TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORDTexas Penal Code (PC) § 37.10(c)(1)
“TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD” stands for Tamper with Government Record, a Class A misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 37.10(c)(1). It is punishable by up to 1 year in county jail and a fine up to $4,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD” mean?
“TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD” stands for Tamper with Government Record, a Class A misdemeanor under Texas PC § 37.10(c)(1).
Texas Penal Code § 37.10 defines tampering with a governmental record. The prohibited conduct includes knowingly making a false entry in, or false alteration of, a governmental record; making, presenting, or using a record, document, or thing with knowledge of its falsity and with intent that it be taken as a genuine governmental record; intentionally destroying, concealing, removing, or otherwise impairing the verity, legibility, or availability of a governmental record; possessing, selling, or offering to sell a governmental record or blank form with intent that it be used unlawfully; using a governmental record with knowledge of its falsity; or possessing or selling a governmental record or blank form knowing it was obtained unlawfully. A governmental record broadly includes anything belonging to, received by, or kept by government for information. Under § 37.10(c)(1), this Class A misdemeanor variant involves no allegation that the defendant intended to defraud or harm another and no specially graded record type.
What usually happens to a TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD charge?
85% ended without a conviction, 2% in deferred adjudication and 12% in a conviction.
How 2,504 resolved TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 15 counties (Bastrop, Bell, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, Denton, FortBend, Galveston, Harris, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Travis, Williamson):
| County | Resolved | Not convicted | Deferred | Convicted | Median days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris | 2,138 | 91% | 1% | 8% | 144 |
| Hays | 110 | 53% | 11% | 36% | 401 |
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (3) 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 TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD case take to resolve?
Typically about 5 months: half of resolved cases closed within 157 days of filing.
Across 2,504 resolved TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 157 days. The middle half took between 74 and 264 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD 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 Tamper with Government Record in Texas?
Up to 1 year in county jail and a fine up to $4,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year in county jail | Fine up to $4,000 | Penal Code § 12.21 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD in Texas?
The median bail is $2,500, and 20% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 4,266 Texas bail settings for this charge (21 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $2,500 (middle half: $1,000 – $5,000). 20% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 134 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (1,442 records), the median was $2,000 and 41% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris | 576 | $1,000 | $178 – $2,010 | 72% | 0% |
| Tarrant | 550 | $1,000 | $700 – $2,500 | 14% | 3% |
| Travis | 339 | $5,000 | $2,500 – $6,000 | 29% | 5% |
| Denton | 283 | $2,500 | $1,000 – $2,517 | 6% | 1% |
| Fort Bend | 232 | $2,000 | $1,000 – $6,875 | 16% | 15% |
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 TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD?
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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.