530.20 Order of recognizance or bail; by local criminal court when
action is pending therein.
When a criminal action is pending in a local criminal court, such court, upon application of a defendant, must or may order recognizance or bail as follows:
1. When the defendant is charged, by information, simplified information, prosecutor's information or misdemeanor complaint, with an offense or offenses of less than felony grade only, the court must order recognizance or bail.
2. When the defendant is charged, by felony complaint, with a felony, the court may, in its discretion, order recognizance or bail except as otherwise provided in this subdivision:
(a) A city court, a town court or a village court may not order recognizance or bail when (i) the defendant is charged with a class A felony, or (ii) it appears that the defendant has two previous felony convictions;
(b) No local criminal court may order recognizance or bail with respect to a defendant charged with a felony unless and until:
(i) The district attorney has been heard in the matter or, after knowledge or notice of the application and reasonable opportunity to be heard, has failed to appear at the proceeding or has otherwise waived his right to do so; and
(ii) The court has been furnished with a report of the division of criminal justice services concerning the defendant's criminal record if any or with a police department report with respect to the defendant's prior arrest record. If neither report is available, the court, with the consent of the district attorney, may dispense with this requirement; provided, however, that in an emergency, including but not limited to a substantial impairment in the ability of such division or police department to timely furnish such report, such consent shall not be required if, for reasons stated on the record, the court deems it unnecessary. When the court has been furnished with any such report or record, it shall furnish a copy thereof to counsel for the defendant or, if the defendant is not represented by counsel, to the defendant.
Last modified: February 3, 2019