TAMPER W/GOVERN RCD LIC/SEAL DEFRAUD/HARM IAT

Texas Penal Code § 37.10 prohibits tampering with a governmental record, including making a false entry or alteration, presenting or using a false record as genuine, destroying or concealing a record, or unlawfully possessing or selling a record or blank form. This charge, under § 37.10(c)(2)(A), applies when the governmental record was a license, certificate, permit, seal, title, letter of patent, or similar document issued by government, whether by Texas, another state, or the United States, or certain public school records, reports, or assessment instruments. The offense is a second-degree felony because the State further alleges the defendant acted with intent to defraud or harm another; the same conduct involving these record types without that intent is graded one level lower. Government-issued licenses and seals receive heightened treatment because falsifying them undermines documents the public relies on as authoritative.

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

Across 1,493 Texas bail settings for this charge (9 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $5,000 (middle half: $5,000 – $15,000). 6% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 117 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (218 records), the median was $7,500 and 34% 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.

• TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD § 37.10(c)(1)
• TAMPER W/GOVERN RECORD DEFRAUD/HARM § 37.10(c)(1)
• TAMPER W/GOV REC-INS DOC (A)(1,3,4,6) IAT § 37.10(d)(2)
• TAMPER W/GOV REC-INS DOC-DEFRAUD/HARM IAT § 37.10(d)(3)