"I haven't been convicted of anything — why am I reporting to a supervision officer and taking drug tests?" It is one of the most common questions we hear from new clients in Harris County. The answer is Pretrial Services, and Brian Foley explains it in this video.
What Pretrial Services does
Harris County Pretrial Services is the county agency that supervises people who are out on bond while their case is pending. When a magistrate or judge sets your bond, they can attach bond conditions — and Pretrial Services is who makes sure you follow them. Depending on the charge, that can mean regular check-ins by phone or in person, random drug and alcohol testing, an ignition interlock or portable alcohol monitor in a DWI case, a GPS ankle monitor, or a no-contact order in an assault family member case.
Is it probation?
Legally, no. Probation (community supervision) is a sentence that comes after a conviction or a plea. Pretrial supervision is a condition of your release before the case is decided, and you are still presumed innocent. Practically, however, it can feel almost identical — and the consequences of a violation are serious.
What happens if you violate a condition
A missed check-in, a positive test, or contact with a protected person gets reported to the judge. The court can raise your bond, add stricter conditions, or revoke your bond entirely and put you back in jail until the case is over. Violating a protective order or a family-violence bond condition can also be charged as a new criminal offense.
Getting conditions changed
Bond conditions are supposed to be tailored to ensure you come to court and protect the public — not to punish you. When a condition is keeping you from working, seeing your children, or living in your own home, your attorney can file a motion to modify the conditions and present the judge with a reason to loosen them. As former prosecutors, Brian Foley and Luis Baez know what judges want to hear before they will relax supervision, and they handle these motions routinely.
If you are on pretrial supervision in Harris County and the conditions are unworkable — or if you have already been accused of violating one — call or text (713) 703-1718 for a free consultation.