UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT:EXPOSE TO SBITexas Penal Code (PC) § 20.02(c)(2)(a)
“UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT:EXPOSE TO SBI” stands for Unlawful Restraint Exposing the Victim to Serious Bodily Injury, a third-degree felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 20.02(c)(2)(a). It is punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT:EXPOSE TO SBI” mean?
“UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT:EXPOSE TO SBI” stands for Unlawful Restraint Exposing the Victim to Serious Bodily Injury, a third-degree felony under Texas PC § 20.02(c)(2)(a).
Texas Penal Code § 20.02 makes it an offense to intentionally or knowingly restrain another person — restricting the person's movements without consent, by moving or confining the person, so as to interfere substantially with the person's liberty. The courthouse abbreviation "SBI" stands for serious bodily injury and identifies the felony variant in § 20.02(c)(2)(A): the offense rises from a Class A misdemeanor to a third-degree felony when the actor recklessly exposes the victim to a substantial risk of serious bodily injury. Texas Penal Code § 1.07 defines serious bodily injury as injury creating a substantial risk of death, or causing death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ. The State need not prove the victim was actually hurt — only that the restraint created the substantial risk and the actor was at least reckless about it.
What usually happens to a UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT:EXPOSE TO SBI charge?
28% ended without a conviction, 50% in deferred adjudication and 20% in a conviction.
How 74 resolved UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT:EXPOSE TO SBI charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 11 counties (Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, FortBend, Galveston, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Travis, Williamson):
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (1) 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 UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT:EXPOSE TO SBI case take to resolve?
Typically about 6 months: half of resolved cases closed within 168 days of filing.
Across 73 resolved UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT:EXPOSE TO SBI charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 168 days. The middle half took between 63 and 454 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT:EXPOSE TO SBI 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 Restraint Exposing the Victim to Serious Bodily Injury in Texas?
2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third-degree felony | 2 to 10 years in prison (TDCJ) | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.34 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT:EXPOSE TO SBI in Texas?
The median bail is $15,000, and 2% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 1,611 Texas bail settings for this charge (12 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $15,000 (middle half: $5,125 – $35,000). 2% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 66 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (99 records), the median was $20,000 and 3% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 212 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $25,000 | 0% | 3% |
| Travis | 134 | $15,000 | $10,000 – $25,000 | 16% | 1% |
| Dallas | 114 | $25,000 | $7,500 – $50,000 | 0% | 1% |
| Cameron | 105 | $25,000 | $11,250 – $72,500 | 1% | 21% |
| Hays | 84 | $12,500 | $3,000 – $32,500 | 0% | 8% |
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 UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT:EXPOSE TO SBI?
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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.