When it comes to bail, there are plenty of terms out there that people do not recognize. One that many people want to know about is own recognizance release. Some people have heard rumors that own recognizance release is a way to bail out of jail without paying. Those rumors would be correct, but it is not that simple.

No one can just ask to be released. A judge decides if a defendant qualifies for release. The case judge will look at several different factors to determine if a defendant qualifies for own recognizance release. Those factors are often out of the hands of the defendant, meaning he cannot make himself more likely to be released on own recognizance. The judge will look at the factors when determining if a person will be released on own recognizance: