Utah § 77-20-203 - County sheriff authority to release an individual from jail on own recognizance.
Full text of Utah Utah Code § 77-20-203 — County sheriff authority to release an individual from jail on own recognizance., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 77-20-203. County sheriff authority to release an individual from jail on own recognizance.
Effective 9/1/2025 77-20-203.
County sheriff authority to release an individual from jail on own recognizance.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Division" means the Division of Adult Probation and Parole created in Section 64-14-202.
(b)
(i)
"Qualifying domestic violence offense" means the same as that term is defined in Subsection 77-36-1.1(4).
(ii)
"Qualifying domestic violence offense" does not include criminal mischief as described in Section 76-6-106.
(c)
"Qualifying offense" means the same as that term is defined in Section 78B-7-801.
(d)
"Violent felony" means the same as that term is defined in Section 76-3-203.5.
(2)
Except as provided in Subsection (3), a county jail official may release an individual from a jail facility on the individual's own recognizance if:
(a)
the individual was arrested without a warrant;
(b)
the individual was not:
(i)
arrested for a violent offense as defined in Section 76-3-201.10;
(ii)
arrested for a qualifying offense;
(iii)
arrested for the offense of driving under the influence or driving with a measurable controlled substance in the body if the offense results in death or serious bodily injury to an individual;
(iv)
arrested for an offense described in Subsection 76-9-101(3)(b);
(v)
arrested for possession of any composition or mixture, including pills, that contains 100 grams or more of fentanyl or a fentanyl-related substance; or
(vi)
previously booked into the same jail within the immediately preceding 12-month period;
(c)
law enforcement has not submitted a probable cause statement to a court or magistrate;
(d)
the individual agrees in writing to appear for any future criminal proceedings related to the arrest; and
(e)
the individual qualifies for release under the written policy described in Subsection (4) for the county.
(3)
A county jail official may not release an individual from a jail facility if the individual is subject to a 72-hour hold placed on the individual by the Department of Corrections as described in Section 64-14-205.
(4)
(a)
A county sheriff shall create and approve a written policy for the county that governs the release of an individual on the individual's own recognizance.
(b)
The written policy shall describe the criteria an individual shall meet to be released on the individual's own recognizance.
(c)
A county sheriff may include in the written policy the criteria for release relating to:
(i)
criminal history;
(ii)
prior instances of failing to appear for a mandatory court appearance;
(iii)
current employment;
(iv)
residency, including immigration status;
(v)
ties to the community;
(vi)
an offense for which the individual was arrested;
(vii)
any potential criminal charges that have not yet been filed;
(viii)
the individual's health condition;
(ix)
any potential risks to a victim, a witness, or the public; and
(x)
any other similar factor a sheriff determines is relevant.
(5)
(a)
(i)
Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b)(ii), a jail facility shall detain an individual for no fewer than eight hours and up to 24 hours from booking if the individual is on supervised probation or parole and that information is reasonably available.
(ii)
Notwithstanding Subsection (5)(a)(i), an individual may be released earlier than eight hours if:
(A)
the entity supervising the individual on probation or parole informs the jail that the supervising entity does not intend to place a hold on the individual; and
(B)
a court or magistrate has ordered a release.
(b)
Before any release, a jail facility shall:
(i)
notify the entity supervising the individual's probation or parole that the individual is being detained and provide that entity an opportunity to place a hold on the individual; and
(ii)
only release the individual:
(A)
to the division if the division supervises the individual and requests the individual's release; or
(B)
if a court or magistrate orders release.
(c)
This Subsection (5) does not prohibit a jail facility from holding the individual in accordance with this chapter for a new criminal offense.
(6)
This section does not prohibit a court and a county from entering into an agreement regarding release, except that any such agreement shall apply only to an individual who meets the criteria in an agreement as those criteria existed as of January 1, 2025.
Section 77-20-203 ("County sheriff authority to release an individual from jail on own recognizance.") 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 § 77-20-203?
A common citation format is "Utah Code § 77-20-203" (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 § 77-20-203 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.
