Utah § 77-20-201 - Right to bail -- Capital felony.
Full text of Utah Utah Code § 77-20-201 — Right to bail -- Capital felony., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 77-20-201. Right to bail -- Capital felony.
Effective 5/6/2026 77-20-201.
Right to bail -- Capital felony.
(1)
An individual charged with, or arrested for, a criminal offense shall be admitted to bail as a matter of right, except if the individual is charged with:
(a)
a capital felony when there is substantial evidence to support the charge;
(b)
a felony committed while on parole or on probation for a felony conviction, or while free on bail awaiting trial on a previous felony charge, when there is substantial evidence to support the current felony charge;
(c)
a felony when there is substantial evidence to support the charge and the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that:
(i)
the individual would constitute a substantial danger to any other individual or to the community after considering available conditions of release that the court may impose if the individual is released on bail; or
(ii)
the individual is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the court if the individual is released on bail;
(d)
a felony when there is substantial evidence to support the charge and the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the individual violated a material condition of release while previously on bail;
(e)
a domestic violence offense if:
(i)
there is substantial evidence to support the charge; and
(ii)
the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the individual would constitute a substantial danger to an alleged victim of the domestic violence offense or to the community after considering available conditions of release that the court may impose if the individual is released on bail;
(f)
the offense of driving under the influence or driving with a measurable controlled substance in the body if:
(i)
the offense results in death or serious bodily injury to an individual;
(ii)
there is substantial evidence to support the charge; and
(iii)
the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the individual would constitute a substantial danger to the community after considering available conditions of release that the court may impose if the individual is released on bail;
there is substantial evidence to support the charge; and
(ii)
the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the individual is not likely to appear for a subsequent court appearance; or
(h)
except as provided in Subsection (4), the offense of driving under the influence or driving with a measurable controlled substance in the body:
(i)
if committed while on parole or on probation for a driving under the influence or driving with a measurable controlled substance in the body conviction; or
(ii)
while the individual is out of custody awaiting trial on a previous driving under the influence or driving with a measurable controlled substance in the body charge, when the court finds there is substantial evidence to support the current charge.
(2)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, there is a rebuttable presumption that:
(a)
an individual is a substantial danger to the community under Subsection (1)(f)(iii):
(i)
as long as the individual has a blood or breath alcohol concentration of .05 grams or greater if the individual is arrested for, or charged with, the offense of driving under the influence and the offense resulted in death or serious bodily injury to an individual; or
(ii)
if the individual has a measurable amount of controlled substance in the individual's body, the individual is arrested for, or charged with, the offense of driving with a measurable controlled substance in the body and the offense resulted in death or serious bodily injury to an individual; or
(b)
an individual is a substantial danger to an alleged victim of the domestic violence offense, or to the community, under Subsection (1)(e)(ii) if:
(i)
the domestic violence offense is a felony or class A misdemeanor offense; and
(ii)
the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the offense is committed while:
(A)
the individual is on parole or probation for a conviction of a domestic violence offense; or
(B)
the individual is on pretrial release on a previous charge for a domestic violence offense.
(3)
For purposes of Subsection (1)(a), any arrest or charge for a violation of Section 76-5-202, aggravated murder, is a capital felony unless:
(a)
the prosecuting attorney files a notice of intent to not seek the death penalty; or
(b)
the time for filing a notice to seek the death penalty has expired and the prosecuting attorney has not filed a notice to seek the death penalty.
(4)
For purposes of Subsection (1)(h), there is a rebuttable presumption that an individual would not constitute a substantial danger to any other person or the community if:
(a)
the court orders the individual to participate in an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment program; or
(b)
the court orders the individual to participate in home confinement through the use of electronic monitoring as described in Section 41-6a-506.
(5)
For purposes of a determination under Subsection (1)(c)(ii), there is a rebuttable presumption that an individual is at risk of fleeing the jurisdiction if the individual is not lawfully present in the United States.
Section 77-20-201 ("Right to bail -- Capital felony.") is part of the Utah Code, the codified statutory law of Utah. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Utah § 77-20-201?
A common citation format is "Utah Code § 77-20-201" (Utah). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Utah law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Utah official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Utah attorney.
How does Utah § 77-20-201 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Utah can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
