Rhode Island 46G Bail Violation Lawyer

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Rhode Island 46G Bail Violation Attorney

When you are released on bail, you are required to follow bail conditions set by the court. In Rhode Island, it is a bail violation if you do not comply with these bail conditions. Under 46(g) of the Rhode Island Rules of Criminal Procedure, your bail could be revoked and you could be held without bail in prison if you violate your bail conditions.

Since the consequences of a 46(g) bail violation could result in prison time, it is important to work with a skilled Rhode Island criminal defense attorney, like the attorneys at Ellison Law LLC, if you are facing a 46(g) bail violation.

What is Bail in Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island, bail is the temporary release of someone that received a criminal charge while their case is still pending. Bail will allow the person to remain out of custody, as long as they comply with certain conditions. Generally speaking, there’s a presumption in the law to grant bail except in certain severe cases.

In addition to potential monetary terms, the court may impose additional non-monetary conditions to ensure that you comply with the bail. These additional conditions may include counseling, no-contact orders, substance abuse treatment or similar restrictions. The court will evaluate many factors when they set bail like your ties to the community, your criminal record and the facts of the case.

Any failure to comply with bail conditions, such as committing a new offense, violating the conditions or missing court dates, may lead to severe consequences and potentially being considered a bail violator. As a bail violator, your bail could increase and you risk also being held without bail at the jail.

If you’re unable to post bail immediately, an arrangement could be made through the Adult Correctional Institute (ACI) and once your bail is correctly posted, you will be released pending your next court date.

When Do You Get Bail in Rhode Island?

Under Rule 46(a) of the Rhode Island Rules of Criminal Procedure, you have a right to be admitted to bail before conviction and you may be admitted to bail after conviction pending appeal.

If you’re admitted to bail, your bail amount and bail terms will be determined by the court. In determining bail, the court considers such factors as the offense you were charged with, your character, whether you are present for your arraignment, and the weight of the evidence against you.

What Are The Types Of Bail in Rhode Island?

Bail usually comes in one of two forms: personal recognizance and surety bail.

  • Personal recognizance: If you get personal recognizance, you will not be required to post any money to the court to be released. Instead, the court allows you to be released on the promise that you will return for future court dates.
  • Surety bail: If you get surety bail, you are required to post money in exchange for release. Surety bails require you to pay a percentage of the bond amount that is set by the court based on the court’s discretion. Usually this is 10% of the amount set by the court.

When Could You Get A 46(g) Bail Violation in Rhode Island?

You could get a 46(g) bail violation in Rhode Island if you violate the conditions of your bail. Most judges impose conditions on your bail, you must keep the peace and be of good behavior. There may be additional conditions depending on the charge, such as a no contact order that prevents you from having any contact with the complaining witness in a domestic charge.

You could get a bail violation if you are arrested with a new charge or you could get a bail violation in other ways, such as if you’ve had contact with the complaining witness when there was a no contact order in place.

What Happens If You Get A 46(g) Bail Violation in Rhode Island?

If the prosecutor or government thinks that you have not complied with the terms of your bail, they will issue a notice of bail violation. When a notice is issued, you will receive a written statement specifying the grounds for the bail violation.

You are entitled to a hearing where the government will present why it is charging you with the violation. At this hearing, if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that a violation of the bail or personal recognizance conditions has occurred, you could be held without bail or you could get issued a new personal recognizance or surety bail.

What is a Bail Violation Hearing in Rhode Island?

A bail violation hearing in Rhode Island, is a court proceeding where it is determined if a defendant has failed to comply with the conditions of their bail. These can include specific conditions, like assisting counseling, submitting to drug testing or as simple as keeping the peace and being of good behavior (like committing a new crime while out on bail). The burden of proof rests in the prosecution, they have to prove that there was a violation of the conditions.

If a defendant is notified of a potential violation there are two options: either admit that there was a violation or proceed with a hearing.

At a bail violation hearing, the prosecution is only required to prove the violation by a preponderance of evidence. While in a criminal trial to convict you of the criminal charge, the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed a crime, with a bail violation the prosecution has to prove more likely than not that there was a violation of the bail.

