Pumphrey Law Criminal Defense Bench Warrants / Warrants Release on Recognizance (ROR)

Release on Recognizance (ROR)

When people are arrested in Florida, some alleged offenders are held in custody until they can pay a required bond amount. Other individuals, however, may be eligible for a release on recognizance, often referred to as a recognizance or ROR bond.

When a person is released from custody on an ROR bond, he or she will be instructed to sign an agreement that confirms his or her appearance at all upcoming court hearings, but does not pay any bail money. Individuals who are released on recognizance bonds must appear for all future court dates and avoid any new criminal convictions. Violation of a ROR bond can lead to an alleged offender being arrested again and possibly denied bond.

Lawyer for Release on Recognizance (ROR) in Tallahassee, FL

If you or someone you know was arrested in North Florida for an alleged criminal offense, it is in your best interest to retain legal counsel as soon as possible for help possibly being released on your own recognizance. Pumphrey Law defends clients in communities throughout Jefferson County, Gadsden County, Leon County, Wakulla County, and Liberty County.

Don Pumphrey and the Tallahassee criminal defense attorneys at Pumphrey Law will fight to get you released from custody with the lowest possible bond amount. You can have our lawyers provide a complete evaluation of your case as soon as you call (850) 681-7777 to take advantage of a free initial consultation.

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Leon County Release on Recognizance (ROR) Information Center

• What determines whether a person can be released on an ROR bond?
• What are the conditions of being released on one’s own recognizance?
• Where can I find more information about Release on Recognizance (ROR) in Tallahassee?

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Release on Recognizance (ROR) Process in Florida

Florida Statute § 903.046(1) establishes that the purpose of a bail determination in criminal proceedings is to ensure the appearance of the alleged offender at subsequent proceedings and to protect the community against unreasonable danger from the alleged offender. Under Florida Statute § 903.046(2), a court will consider all of the following factors when determining whether to release an alleged offender on bail or other conditions:

• The nature and circumstances of the offense charged;
• The weight of the evidence against the alleged offender;
• The alleged offender’s family ties, length of residence in the community, employment history, financial resources, and mental condition
• The alleged offender’s past and present conduct (including any prior convictions, previous flight to avoid prosecution, or failure to appear at court proceedings);
• The nature and probability of danger which the alleged offender’s release poses to the community;
• The source of funds used to post bail or procure an appearance bond, particularly whether the proffered funds, real property, property, or any proposed collateral or bond premium may be linked to or derived from the crime alleged to have been committed or from any other criminal or illicit activities;
• Whether the alleged offender is already on release pending resolution of another criminal proceeding or on probation, parole, or other release pending completion of a sentence;
• The street value of any drug or controlled substance connected to or involved in the criminal charge;
• The nature and probability of intimidation and danger to victims;
• Whether there is probable cause to believe that the alleged offender committed a new crime while on pretrial release;
• Any other facts that the court considers relevant;
• Whether the crime charged is a violation of Chapter 874 of the Florida Statutes or alleged to be subject to enhanced punishment under Chapter 874 of the Florida Statutes or reclassification under Florida Statute § 843.22; and
• Whether the alleged offender, other than an alleged offender whose only criminal charge is a misdemeanor offense under Chapter 316 of the Florida Statutes, is required to register as a sexual offender under Florida Statute § 943.0435 or a sexual predator under Florida Statute § 775.21; and, if so, he or she is not eligible for release on bail or surety bond until the first appearance on the case in order to ensure the full participation of the prosecutor and the protection of the public.

If a judge believes that an alleged offender satisfies all of the required factors, then he or she may be released on his or her own recognizance. First-time offenders who are not charged with serious criminal offenses are often eligible for ROR bonds so long as they have not missed prior court appearances.

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Conditions of Release on Recognizance (ROR) in Leon County

Conditions of pretrial release are established under Florida Statute § 903.047. As a condition of pretrial release, whether such release is by surety bail bond or recognizance bond or in some other form, Florida Statute § 903.047(1) states that an alleged offender must refrain from criminal activity of any kind, comply with all conditions of pretrial release, and, if the court issues an order of no contact, refrain from any contact of any type with the alleged victim, except through pretrial discovery pursuant to the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Unless otherwise specified by the court, the phrase “no contact” includes the following prohibited acts:

• Communicating orally or in any written form, either in person, telephonically, electronically, or in any other manner, either directly or indirectly through a third person, with the victim or any other person named in the order (when a victim and an alleged offender have children in common, the alleged offender can request that the court designate an appropriate third person to contact the victim for the sole purpose of facilitating the alleged offender’s contact with the children);
• Having physical or violent contact with the victim or other named person or his or her property;
• Being within 500 feet of the victim’s or other named person’s residence, even if the alleged offender and the victim or other named person share the residence;
• Being within 500 feet of the victim’s or other named person’s vehicle, place of employment, or a specified place frequented regularly by such person.

Under Florida Statute § 903.0471, a court can revoke pretrial release and order pretrial detention if it finds probable cause to believe that the alleged offender committed a new crime while on pretrial release.

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Florida Release on Recognizance (ROR) Resources

• Chapter 903 | Florida Statutes
  View the full text of all Florida state laws relating to bail. You can learn more about the nature of criminal surety bail bonds, purpose of and criteria for bail determination, and conditions of pretrial release. Also find information about appearance bonds, bail on appeal, and deposit of money or bonds as bail.
• Rule 3.131. Pretrial Release | Florida Supreme Court
  Read the Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure for pretrial release. Rule 3.131 addresses the right to pretrial release, hearing at first appearance conditions of release, and consequences of failure to appear. You can also learn more about pretrial detention.

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Pumphrey Law | Tallahassee Release on Recognizance (ROR) Attorney

Were you or your loved one recently arrested for an alleged crime in North Florida? You will want to immediately contact Pumphrey Law for help possibly being released on an ROR bond.

Don Pumphrey and the criminal defense lawyers in Tallahassee at Pumphrey Law represent individuals in communities all over the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region, such as Quincy, Monticello, Tallahassee, Crawfordville, Bristol, and many others. Call (850) 681-7777 or fill out an online contact form to have our attorneys review your case and answer all of your legal questions during a free, confidential consultation.

This article was last updated on Friday, September 15, 2017.