When a person in Fort Collins, Loveland, or Estes Park is arrested for a crime, usually a condition of their bond is that they are on Larimer County Pre-Trial Services. Pre-Trial Services puts additional conditions on the person that they must follow while their case is pending. Conditions of PreTrial Supervision generally include:
- Be present for all court appearances;
- Remain law abiding;
- Provide and keep up-to-date all contact information;
- Do not leave the state without written permission from Pre-Trial, Surety, and the court;
- Allow PreTrial to do home visits at random;
- Comply with any protection orders;
- Sign a waiver of extradition (if charged with a felony);
- Submit to and pay for any substance testing;
- Respond to calls or emails from PreTrial within 24 hours;
- Weekly contact with Pre-Trial;
- Pay a supervision fee.
Issues with Pre-Trial Services in Larimer County
Sometimes a person’s Larimer or Boulder County case will have nothing to do with alcohol or drug use, and yet Pre-Trial Services will require random UAs and BAs. This is something that the person under supervision is required to pay for themselves, which can really add up. BAs usually range from $2-$4 per test and UAs from $10-$20 depending on which facility you go to. And if substances had nothing to do with your underlying case, it can be really difficult to adhere to these requirements, because it doesn’t seem fair. Also, sometimes the judge does not prohibit travelling outside of the state without permission. But, PreTrial will decide that they won’t give permission without the judge giving permission – which is an additional (and unnecessary) headache for everyone involved.
What Happens If I Don’t Follow My Pre-Trial Services Requirements?
Pre-Trial Services has a lot of pull with the courts. They will provide memos that are directly filed into your case outlining your compliance or lack thereof. If you have not been complying with your Pre-Trial responsibilities, your Pre-Trial Services officer may request that your bond be revoked. Also, your compliance with PreTrial can be seen as a predictor of how you will do on probation. So, if you are not complying with Pre-Trial, then there is an argument that you won’t comply on probation.
Assumption of Guilt with Pre-Trial Services: Punishment Before Conviction?
Mind you, these are often similar requirements that a person must follow AFTER they are convicted and sentenced to probation. So why are we requiring people to be on probation before they are on probation? The bond system was set up to incentivize people to show up for court – and showing up should be your only requirement as far as the legal system is concerned. These additional requirements are just another way the government makes money off of you and controls you.
If you or someone you love has been charged with a crime, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 today. Together, we can protect your future.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash