Penal Code § 16.01(a)(1) · Class A misdemeanor

UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENT

Unlawful Use of Criminal Instrument in Texas: what bail is set at, how often a personal bond is granted, and what usually happens to the charge.

$5,000
Median cash bail
6%
Released on personal bond
3,487
Bail records

What “UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENT” means

Texas Penal Code § 16.01 defines unlawful use of a criminal instrument or mechanical security device. This variant, § 16.01(a)(1), applies when a person possesses a criminal instrument or mechanical security device with the intent to use it in the commission of an offense. A criminal instrument is anything whose possession, manufacture, or sale is not otherwise illegal but that is specially designed, made, or adapted for use in committing an offense; a mechanical security device is one designed or manufactured for locksmith use in opening structures, vehicles, or other property. The State must prove both the specialized character of the item and the actor's intent to use it criminally — ordinary tools without criminal adaptation, or specialized items held without criminal purpose, fall outside the statute. Under § 16.01(c), this possession variant is classified one category lower than the offense the actor intended to commit.

Also appears on court records as:

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 UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENT in Texas

Across 3,487 Texas bail settings for this charge (24 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $5,000 (middle half: $2,000 – $12,500). 6% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 125 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (273 records), the median was $4,000 and 13% got a personal bond.

CountyRecordsMedian cash bailMiddle halfPersonal bondDenied
Tarrant 393 $1,500 $763 – $3,000 7% 0%
Bexar 295 $5,500 $3,000 – $12,125 4% 11%
Travis 292 $5,000 $3,000 – $8,000 16% 3%
Fort Bend 273 $7,500 $1,500 – $20,000 12% 10%
Hays 230 $2,500 $500 – $5,000 5% 5%

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 UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENT cases

CaseCountyFiledDisposedOutcome
25-DCR-113315FortBendNov 10, 2025Aug 10, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
105636-CRBrazoriaFeb 5, 2026Jul 23, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
25-01615-3WilliamsonMar 19, 2025Jul 16, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
CR-2021-01971-DDentonMar 18, 2021Jun 16, 2026Guilty or no-contest plea
25-06163-2WilliamsonOct 23, 2025Jun 15, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
25-DCR-113322FortBendNov 10, 2025Jun 12, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
24-DCR-107818FortBendFeb 10, 2025Jun 1, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
26-02849-3WilliamsonMay 13, 2026May 29, 2026Dismissed by the prosecutor
296-81013-2026CollinFeb 26, 2026May 28, 2026Guilty or no-contest plea
296-81013-2026CollinFeb 26, 2026May 28, 2026Guilty or no-contest plea

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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.