Own Recognizance ("OR") Release - Utah Criminal Attorney

If you are facing criminal charges in Utah, a court may issue an arrest warrant and order that you be held in jail while the case is pending. Police may also arrest you immediately before the case is even filed under some circumstances. An "own recognizance" or "OR" release is one option that may allow you to be released from jail while the case is pending.

Based in Salt Lake City, criminal attorney Stephen Howard has successfully protected his clients' rights in felony and misdemeanor cases ranging from homicide to DUI. Contact us now to schedule an initial consultation

When will a Utah criminal court order an OR release?

An “own recognizance” or “OR” release from jail may be allowed by a court in Utah criminal cases where the court is convinced that the defendant is not a flight risk and does not pose a risk to the alleged victims or to the community in general. Other factors that may be considered by the court may include hardships that the defendant may be faced with if he/she is incarcerated during the pendency of the criminal case, the defendant’s prior criminal history, the number of charges in the current case, the severity of the charges, injuries or damages alleged to have been caused by the defendant, the length of time it is anticipated that it will take to resolve the case, or other relevant factors.

A criminal defendant does not have a "right" to be released on his or her own recognizance. In most cases, a defedant has a constitutional right to have bail set at a reasonable amount. But the decision to grant an "OR" release is discretionary with the court. Having an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side can give you the best chance of obtaining an own recognizance release.

Are there other alternatives for release from jail?

If a judge refuses to grant an own recognizance release, there may be other alternatives to securing your release from jail while your case is pending. If bail has been set, you may post a cash bail or you may consider using a bail bonds company to post a bond. Before posting a bond, you should also consider whether the court is likely to consider a request to reduce the amount of your bail. In some cases, even where a judge refuses to grant an own recognizance release, the court may be willing to allow a supervised release from jail. A bail reduction or a supervised release agreement may save you thousands of dollars in bail bond costs.

Choosing a Criminal Defense Attorney in Salt Lake City

If you are facing criminal charges in Utah, it is important to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. The best results in your criminal case can often depend on having your attorney’s involvement in all stages of the case. Based in Salt Lake City, criminal defense lawyer Stephen Howard provides legal services to clients throughout Utah. He has achieved not guilty verdicts, dismissals, and appellate reversals in some of the most serious criminal charges on the books in Utah.

Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.

RELATED CRIMINAL DEFENSE TOPICS

• How do I get a bail reduction in a Utah criminal case?
• Where can I find bail bond information?
• How do I get a release through Salt Lake Pretrial Services?