Bail Reform Act of 1984
Definition
A federal statute, codified at 18 U.S.C. §§ 3141-56, that governs whether a federal defendant may be released before trial on an unsecured bond or personal recognizance, released on conditions (i.e., conditional release), or detained. Courts must consider four main factors to determine whether it is appropriate to impose pretrial-release conditions: (1) the nature and circumstances of the alleged offense, (2) the weight of the evidence against the defendant, (3) the defendant’s personal history and characteristics, and (4) the nature and degree of the danger to any person or the community that defendant’s release would present.