Bail Conditions and No-Contact Orders – what you need to know
Understand your bail conditions, especially a no contact order
When people are arrested and post bail, they often think of the bail as offering freedom. But this is not necessarily true. If you are arrested for some crimes, including domestic violence or some drug charges, you may have conditions posted on your bail. One of the most common are no contact orders, which limits how close you can be to certain people after you post bail.
Violating a no-contact order brings its own penalties and consequences, so you need to understand your duties to ensure you don’t create more legal problems for yourself.
Consequences of No-Contact Orders
If you are given a no-contact order, this generally means you cannot have any kind of contact with the person or people named in the order. In a domestic violence case, for example, you may be ordered not to come within 500 feet of the person who accused you. You may also be ordered not to make contact, either directly or through anyone else, with a potential witness to litigation.
If you violate a no-contact order, you will be charged with an additional offense, bail jumping. This will create more problems for you: you will find it harder to be released on bail again, and face additional fines and jail time. And it will make defending yourself against the original charges that much more difficult.
Adjusting When You Can’t Go Home
Sometimes, a no-contact order means you cannot go home for the period of the order. Depending on the order and who it covers, you also may have to stay away from someone with whom you normally work. Your freedom when you post bail does not include the right to resume your life as though everything is normal. You are still under conditions of bail and have to adjust accordingly.
If you have been arrested and released under a no-contact order, don’t take chances. Your Madison criminal defense attorney can help you understand your rights and how you can find ways to live your life even if you can’t go home. Contact the experienced attorneys at Eisenberg Law Offices to learn more.