Penal Code § 37.10(c)(1) · Class A misdemeanor

TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD

Tamper with Government Record in Texas: what bail is set at, how often a personal bond is granted, and what usually happens to the charge.

$2,500
Median cash bail
20%
Released on personal bond
4,266
Bail records

What “TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD” means

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.

Charged asShare of bail recordsPossible confinementFineSource
Class A misdemeanor100% 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.

Bail for TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD in Texas

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.

CountyRecordsMedian cash bailMiddle halfPersonal bondDenied
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.

Recent TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD cases

CaseCountyFiledDisposedOutcome
20-00471-2WilliamsonJan 29, 2020Aug 11, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
20-00626-3WilliamsonFeb 5, 2020Jul 31, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
262789801010HarrisJun 30, 2026Jul 29, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
260232801010HarrisJan 21, 2026Jul 29, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
261314501010HarrisMar 31, 2026Jul 29, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
260257401010HarrisJan 23, 2026Jul 29, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
261013001010HarrisMar 13, 2026Jul 29, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
260385101010HarrisFeb 1, 2026Jul 29, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
260590401010HarrisFeb 14, 2026Jul 29, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
262286701010HarrisMay 31, 2026Jul 29, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor

Related charges

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Bail 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.