Bail Reform Act of 1984

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

27 January 1983

Last action

12 October 1984 · Committee

Status

See H.J.Res.648.

Summary

Bail Reform Act of 1983 - Repeals the Bail Reform Act of 1966 and sets forth new bail procedures. Retains execution of a money bond as a condition for pretrial release. Authorizes a judicial officer to consider the safety of any person or the community when making a pretrial release determination. Establishes as a mandatory release condition that the person not commit a Federal, State, or local crime during release. Expands the discretionary release conditions to include that the defendant: (1) maintain employment or an educational program; (2) avoid contact with an alleged victim or potential witness; (3) report to a law enforcement or pretrial service agency; (4) comply with a curfew; (5) refrain from possessing a firearm or using alcohol or narcotic drugs; (6) undergo medical treatment; (7) agree to forfeit designated property, including money, upon failure to appear; and (8) return to custody at specified hours. Prohibits a judicial officer from imposing financial conditions that result in the pretrial detention of a person. Authorizes a judicial officer to order the detention for up to ten days of a person who is presently on pretrial release for a felony under Federal, State, or local law or on probation or parole or release pending sentencing or appeal for any offense, upon a determination that such person may flee or pose a danger to any person or the community, or for deportation or exclusion purposes. Requires that a detention hearing be held in any case involving: (1) a crime of violence; (2) any offense punishable by life imprisonment or death; (3) a narcotics offense punishable by at least ten years' imprisonment; (4) any felony committed after the person has been convicted of two or more offenses for which a hearing is mandated; or (5) upon motion that a serious risk of flight or obstruction of justice exists. Authorizes a judicial officer after such a hearing to order the pretrial detention of a person upon finding that no condition will reasonably assure such person's appearance and the safety of any other person and the community. Creates certain rebuttable presumptions with regard to absence of such conditions. Enumerates additional factors to be considered by the judicial officer in making a release determination, including the defendant's past conduct, history of drug or alcohol abuse, criminal history, and the nature and seriousness of the danger to the community or any person. Directs the Attorney General to promulgate regulations governing custody of persons detained pending trial. Requires the detention of a person who has appealed his conviction unless the judicial officer finds by clear and convincing evidence that: (1) such person is not likely to flee or pose a danger to another person or property; and (2) the appeal raises a substantial question of law or fact. Requires the detention of a person awaiting sentencing unless the officer finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person is not likely to flee or pose a danger to any other person or the community. Authorizes a U.S. attorney to appeal a release order. Makes a person guilty of an offense for failing to appear after having been released. Provides increased penalties for persons charged with more serious offenses. Makes it an affirmative defense to such crime that uncontrollable circumstances prevented the person from appearing. Establishes mandatory additional penalties for commission of an offense while on pretrial release. Subjects a person who has been conditionally released and violates a condition of release to revocation of release and prosecution for contempt of court. Authorizes a surety to arrest a person charged with an offense who is released upon execution of an appearance bond with such surety. Requires such person to be delivered promptly to a judicial officer for a revocation determination. Grants new authority to law enforcement officers to arrest a person who violates pretrial release conditions.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

27 January 1983
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
27 January 1983
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
22 February 1983
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Constitution.
Source: Committee
24 March 1983
Committee
Subcommittee on Constitution. Approved for full committee consideration without amendment favorably.
Source: Committee
11 April 1983
Committee
Committee on Judiciary received executive comment from Office of the U.S. Attorney General.
Source: Committee
25 April 1983
Committee
Committee on Judiciary received executive comment from Office of the U.S. Attorney General (additional report).
Source: Committee
10 May 1983
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Source: Committee
25 May 1983
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Regular Orders. Calendar No. 229.
Source: Calendars
25 May 1983
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Hatch without amendment. With written report No. 98-147.
Source: Committee
25 May 1983
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Hatch without amendment. With written report No. 98-147.
Source: Committee
3 February 1984
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
3 February 1984
Vote
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 84-0. Record Vote No: 9.
Source: Floor
7 February 1984
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
14 February 1984
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties, and the Administration of Justice.
Source: Committee
12 October 1984
Committee
See H.J.Res.648.
Source: Committee

Votes

· Official source

Yes 0 · No 0 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 0

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

2 official files

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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 3 February 1984
Open at official source
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 27 January 1983
Open at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Vertaal naar
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Related records

related to → A joint resolution making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1985, and for other purposes.
amends ← To substitute the language of title I of S. 1762.
amends ← To amend the Speedy Trial provision of Title 18 U.S.C.

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/98th-congress/senate-bill/215
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/98/s/215
us · 98-s-215 · source updated 10 August 2026