INTERFER W/PUBLIC DUTIESTexas Penal Code (PC) § 38.15(b)
“INTERFER W/PUBLIC DUTIES” stands for Interference with Public Duties, a Class B misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 38.15(b). It is punishable by up to 180 days in county jail and a fine up to $2,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “INTERFER W/PUBLIC DUTIES” mean?
“INTERFER W/PUBLIC DUTIES” stands for Interference with Public Duties, a Class B misdemeanor under Texas PC § 38.15(b).
Texas Penal Code § 38.15 defines interference with public duties. A person commits the offense by interrupting, disrupting, impeding, or otherwise interfering — with criminal negligence — with a peace officer while the officer is performing a duty or exercising authority imposed or granted by law. The statute extends the same protection to emergency medical services personnel, firefighters, and certain other listed public-safety functions, including emergency radio communications, while duties are being performed. The required mental state is criminal negligence, meaning the actor ought to have been aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the conduct would interfere with the protected duty. The statute provides a defense when the alleged interruption or interference consisted of speech only. Subsection (b) classifies the offense as a Class B misdemeanor.
What usually happens to a INTERFER W/PUBLIC DUTIES charge?
81% ended without a conviction, 4% in deferred adjudication and 15% in a conviction.
How 4,158 resolved INTERFER W/PUBLIC DUTIES charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 15 counties (Bastrop, Bell, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, Denton, FortBend, Galveston, Harris, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Travis, Williamson):
| County | Resolved | Not convicted | Deferred | Convicted | Median days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris | 2,985 | 88% | 1% | 11% | 183 |
| Hays | 230 | 60% | 15% | 25% | 367 |
| Collin | 206 | 42% | 25% | 33% | 162 |
| Williamson | 187 | 72% | 6% | 21% | 288 |
| Galveston | 153 | 79% | 3% | 18% | 174 |
| FortBend | 122 | 72% | 5% | 23% | 316 |
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (4) 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 INTERFER W/PUBLIC DUTIES case take to resolve?
Typically about 7 months: half of resolved cases closed within 200 days of filing.
Across 4,158 resolved INTERFER W/PUBLIC DUTIES charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 200 days. The middle half took between 71 and 369 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real INTERFER W/PUBLIC DUTIES 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 Interference with Public Duties in Texas?
Up to 180 days in county jail and a fine up to $2,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class B misdemeanor | Up to 180 days in county jail | Fine up to $2,000 | Penal Code § 12.22 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for INTERFER W/PUBLIC DUTIES in Texas?
The median bail is $2,000, and 16% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 15,639 Texas bail settings for this charge (69 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $2,000 (middle half: $1,000 – $4,000). 16% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 117 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (4,489 records), the median was $1,000 and 30% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 1,590 | $1,000 | $500 – $2,000 | 16% | 1% |
| Bexar | 928 | $1,500 | $1,000 – $2,500 | 16% | 2% |
| El Paso | 896 | $1,500 | $1,000 – $3,000 | 18% | 0% |
| Harris | 797 | $1,000 | $500 – $3,000 | 67% | 0% |
| Hays | 713 | $2,500 | $1,500 – $5,000 | 25% | 3% |
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.
Charged with INTERFER W/PUBLIC DUTIES?
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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.