When it comes to getting out of jail, there is more than one way. You might be offered bail and then you can pay a sum of money to be released. Not everyone can be offered bail, however, and some people cannot be released regardless of any sum of money paid. The other way to gain release from jail is to be released on your own recognizance. Read on to learn more about this manner of gaining freedom.
Why is a Release So Important?
Obviously, no one enjoys being in jail. Conditions can be dirty, dangerous, and frequently overcrowded. It is this last aspect of the correctional system that usually prompts the offering of bail and of being released on own recognizance (OR). Jails are not meant to hold those accused of crimes indefinitely, but crowded court calendars often mean that defendants wait for months for their cases to come to trial. Regardless of whether or not the conditions inside a jail are good or bad, most people need to work at jobs and attend to family matters instead of waiting in jail. Finally, it is far more difficult for those accused of crimes to work on their own defense from behind bars.
Who Might be Eligible for OR Release?
Own Recognizance Conditions
Some fortunate citizens can skip the bail payment and be released on their own recognizance. That should not be taken as a "get out of jail free" card entirely, however. Those released through OR must obey a long list of rules and then they must appear for any scheduled court dates. The good graces of the justice system that allows OR releases don't usually stretch to wrong-doing after the release. Being arrested under an OR release will probably mean incarceration with no bail offered. When you are offered an OR release, you must pledge that you will do the following:
If you have been arrested, waste no time in seeking help from a criminal law attorney. You will need to be released from jail to help plan your defense, be it through bail or with OR, so speak to a criminal defense attorney to learn how.
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