TAMPER W/ELECTRONIC MONITORING DEVICE
Tamper with Electronic Monitoring Device in Texas: what bail is set at, how often a personal bond is granted, and what usually happens to the charge.
What “TAMPER W/ELECTRONIC MONITORING DEVICE” means
Texas Penal Code § 38.112 defines tampering with an electronic monitoring device. The statute applies only to a person who is already required to submit to electronic monitoring of the person's location, for example as a condition of community supervision (probation), parole, mandatory supervision, or release on bail, or under a court-ordered electronic monitoring program. The State must prove that such a person knowingly removed or disabled, or knowingly caused another person to remove or disable, the tracking device the person was required to wear to enable monitoring of the person's location. The offense therefore has two components: the existence of a valid monitoring requirement, and the knowing removal or disabling of the required device. The offense is graded as a state jail felony under § 38.112(b). Cutting off or deactivating an ankle monitor is the conduct most commonly charged under this section.
| 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.
Bail for TAMPER W/ELECTRONIC MONITORING DEVICE in Texas
Across 806 Texas bail settings for this charge (5 counties, Sep 2023 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $10,000 (middle half: $5,000 – $20,000). 1% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 58 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (319 records), the median was $10,000 and 1% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bexar | 132 | $15,000 | $10,000 – $25,000 | 0% | 15% |
| Tarrant | 97 | $5,000 | $2,500 – $20,000 | 0% | 7% |
| Travis | 72 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | 0% | 1% |
| Jim Wells | 51 | $15,000 | $15,000 – $20,000 | 0% | 0% |
| Harris | 35 | $15,000 | $10,000 – $25,000 | 0% | 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.
How real TAMPER W/ELECTRONIC MONITORING DEVICE cases ended
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
Charged with TAMPER W/ELECTRONIC MONITORING DEVICE?
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Find a Defense AttorneyBail data: Texas Office of Court Administration magistration reports (SB 6), Sep 2023 – 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.