No More Bail for Low-Level Offenses

Last year, the Colorado legislature enacted a new law which requires courts to issue personal recognizance bonds for low-level offenses. See C.R.S. § 16-4-113. The law only applies to class 3 misdemeanors and lower. For class 3 misdemeanors, the court shall issue a personal recognizance bond unless the accused fails to identify themselves, the accused fails to sign the personal recognizance bond, a higher bond is necessary to prevent imminent harm to the accused or another, the accused does not have ties to the community, the accused has previously failed to appear, or the accused has a warrant for another case. See § 16-4-113(1). For an accused charged with a petty offense, traffic offense, or comparable municipal offense, the court shall not impose any monetary condition on bond and must release the accused on a personal recognizance bond. See § 16-4-113(2)(a). So, if you have been charged with a low-level offense, do not stress. You can be confident that you will not be held in custody for the offense.