INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY

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.

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

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.

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.