MAGISTRATION
After a person has been arrested in Bexar County, he or she will be brought to the Central Magistrate Office to appear before a judge where charges will be explained to the accused and a bond will be set. During this process, the Bexar County District Attorney's Office, represented by an assistant district attorney, will review the police report and determine if there is enough evidence to accept the case.
Under DA Gonzales, beginning January, 2019, those accused of a crime are represented by a public defender when they appear before the magistrate judge. This adversarial approach creates a more equitable outcome when the accused is being explained their charges and he or she has legal representation during their bond hearing.
Other duties performed by the District Attorney's Office at magistration include reviewing arrest warrants and search warrants to ensure that the request contains the necessary facts to justify the warrant before law enforcement presents them to the Magistrate Judge. Additionally, the District Attorney's Office appears in court to make recommendations to the judge for what type of bond should be set, how much the bond should be set for, and if there are any conditions that should be applied to the bond.
For the location and contact information of the Bexar County Central Magistrate Office, CLICK HERE.
Please scroll down to view current magistration data.