BAIL CONDITIONS: WHAT ARE THE COMMON TYPES?
by Contributor
(Jan. 1, 2020) — Courts can only deny bail if there is a high-risk level that cannot be mitigated by imposing certain bail conditions. That said, this article discusses various types of bond conditions that may be imposed.
Being conversant with all the laws in your state is commendable but is generally an unattainable feat. To this end, you might find yourself thrown into jail one of these days for something you might not have known was an offense. When in prison, things seem to move too fast, and most people will only focus on what it takes to get their freedom back. They hence center on getting the best possible attorney to assure them of a release on bail awaiting their case’s hearing.
In Summit County and beyond these borders, bail bonds are not as easy as getting a bail bond agent to pay your bail while you walk scot-free. There are multiple elements you need to pay attention to when applying for bail. One of the primary ones is the terms a guarantor will offer for his/her service and what you will put as a guarantee for your bond. Few people, unfortunately, think of the bail conditions a court will have set, yet these will determine whether or not you will continue enjoying your freedom. The following are some of the standard bail conditions.
Conduct Requirements
The court might set some conditions on what you can or cannot do when you are out on bail. These conditions are known as conduct requirements. Some of the common examples in this category include reporting to police stations within specified time frames and living at particular addresses. You might also be required to surrender your passport or stay a specified distance from some people or places.
Security Requirements
This type of arrangement involves you or someone else giving the court security that you will do something. You might, for instance, be needed to agree that you will pay a specified monetary amount if you do not come to court as agreed. At times, the court will need the money it sets as security to be deposited upfront before your release from custody. At times, the court might require your property as security rather than cash.
Character Acknowledgment
This condition calls for the signing of a form by a responsible member of society. This form acknowledges that the person signing it knows you are a responsible citizen who will not break any of the conditions set for your bail. Pastors, community leaders, police officers, and public servants are some of the people you can use for your character acknowledgment.
Enforcement Conditions
These are conditions meant to ensure that you will comply with another bail condition. You might, for instance, be required to open the door if the police come to your property to submit a test or check that you are there if you have a curfew. One of the common enforcement conditions for those involved in a DUI is a random breath test.
Breaking the above conditions will see you back in jail and charged with infringement of your bail conditions. This time around, the courts might not be so lenient. The court might revoke the first bail and lock you up awaiting your trial. In some cases, they will impose a second bail, which is generally quite high to minimize the chances of your breaking the bail conditions again.