Relating to the duty of a magistrate to make written findings in certain criminal proceedings.

Contracts

• Security Vendor MSAs: Review Master Service Agreements with third-party security firms immediately.
• Indemnification: Amend clauses to explicitly cover civil liability resulting from arrests where a magistrate issues a "no probable cause" finding.
• Notification: Insert a requirement for vendors to report any "no probable cause" finding regarding an arrest on your property within 48 hours.

Hiring/Training

• Human Resources: Update background check adjudication matrices. An arrest record accompanied by an Art. 15.17(h) "No Probable Cause" finding must be distinguished from a standard dismissal; it indicates the arrest lacked legal justification ab initio.
• Loss Prevention/Security: Retrain staff on the threshold for detention. Staff must understand that a magistrate is now statutorily required to document evidentiary failures, creating a direct pipeline to false imprisonment claims.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Legal Discovery: Update litigation hold and discovery checklists. In cases of false arrest allegations, counsel must specifically request "Written findings pursuant to Art. 15.17(h)" rather than relying on general docket summaries.
• Incident Logs: Internal security incident reports must track the judicial outcome of detentions to identify patterns of "no probable cause" findings, which serve as a leading indicator for liability.

Fees & Costs

• Insurance Premiums: Consult with liability carriers. A high frequency of "no probable cause" findings generated by your security team may trigger premium increases or coverage exclusions for false arrest.