KIDNAPPING

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.

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

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.

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.