INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODYTexas Penal Code (PC) § 25.03(d)
Interference with Child Custody is a state jail felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 25.03(d). It is punishable by 180 days to 2 years in a state jail and a fine up to $10,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY” mean?
Interference with Child Custody is a state jail felony under Texas PC § 25.03(d).
Texas Penal Code § 25.03 defines interference with child custody. A person commits the offense by taking or retaining a child younger than 18 while knowing that the taking or retention violates the express terms of a court judgment or order — including a temporary order — disposing of the child's custody; or by taking the child out of the geographic area of the judicial district without the court's permission and with intent to deprive the court of authority over the child, when the person has not been awarded custody and knows that a divorce or civil custody suit has been filed. A noncustodial parent can also commit the offense by knowingly enticing or persuading the child to leave the custody of the custodial parent, guardian, or lawful custodian. Subsection (d) classifies the offense as a state jail felony.
What usually happens to a INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY charge?
56% ended without a conviction, 20% in deferred adjudication and 23% in a conviction.
How 78 resolved INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 11 counties (Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, FortBend, Galveston, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Travis, 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 INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY case take to resolve?
Typically about 11 months: half of resolved cases closed within 333 days of filing.
Across 78 resolved INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 333 days. The middle half took between 184 and 576 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY 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 Child Custody in Texas?
180 days to 2 years in a state jail and a fine up to $10,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| State jail felony | 180 days to 2 years in a state jail | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.35 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY in Texas?
The median bail is $7,500, and 10% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 625 Texas bail settings for this charge (3 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $7,500 (middle half: $5,000 – $15,000). 10% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 43 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (372 records), the median was $7,500 and 15% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bexar | 72 | $5,000 | $4,875 – $10,000 | 7% | 10% |
| Hidalgo | 32 | $5,500 | $4,500 – $11,250 | 50% | 0% |
| Travis | 30 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $12,000 | 23% | 0% |
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 INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY?
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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.