Own Recognizance

Another method of release pending trial is through a county or law enforcement administered pretrial release program. Usually, the staff members of these programs interview individuals in custody and make recommendations to the court regarding release of these individuals on their own recognizance (i.e., without any financial security to insure the interviewee's return).

The interview process is often conducted over the telephone, with little inquiry into the individual's background to determine whether the detainee is likely to appear in court and with virtually no verification of information provided by the detainee.

Since no money or bond is posed to secure the detainee's appearance in court, he or she faces no personal economic hardship from his or her conscious failure to appear.

How Bail Works > Own Recognizance