What Bail Conditions Can Be Set In New York

When someone is arrested for a crime in New York, a judge will decide whether to release them pending trial, and if so, under what conditions. One common condition is bail – money deposited with the court to ensure the defendant returns for future court appearances. But how does the judge determine appropriate bail conditions in New York criminal cases? This article will examine the purpose of bail, the different types of bail available, the factors judges consider when setting bail, recent reforms to New York’s bail system, and the process for appealing bail decisions.

Types of Bail in New York

New York judges have several options when setting bail^[4]:

• **Cash Bail** – Defendant must pay the full bail amount upfront and gets it back upon returning to court
• **Insurance Company Bail Bond** – Bail bondsman posts bond and charges a fee
• **Secured Surety Bond** – Defendant pledges property as collateral but doesn’t have to pay unless they miss court
• **Unsecured Surety Bond** – Defendant simply signs a bond promising to pay the bail amount if they don’t appear

Cash bail used to be the most common type, but recent reforms encourage judges to use less restrictive options first.

Factors Judges Consider in Setting Bail

New York law instructs judges to weigh several factors when setting appropriate bail^[5]:

• Defendant’s character, reputation, employment, finances, and mental condition
• Defendant’s criminal record, if any
• Defendant’s record of appearing in court when required
• Seriousness of the charges and potential sentence
• Weight of evidence against the defendant
• Potential danger defendant poses to the community

Judges are supposed to consider the least restrictive bail conditions and should not impose unpayable bail solely due to poverty.

Bail for Violent Felony Charges

For defendants charged with violent felonies, New York recently eliminated cash bail altogether^[6]. Judges can impose non-monetary conditions like:

• Travel restrictions
• Curfews
• GPS monitoring
• Mandatory counseling

But they cannot require any upfront bail payment for release.

Bail Reform in New York

Recent reforms changed bail laws in New York in several key ways:

• Eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies
• Required judges to consider defendants’ ability to pay
• Expanded options beyond just cash bail
• Banned bail for technical parole violations

Despite some controversy, these measures aim to make bail more equitable and prevent pretrial detention solely due to poverty.

Paying Bail in New York

Those who are able to pay bail have options like:

• Paying cash bail at the courthouse or jail
• Using a bail bondsman and paying a fee
• Putting up property or collateral as surety

If all court appearances are made, the bail is returned after the case concludes.

Appealing Bail Decisions

New York law allows appealing bail decisions to a higher court. Grounds for appeals include:

• Bail is excessive or more than necessary to ensure return to court
• Judge failed to consider defendant’s finances
• Judge relied solely on seriousness of charges, not risk of flight

Experienced criminal defense lawyers can advise whether to appeal bail as unfair or improper.