The defendant still retains the right to testify, present evidence and question witnesses, but the rules of evidence are less strict. After all of the evidence is presented, both sides make their arguments and the court will decide whether there was a violation or not and if there was a violation, what the consequences will be.

What are the consequences of a Bail Violation in Rhode Island?

Once the court hears all of the evidence and has decided that there was a violation, or the defendant admitted there was a bail violation, the court may revoke the defendant’s bail for up to ninety (90) days, increase the amount of bail or add new conditions to bail and make them more strict.

What are the most common Bail Violations in Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island, one of the most common bail violations is failing to appear in court as scheduled. If a defendant doesn’t show up for their court dates, the judge may issue a warrant for an arrest and order them held without bail if they’re arrested. Another common violation is engaging in criminal behavior while out on bail. If you are charged with a new crime, your bail can be revoked. In cases that involve domestic violence, violating a no contact order like contacting the alleged victim, can result in a bail violation and may potentially add further charges.

How can I avoid violating Bail in Rhode Island?

Generally speaking, you can avoid a bail violation by complying with the conditions of your bail. Usually, the conditions are:

  • Not getting charged with a new crime in Rhode Island or another jurisdiction;
  • Ensuring that you appear in court as required;
  • Complying with any additional conditions set by the court, which will be based on the nature of the offense. For example, if you had a drug related charge it’s possible that the court may require you to submit to drug testing as a condition for bail.

If you received a domestic violence charge, the court may impose a no-contact order to prevent you from having contact with the alleged victim. A violation of these orders would be considered breaching the bail conditions.

How does the court decide a Bail Amount in Rhode Island?

Bail amounts are determined by the court based on several factors. One of those is the nature of the crime itself. Serious offenses, especially those that involve violence or significant harm, often result in higher bail amounts. Also charges with a higher penalty can have a higher bail amount.

Another key factor is the defendant’s criminal history. If the defendant has a record of previous offenses or has violated bail conditions in the past, the court is likely to either set a higher bail amount. A defendant’s ties to the community is also taken into consideration. If they have strong local connections, such as family, employment, property ownership or a strong tie with the local community, it could lower the bail amount since these connections suggest that the defendant is less likely to run away.

The financial situation can also influence the bail amount. In some cases, the court may assess whether the defendant can afford to pay the full bail or if they may need to seek assistance from a bail bondsman. Another consideration is their flight risk. If they identify indications that the defendant might flee the jurisdiction to avoid prosecution, the court could set a higher bail to minimize that risk.

Do You Have A Right to Get Your Bail Money Back in Rhode Island?

Yes, you are entitled to get back any surety bail money posted with the court once the conditions of the bail have been satisfied. If there has been a bail violation, then the court could declare a forfeiture of the bail and you would not get the posted money back.

What’s the difference between Bail and Probation in Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island, bail and probation are different legal concepts that serve different purposes. The key difference is timing: bail happens before a defendant is convicted to ensure that the defendant will make a court appearance whereas probation comes after conviction as a way of an alternative sentencing and punishment.

Bail is a pretrial condition where the defendant is allowed to remain free until their trial, usually under particular conditions. It’s a way to ensure individual freedom while ensuring that the defendant appears in court. Violating the conditions of bail can result in the judge revoking bail for the defendant.

On the other hand, probation is a sentencing option that occurs after a conviction. Instead of serving time in jail, a defendant may be allowed to live in their community under strict conditions and supervision. Some of those conditions include checking in with a probation officer, keeping employment and avoiding criminal activity. Violating probation conditions can lead to serious consequences such as potential jail time.

How To Get Cleared From A Bail Violation in Rhode Island?

If you’re facing a bail violation in Rhode Island, it is important to have a criminal defense attorney to help clear your violation. An experienced attorney, like the attorneys at Ellison Law LLC, advocates for you in front of the judge and can be the difference between serving time for the violation and getting released.

If you or a loved one are facing a 46(g) bail violation, please contact us today at 401-230-5520.

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