County judges set new bail rules

Young County judges began implementing and enforcing new bond conditions this week to try to keep people on felony bonds from committing additional crimes, 90th District Judge Phillip Gregory said.

Before someone who is arrested can be freed on a bond, they must agree to a list of standard bond conditions set by the County, and the judge overseeing the case may set additional conditions.

Standard bond conditions prohibit drug use, possession of weapons, and contact with alleged victims. They set a curfew and require the person to report to a probation officer. The conditions also require people on bond to get or maintain a job or schooling and to bring proof of their job or school enrollment to each court hearing, Judge Gregory said.

Judge Gregory and County Judge Win Graham will be more likely to impose special bond conditions for people accused of drug crimes or crimes in which mental health issues are a contributing factor in the crime, Judge Gregory said.

The court can require people with drug or alcohol addictions to attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings as a condition of their bond, he said. They also are subject to random drug tests upon court order, he said.

People on bond also are required to keep their bail bondsmen up to date on address or phone number changes he said. “Too many bondsmen are trying to be released from their obligations when they can’t locate an arrestee,” he said.

People suffering from mental health issues or who come to court impaired by alcohol or drugs will be required to undergo treatment at Helen Farabee Centers, the County’s mental health services provider, he said.

“The whole concept … is not to be mean or vindictive,” he said. “My reasoning is to ensure community safety. I simply don’t want people committing new felonies while on felony bond … and they have to be sober in the courtroom. I think a person who is sober is in a better position to help themselves and their attorney.”

In recent years, Olney police have re-arrested several people who were out on bond on felony drug charges after they committed new crimes. The new bond conditions are meant to relieve a burden on law enforcement and to keep track of people who are accused of crimes and awaiting adjudication through trial or a plea agreement.

The new, tougher bond conditions are designed to help people facing criminal charges from getting into more trouble by monitoring them more closely and to protect the community, Judge Gregory said.

“I want people to be on notice, We want everyone to know there is a change of the guard,” Judge Gregory said. “We get the added benefit of somebody being clean that helps them and helps the whole community. The purpose is making sure that people on bond are taking care of themselves and not committing new crimes.”