For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 32
A Primer and Practitioner's
Perspective on Pretrial Release
and Detention in Federal Court
in Pennsylvania
A
leading issue in the nation today is criminal
justice reform, specifically with a focus on
pretrial release and detention. While both
the state and federal criminal system may afford the
defendant an opportunity for pretrial release, the
federal procedure is unique in various aspects.1 This
article will explain the legal basis for pretrial release
and detention and provide practical guidance on the
most effective approach to advocating for release at a
detention hearing in the federal system.
In federal criminal proceedings, the availability of
pretrial release is governed by the Bail Reform Act
of 1984.2 (hereinafter "BRA"). These sections contain
specific guidelines that judicial officers must follow
when determining if a defendant should be detained
or released pending federal criminal proceedings.3
There are four categories of "release and detention"
that a defendant may be subject to at the initial
appearance:4
1) release on personal recognizance or upon
execution of an unsecured appearance bond;
2) release on a condition or combination of
conditions;
3) temporarily detained to permit revocation of
conditional release, deportation, or exclusion; or
4) detained.5
32
For The Defense l Vol. 5, Issue 1
Ashley E. Shapiro
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ยง 3142(b), an individual
must be released on his own recognizance or upon
execution of an unsecured appearance bond unless
the court determines that such release will not
"reasonably assure the appearance of the person"
or "will endanger the safety of any other person or
the community."6 If the court determines that either
personal recognizance or an unsecured bond will not
reasonably assure either end, the statute requires the
court to impose the least restrictive further condition
of release that will reasonably assure:
1) the appearance of the defendant and
2) the safety of the community.7
There are 14 suggested conditions of release,
including a catch-all provision: "any other condition
that is reasonably necessary."8 If, after a detention
hearing, the court finds that no condition or
combination of conditions will reasonably assure the
appearance of the defendant and the safety of the
community, it shall order detention of the defendant
pending trial. 9
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1
Contents
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 1
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 2
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - Contents
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 4
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 5
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 6
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 7
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 8
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 9
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 10
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 11
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 12
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 13
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 14
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 15
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 16
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 17
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 18
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 19
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 20
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 21
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 22
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 23
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 24
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 25
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 26
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 27
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 28
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 29
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 30
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 31
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 32
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 33
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 34
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 35
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 36
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 37
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 38
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 39
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 40
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 41
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 42
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 43
For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 44
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol9_issue1_2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol8_issue4_2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol8_issue3_2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol8_issue2_2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol8_issue1_2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol7_issue4_2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol7_issue3_2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol7_issue2_2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol7_issue1_2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol6_issue4_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol6_issue3_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol6_issue2_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol6_issue1_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol5_issue4_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol5_issue3_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol5_issue2_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol5_issue1_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol4_issue4_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol4_issue3_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol4_issue2_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol4_issue1_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol3_issue4_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol3_issue3_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol3_issue2_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol3_issue1_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pacdl/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol2_issue4_2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pacdl/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol2_issue3_2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pacdl/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol2_issue2_2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pacdl/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol2_issue1_2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol1_issue4_2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol1_issue3_2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol1_issue2_2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/PACDL/FORTHEDEFENSE_vol1_issue1_2016
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com