Will I Go To Jail In Houston, Harris County If I Attend My First Court Date Without A Lawyer?

This is a question I get often by people that call me because they are scared to go to their initial court date without a Houston criminal attorney.  I am embarrassed that I live in a county where this is the case.  The reality is that a criminal court judge should not revoke a bond and put someone back in jail so long as the accused attends their court setting on time, has not been charged with a new crime since their arrest,  and because they cannot afford to hire a criminal lawyer.  Nevertheless, most judges will scold the accused for not hiring a lawyer in a timely fashion.  Thus, do not let anyone scare you into thinking that if you do not hire a lawyer for your first court date in a criminal case that you will be re-arrested in Harris County, Texas.  This is not true for theft, DWI, Assault or any other type of case in Houston.