Being released from jail on your own recognizance means you promise to return to court dates. You do not have to pay bail for an OR release.
If you are arrested for DUI in California, you may be simply processed and then released until your court date. In other cases, there will be a question of whether you should be held in jail until trial. This is true of many repeat DUI’s and for suspects who are believed to be a threat to public safety. But you may not have to stay in jail at all—or pay bail. Instead, you can ask the judge for an “OR” (own recognizance) release.
Being released on your own recognizance means you are free to go on the condition that you promise to return for all court hearing. It is essentially an honor system where the defendant gives their word they will stand trial.
The advantages of an OR release include:
- You do not have to stay in jail until your trial
- You do not have to pay any bail
- You don’t have to worry about the expensive fees for a bail bond
But an OR release comes with conditions. If you fail to appear for any hearing related to your case (including trial), you will be subject to immediate arrest. At that point, you will most likely be held in jail without bail.
Sometimes the judge will also impose conditions for an OR release, such as requiring you to attend alcohol or drug addiction counseling.
There are two ways you can request an OR release:
- Your lawyer can request this informally during your arraignment
- If bail was already set, you can as the judge order an OR release instead at a bail hearing
Have you been charged with DUI? We can connect you with an experienced Los Angeles DUI lawyer and get you a FREE consultation. Fill out the form to the right or call (310) 896-2724 and get your free consultation today.
