UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENTTexas Penal Code (PC) § 16.01(a)(1)
“UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENT” stands for Unlawful Use of Criminal Instrument, a Class A misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 16.01(a)(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 “UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENT” mean?
“UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENT” stands for Unlawful Use of Criminal Instrument, a Class A misdemeanor under Texas PC § 16.01(a)(1).
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:
What usually happens to a UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENT charge?
58% ended without a conviction, 10% in deferred adjudication and 31% in a conviction.
How 211 resolved UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENT charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 12 counties (Bell, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, Denton, FortBend, Galveston, Hays, Montgomery, Travis, Williamson):
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (0) 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 UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENT case take to resolve?
Typically about 9 months: half of resolved cases closed within 272 days of filing.
Across 210 resolved UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENT charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 272 days. The middle half took between 120 and 571 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENT 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 Unlawful Use of Criminal Instrument 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 UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENT in Texas?
The median bail is $5,000, and 6% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
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.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Charged with UNL USE OF CRIMINAL INSTRUMENT?
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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.