If you have been charged with a criminal offense and had bond set in your case, you should also know that you face certain conditions of release after you’ve posted bond.
Below is some information from a bail bondsman in Angleton. Reach out to Brazoria County Bail Bonds to learn more!
Bond conditions
Bond conditions are court-imposed rules that are placed on a defendant before a trial occurs. That defendant must follow all of those conditions until the case is fully resolved. The conditions are conveyed to the defendant in a form called an Order Setting Conditions of Bond (or Release). These conditions can be challenged by the defendant, or reviewed and changed by the court.
The U.S. Constitution places some limits on these bond conditions. They must be balanced between ensuring the defendant appears in the court, while also respecting the defendant’s right and ability to stay free pending an appeal.
Defendants’ responsibility for obeying bond conditions
Defendants are expected to obey the bond conditions set for them. A failure to do so will mean an immediate return to jail, and this time it is likely there will not be any possibility of bond. This will keep you away from your loved ones and prevent you from being able to earn wages, while your attorney will be hamstrung with you behind bars. It is, therefore, in your absolute best interest to abide by all the terms of the bond conditions that have been laid out for you.
Keep in mind that there is a zero tolerance policy with bond conditions. Defendants often do not understand this fact, and that judges can (and almost always will) return defendants to jail if they violate the terms of the bond conditions.
There are several ways courts monitor defendants to ensure they are abiding by all bond conditions. For example, if one of the conditions is that you must remain sober or drug-free, the court could require random drug testing and urinalysis. The court might also require in-person visits with a bond officer, blood testing or other types of testing. People out of jail on bond are also generally required to stay in the state of Texas until trial, to maintain suitable employment, to report to a probation officer on a regular basis, to update that officer about changes of address and to not possess any firearms.
What if the bond conditions are unfair?
Most bond conditions are standardized for certain types of cases. However, there may be some circumstances in which you feel the conditions of your bond are unfair and infringe upon your rights. If so, it is important you challenge those conditions immediately, and it is highly recommended that you seek the assistance of an attorney to do so. An attorney will understand the regulations that are in place for bond conditions and the best method of fighting against unfair conditions.
For more information about how bond works and what to do about unfair bond conditions, contact a bail bondsman in Angleton today.