Mo. R. Ord. Viol. & Viol. Burea. 37.15

As amended through October 1, 2024

Rule 37.15 - Right to Release - Conditions

(a) A defendant arrested for an ordinance violation shall be entitled to be released from custody pending trial or other stage of the proceedings. The defendant is also entitled to be released pending trial de novo, review and appeal. As each court enters a judgment, it shall review the conditions of release and may modify them as provided in Rule 37.19.

(b) The defendant's release shall be upon the conditions that:

(1) The defendant will appear in the court in which the case is prosecuted or appealed, from time to time as required to answer the charge;

(2) The defendant will submit to the orders, judgment and sentence, and process of the court having jurisdiction over the defendant;

(3) The defendant shall not commit any new offenses and shall not tamper with any victim or witness in the case, nor have any person do so on the defendant's behalf; and

(4) The defendant will comply fully with any and all conditions imposed by the court in granting release.

(c) The court shall release the defendant on the defendant's own recognizance subject only to the conditions under subsection (b) with no additional conditions of release unless the court determines such release will not secure the appearance of the defendant at trial, or at any other stage of the proceedings, or the safety of the community or other person, including but not limited to the victims and witnesses. If the court so determines, it shall set and impose additional conditions of release pursuant to this subsection.

The court shall set and impose the least restrictive condition or combination of conditions of release, and the court shall not set or impose any condition or combination of conditions of release greater than necessary to secure the appearance of the defendant at trial, or at any other stage of the proceedings, or the safety of the community or other person, including but not limited to the victims and witnesses.

When considering the least restrictive condition or combination of conditions of release to set and impose, the court shall first consider non-monetary conditions. Should the court determine nonmonetary conditions alone will not secure the appearance of the defendant at trial, or at any other stage of the proceedings, or the safety of the community or other person, including but not limited to the victims and witnesses, then the court may consider monetary conditions or a combination of non-monetary and monetary conditions to satisfy the foregoing. After considering the defendant's ability to pay, a monetary condition fixed at more than is necessary to secure the appearance of the defendant at trial, or at any other stage of the proceedings, or the safety of the community or other person, including but not limited to the victims and witnesses, is impermissible.

If the court determines additional conditions of release are required pursuant to this subsection, it shall set and impose one or more of the following conditions of release:

(1) Place the defendant in the custody of a designated person or organization agreeing to supervise the defendant;

(2) Place restrictions on the travel, association, or place of abode of the defendant during the period of release, including the holding by the court of the defendant's passport;

(3) Require the defendant to report regularly to some officer of the court or peace officer, in such manner as the court directs;

(4) Require the use of electronic monitoring of the defendant's location, the testing of the defendant for drug or alcohol use, or the installation and use of ignition interlock devices.

The court may order the eligible defendant to pay all or a portion of the costs of such conditions, but the court shall consider how best to minimize the costs to the defendant and waive the costs for an eligible defendant who is indigent and who has demonstrated to the court an inability to pay all or a portion of the costs;

(5) Require the defendant to seek employment, to maintain employment, or to maintain or commence an educational program;

(6) Require the defendant to comply with a specified curfew;

(7) Require the defendant to refrain from possessing a firearm or other deadly weapon;

(8) Require the defendant to abstain from possession or use of alcohol or any controlled substance without a physician's prescription;

(9) Require the defendant to undergo available medical, psychological or psychiatric treatment, including treatment for drug or alcohol dependency and remain in a specified institution if required for that purpose;

(10) Require the defendant to return to custody for specified hours following release for employment, school, treatment, or other limited purpose;

(11) Require the defendant to be placed on home supervision with or without the use of an electronic monitoring device. The court may order the eligible defendant to pay all or a portion of the costs of the electronic monitoring, but the court shall consider how best to minimize the costs of such condition to the defendant and waive the costs and for an eligible defendant who is indigent and who has demonstrated to the court an inability to pay all or a portion of the costs;

(12) Require the defendant to execute a monetary bond in a stated amount wherein the defendant promises to pay the court the stated amount should the defendant fail to appear or abide by the conditions of release;

(13) Require the execution of a monetary bond in a stated amount with sufficient sureties, or the deposit in the registry of the court of a sum in cash or negotiable bonds of the United States or the State of Missouri or any political subdivision;

(14) Require the execution of a monetary bond in a stated amount and the deposit in the registry of the court of 10 percent, or such lesser sum as the court directs, of such sum in cash or negotiable bonds of the United States or the State of Missouri or any political subdivision;

(15) Require the deposit of a property bond of sufficient value as approved and directed by the court;

(16) Impose other conditions necessary to secure the appearance of the defendant at trial, or at any other stage of the proceedings, or the safety of the community or other person, including but not limited to the victims and witnesses.

(d) Should the court determine upon clear and convincing evidence that no combination of nonmonetary conditions and monetary conditions will secure the safety of the community or other person, including but not limited to the victims and witnesses, then the court shall order the defendant detained pending trial or any other stage of the proceedings. A defendant so detained shall, upon written request filed after arraignment, be entitled to a trial which begins within 60 days of the defendant's request or within 60 days of an order granting a change of venue, whichever occurs later. Any request by the defendant to continue the trial beyond the 60 days shall be considered a waiver by the defendant of the right to have the trial conducted within 60 days.

(e) In determining whether to detain the defendant pursuant to subsection (d) or release the defendant with a condition or combination of conditions of release, if any, pursuant to subsection (c), the court shall base its determination on the individual circumstances of the defendant and the case. Based on available information, the court shall take into account: the nature and circumstances of the offense charged; the weight of the evidence against the defendant; the defendant's family ties, employment, financial resources, including ability to pay, character, and mental condition; the length of the defendant's residence in the community; the defendant's record of convictions; the defendant's record of appearance at court proceedings or flight to avoid prosecution or failure to appear at court proceedings; whether the defendant was on probation, parole or release pending trial or appeal at the time the offense for which the court is considering detention or release was committed; and any validated evidentiary-based risk assessment tool approved by the Supreme Court of Missouri.

(f) A court detaining or releasing the defendant under this Rule shall enter an order stating the condition or combination of conditions of release, if any, set and imposed by the court. If the defendant is detained and unable to comply with any condition of release, the defendant shall have the right to a release hearing pursuant to Rule 37.20. At any hearing conducted under Rule 37.14 to 37.32, the court shall permit but not require either party to make a record on the defendant's financial status and ability to pay any monetary condition or other relevant issue. At such hearing, the court shall also make written findings supporting the reasons for detention or conditions set and imposed. The court shall inform the defendant of the conditions set and imposed, if any, and that the conditions of release may be revoked and the defendant detained until trial or other stage of the proceedings for violation of any of the conditions of release and that a warrant for the defendant's arrest may be issued immediately upon notification to the court of any such violation.

Mo. R. Ord. Viol. & Viol. Burea. 37.15

Adopted May 14, 1985, eff. 1/1/1986. Amended Dec. 18, 1998, eff. 1/1/2000. Amended December 23, 2003, eff. 7/1/2004; amended June 28, 2019, eff. 1/1/2020.