Legal Definitions - O.R.

O.R. stands for "own recognizance." When someone is charged with a crime, they may be released from jail without having to pay bail if the judge believes they will show up for future court appearances. This is called "O.R. release."

People who are good candidates for O.R. release are those who are unlikely to run away. For example, someone who owns property in the community or has close family nearby is less likely to flee.

Let's say John is arrested for shoplifting. The judge decides to release him on O.R. because he has lived in the same town for 20 years and has a job and family there. The judge believes John is not a flight risk and will show up for his court date.

Another example is Maria, who is charged with a DUI. She is released on O.R. because she has no prior criminal record and has a stable job and family in the area. The judge believes Maria is not likely to run away and will come back to court when she is supposed to.

These examples illustrate how O.R. release works. If the judge believes someone is not a flight risk and will show up for court, they can be released without having to pay bail.