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This summer, the Las Vegas Justice Court released a new revised bail schedule , which became effective May 26, 2015. The new schedule has since taken effect, which means that all bookings into the Clark County Detention Center and other local detention facilities are now governed by it.
The standard bail schedule is meant to serve as a guideline and provides information on appropriate bail amounts within a typical case. Each individual case, however, must be addressed on its own unique merits. As a result, when a judge presides over a bail hearing, the judge will consider the new standard schedule but will also use his or her discretion to make a determination on an appropriate bail amount.
It is imperative for defendants charged throughout the Nevada area to make a compelling argument to the judge for an affordable amount of bail to be set. If you are unable to pay the bail and unable to secure assistance from a bail bondsmen, you could find yourself staying incarcerated until the conclusion of a criminal trial against you. It may take several weeks or several months for a court date to be set and for your case to be adjudicated, so you could be imprisoned for a long time if you do not get bail you can afford to have paid. A Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer can provide invaluable assistance at your bond hearing and throughout all phases of your criminal trial to help keep you try to stay out of prison.
Las Vegas Revised Bail Schedule
The Las Vegas revised bail schedule establishes different suggested bail amounts for each category of criminal offenses. For example, for category B felony offenses with a maximum term of imprisonment at greater than 10 years, the suggested bail amount is $20,000. However, if the maximum term of imprisonment for the criminal offense is 10 years, the suggested amount of bail is set at $10,000. For attempted category A felonies, the suggestion is no bail or bail set in court. For Category “C” felonies, the suggested bail is $5,000. There are also recommendations made for bail amounts of Category D, and E felonies; for gross misdemeanors; for misdemeanors; and for violation of protection orders.
There are some exceptions to these standards. For example, while a third or subsequent DUI is a category B felony with a maximum sentence of less than 10 years imprisonment, the recommended amount of bail is $20,000 and not the standard $10,000. Likewise, for category C felonies the standard bail is suggested to be set at $5,000 but if the offense is a third or subsequent crime of battery or domestic violence, recommended bail is much higher at $15,000.
There are also enhancements, which can result in a larger suggested bail amount. For example, if a deadly weapon is allegedly used to commit a crime, or if a crime is committed in furtherance of a gang or against an older or vulnerable person, an enhancement will apply. The enhancement will double the recommendation for the standard rate of bail for crimes that fit within that particular category of offense.
Defendants who are arrested need to be aware a bail hearing will be scheduled shortly after their arrest. Before this hearing takes place, you need to assert your rights to speak with a criminal defense lawyer who can help you to argue for your freedom. You do not want to end up staying in jail before a trial if you do not have to, as you will never get that time back no matter what the ultimate outcome of your case. Contact a Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer today for help arguing for bail and for assistance in all phases of a criminal trial.
