EXPERIENCED BOND HEARING LAWYERS IN ORLANDO
SERVING CENTRAL FLORIDA, INCLUDING ORANGE, OSCEOLA & SEMINOLE COUNTIEs,Ā since 1993
Not knowing your rights in anyĀ criminal matterĀ can lead to increased emotional stress and financial loss.Ā If you are arrested, you are entitled to reasonable release pending the outcome of your case unless you are charged with a capital offense or an offense punishable by life imprisonment and the proof of guilt is evident or the presumption is great. Even in cases where you are not entitled to release, you still have the right to a hearing to determine whether you should be released on a reasonable bond. Unfortunately, arrested individuals, who are presumed innocent under the law, are often left to languish without a reasonable bond being set. Fortunately, the experienced attorneys at Longwell Lawyers know how to help you.
Bond Hearings in Florida
At a bond hearing, the court will consider evidence pertaining to the nature and circumstances of the offense charged and the penalty provided by law; the weight of the evidence against the defendant; the defendantās family ties, length of residence in the community, employment history, financial resources, need for substance abuse evaluation and/or treatment, and mental condition; the defendantās past and present conduct, including any record of convictions, previous flight to avoid prosecution, or failure to appear at court proceedings; the nature and probability of danger that the defendantās release poses to the community; the source of funds used to post bail; whether the defendant is already on release pending resolution of another criminal proceeding or is on probation, parole, or other release pending completion of sentence; and any other facts the court considers relevant.
Bail is the amount of cash you will have to pay for your release from jail.Ā This is set by the judge. When you cannot afford this, you can get a ābail bondā in which aĀ bondsman agrees to be held responsible for the money owed should your bond get revoked. In return for this, you will have to pay a fee to the bondsman (usually at least 10% of the total bond amount). This is a āsuretyā bond that you post instead of making full payment to the court.
If your bond amount is set too high, one of our eliteĀ criminal defenseĀ lawyers atĀ Longwell LawyersĀ can file a bond motion to have the bondĀ lowered to a reasonable amount or ask the court to release you on your own recognizance.
In addition to a monetary bond, a judge may impose non-monetary conditions of release, such as:
- No contact with the alleged victim/witnesses/co-defendants
- No return to the location of the alleged offense
- No possession of firearms or weapons
- No alcohol/drugs
- Electronic monitoring
- Turning over your passport
- A curfew
Some of these non-monetary conditions can be very problematic if, as a result of the conditions, you can not go home, to your place of work, or see your loved ones, for example.
You and your family may benefit andĀ save funds by having Longwell LawyersĀ file for a bond reduction hearing. We can also seek to modify or removeĀ oppressive release conditions removed or reduced when appropriate.
Longwell Lawyers has a proven record of working quickly and efficiently to address bond and release issues. Getting a bond is only the first step in the process. It is important that the lawyers that you choose have the knowledge, experience, and strategy to see your case through to the best outcome possible.
