When a person is arrested, they may be held in police custody for a time period to await their hearings. At times, the court may permit the defendant to be released on bail. Bail is a monetary amount paid to the court in exchange for the release of the defendant. Depending on the crime the defendant is charged with, they may face higher bail amounts than usual. High bail amounts can make it difficult for a defendant to be released, which can also mean difficulty preparing for their case. If a person wishes to change or negotiate a lower bail amount, they must do so with the Pretrial Services Division of the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas.
Requests to Reduce Bail in Lehigh County
Higher bail can reduce a person's access to important resources for their case. Bail amounts are set depending on a number of factors. Requests for reducing bail will depend on some of the same factors, which include:
- Whether or not the defendant is a "flight risk," of if they will attempt to flee their case
- Any threat that the defendant may pose against the community
- The charges that the defendant is currently facing
Hearings to Reduce Bail in Lehigh County
Defendants are entitled to the ability to file a motion to reduce their bail prior to their hearings. A successfully performed filing will likely result in a court hearing, where their reasoning behind their motion must be defended in front of a judge. These hearings are also held in front of a prosecutor as well, who will present opposing evidence against the defendant's reduction of bail. Before a judge makes a decision on whether or not a motion is to be granted, they will hear out arguments from both sides.
Although a defendant is capable of filing this motion on their own, doing so from a position of police custody can be considerably difficult. While defendants do have access to a public defense attorney as well, public defenders are often tasked with numerous cases at once and may not be able to spare the time it takes to create a stronger defense. The services of a private attorney in these situations can greatly improve a defendant's chances of success, as they may spare more time and resources to prepare a strong defense of the motion. In addition to this, an attorney involved at this early stage will have more time to a case, which will ultimately contribute to its strength overall.
If you or a loved one is seeking to reduce bail amounts in Lehigh County, contact attorney Joseph D. Lento today.
