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.
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 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.
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.
| 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.
How real TAMPER W/GOVERNMENT RECORD 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
Related charges
- TAMPER W/GOVERN RECORD DEFRAUD/HARM § 37.10(c)(1)
- TAMPER W/GOVERN RCD LIC/SEAL DEFRAUD/HARM IAT § 37.10(c)(2)(a)
- 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)
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.