolved HINDERING APPREHENSION OR PROSECUTION charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 12 counties (Bell, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, Denton, FortBend, Galveston, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Williamson):
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (0) 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.
How long does a HINDERING APPREHENSION OR PROSECUTION case take to resolve?
Typically about 7 months: half of resolved cases closed within 205 days of filing.
Across 61 resolved HINDERING APPREHENSION OR PROSECUTION charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 205 days. The middle half took between 125 and 500 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real HINDERING APPREHENSION OR PROSECUTION cases end?
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
What is the punishment for Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution in Texas?
Up to 1 year in county jail and a fine up to $4,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year in county jail | Fine up to $4,000 | Penal Code § 12.21 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for HINDERING APPREHENSION OR PROSECUTION in Texas?
The median bail is $2,500, and 12% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 848 Texas bail settings for this charge (3 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $2,500 (middle half: $1,500 – $5,000). 12% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 12 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (387 records), the median was $2,500 and 17% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 73 | $1,500 | $1,000 – $2,500 | 15% | 1% |
| El Paso | 58 | $2,000 | $1,500 – $10,000 | 16% | 0% |
| Bexar | 43 | $2,500 | $1,550 – $5,000 | 7% | 2% |
Showing the 3 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.
Charged with HINDERING APPREHENSION OR PROSECUTION?
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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.