(a) Any person charged with an offense, at his or her appearance before a judicial officer, may be ordered released pending trial on his or her personal recognizance or upon the execution of an unsecured appearance bond in an amount specified by the judicial officer, unless the judicial officer determines, in the exercise of his or her discretion, that such a release will not reasonably assure the required appearance of such person. When such a determination is made, the judicial officer, either in lieu of, or in addition to, the above method of release, shall impose the first of the following conditions of release which will reasonably assure the appearance of the person for trial or, if no single condition gives that assurance, any combination of the following conditions:

Attorney's Note

Under the Alabama Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Violationup to 30 daysup to $200
For details, see Ala. Code § 13A-5-7
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Terms Used In Alabama Code 45-49-235.08

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(1) Place the person in the custody of a designated person who agrees to supervise him or her.
(2) Place restrictions on the travel, association, or place of abode of the person during the period of release.
(3) Require the execution of an appearance bond in specified amount and the deposit with the clerk of the court in cash or other security as directed, of a sum not to exceed 10 percent of the amount of the bond, 80 percent of such deposit shall be returned upon the performance of the conditions of release.
(4) Require the execution of a bail bond with sufficient solvent sureties, or the deposit of cash in lieu thereof.
(5) Impose any additional condition deemed reasonably necessary to assure the required appearance which may include a condition requiring the person return to custody after specified hours.
(b)

(1) In determining which conditions of release will reasonably assure the required appearance of a person, the judicial officer, on the basis of available information as presented by the state or the defendant, shall take into account such matters as:

a. The nature and circumstances of the offense charged.
b. The weight of the evidence against the person.
c. His or her family ties, employment, and financial resources.
d. His or her character and mental condition, including past conduct.
e. Length of residence in the community.
f. The record of convictions.
g. Any record of appearance at court proceedings or of flight to avoid prosecution or failure to appear at court proceedings.
(2) The judicial officer, in making such factual determinations, shall recognize that this part has two purposes, one of which is to assure the presence of the defendant at trial and the other of which is to assure that all persons, regardless of their financial or social status, shall not needlessly be detained pending their appearance to answer charges, or pending appeal, when the detention serves neither the ends of justice nor the public interest.
(c) A judicial officer authorizing the release of a person under this section shall issue an appropriate order containing a statement of any conditions imposed, shall inform such person of the penalties applicable to violations of the conditions of his or her release, and shall advise him or her that a warrant for his or her arrest will be issued immediately upon any such violation. The judicial officer shall also notify such person of the penalties provided in Section 45-49-235.03.
(d) A judicial officer ordering the release of a person on any condition specified in this section may at any time amend his or her order to impose additional or different conditions of release.
(e) The judicial officer shall determine the conditions of release as herein provided when the defendant is brought before him or her for preliminary examination or at such other times he or she may direct.
(f) Any other provision of this part to the contrary, no warrant magistrate or assistant warrant magistrate shall have the authority to order that any person be released where that person is accused of a capital crime or of a crime where the defendant, if convicted, could receive a sentence of more than 20 years in prison.
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