KIDNAPPINGTexas Penal Code (PC) § 20.03(a)
Kidnapping is a third-degree felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 20.03(a). It is punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “KIDNAPPING” mean?
Kidnapping is a third-degree felony under Texas PC § 20.03(a).
Texas Penal Code § 20.03(a) defines kidnapping: a person commits the offense by intentionally or knowingly abducting another person. "Abduct," defined by Texas Penal Code § 20.01, means to restrain a person with intent to prevent the person's liberation, either by secreting or holding the person in a place where the person is not likely to be found or by using or threatening to use deadly force. "Restrain" means restricting a person's movements without consent so as to interfere substantially with the person's liberty, by moving the person from one place to another or by confining the person; restraint is without consent when accomplished by force, intimidation, or deception, or, for a young child, by any means. Kidnapping is a third-degree felony, distinguished from aggravated kidnapping under Texas Penal Code § 20.04 by the absence of aggravating purposes such as ransom, hostage-taking, or use of a deadly weapon.
What usually happens to a KIDNAPPING charge?
44% ended without a conviction, 17% in deferred adjudication and 38% in a conviction.
How 174 resolved KIDNAPPING charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 12 counties (Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, FortBend, Galveston, Harris, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, 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.
How long does a KIDNAPPING case take to resolve?
Typically about 11 months: half of resolved cases closed within 320 days of filing.
Across 174 resolved KIDNAPPING charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 320 days. The middle half took between 168 and 475 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real KIDNAPPING 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 Kidnapping in Texas?
2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third-degree felony | 2 to 10 years in prison (TDCJ) | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.34 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for KIDNAPPING in Texas?
The median bail is $25,000, and 1% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 971 Texas bail settings for this charge (8 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $25,000 (middle half: $8,000 – $66,250). 1% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 129 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (211 records), the median was $50,000 and 0% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 124 | $10,000 | $3,000 – $25,000 | 0% | 11% |
| Bexar | 106 | $15,000 | $5,000 – $65,000 | 0% | 4% |
| Dallas | 72 | $40,000 | $16,250 – $50,000 | 0% | 22% |
| Travis | 56 | $22,500 | $10,000 – $50,000 | 2% | 9% |
| El Paso | 52 | $42,000 | $6,875 – $100,000 | 0% | 8% |
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 KIDNAPPING?
Find Texas criminal defense attorneys with verified case histories in your county.
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.