Bexar County Satellite Bond Office

Bexar County Satellite Bond Office: Bond Out in Hours, Not All Day

The Bexar County Satellite Office lets people with active arrest warrants walk into the courthouse and bond out in a matter of hours — without going to the main jail. Bailiffs at the satellite office book you into the system, pull your warrant, and process your release on the same visit.

That matters because timing is everything. If a police officer finds you on the street with an active warrant, the booking process at the main jail can take most of the day — sometimes eight hours or more. By using the satellite office and self-surrendering, most people are in and out in two to four hours.

What Is a “Satellite Bond”? (And Why That Term Is Misleading)

There is no legal document called a “satellite bond.” When people use that phrase, they mean the bond paperwork you bring to the satellite office when you self-surrender.

Here is how it actually works: before you walk into the satellite office, you must already have a bail bond posted. That means hiring a licensed bond company — or retaining an attorney who can arrange it — and obtaining the completed bond paperwork in advance. You do not post the bond at the satellite office. You bring the bond there after it has already been written.

The bond paperwork must match the warrant exactly: the name on the bond, the charge, and the bond amount must all be correct. You will also need triplicate copies — the original plus two copies. Your bondsperson or attorney will prepare all of this, but double-check everything before you walk in.

How to bond out using the satellite office?

Here are the five steps to self-surrender using the Bexar County Satellite Office.

Who cannot use the satellite office to bond out?

The satellite office cannot take the following types of cases:

• sex crimes of any type or degree;
• out of county warrants;
• out of state warrants;
• some cases that are not assigned to a court; and
• cases that require GPS as a condition of bond. (But there are some exceptions.)

What else should I know about the Satellite Office?

The satellite office has two time slots to turn yourself in. They are 8 to 9 AM and 1 to 1:30 PM. You should get to the office early. Otherwise, if the office is full, then you will have to come back the next day. Worse yet, they can take you into custody because you have an active warrant.

Finally, get a friend or family member to drive you to the courthouse. Sometimes problems arise during the booking process that will delay when you get out. This makes it risky to park at a meter downtown.

Do I Need a Lawyer to Use the Satellite Office?

You do not need a lawyer just to walk through the satellite office. But there are two situations where having an attorney before you go makes a significant difference.

First, if the court has issued a warrant and remanded you without bond (R.W.O.B.), you cannot use the satellite office at all. A judge has to set a bond before any bond can be written. In that situation, you need an attorney to file a motion and appear before the court to request a bond. If the judge grants it, then you can move forward with the satellite office process.

Second, keep in mind that if you hire Attorney Genaro R. Cortez to help with a bond motion, he represents you on the full case — not just the bond hearing. Judges do not permit an attorney to file a bond motion and then immediately withdraw. When you hire this office, you get full criminal defense representation from the bond hearing through resolution of your case.

Need a bond set to get a satellite bond?

Call 210-733-7575 for a free case consult. Attorney Genaro R. Cortez can help you get a bond set if the judge issues an arrest warrant for you and remands you without bond (R.W.O.B.) When this happens, then you will need an attorney to approach the court and ask it to set a bond in your case. If the judge agrees to set a bond, then you can post the bond and get out of jail.