THE COURTS
[ 234 PA. CODE CH. 5 ]
Proposed Amendments to Pa.Rs.Crim.P. 528 and 535
[44 Pa.B. 778]
[Saturday, February 8, 2014]The Criminal Procedural Rules Committee is considering recommending that the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania amend Rule 528 (Monetary Condition for Release of Bail) and Rule 535 (Receipt for Deposit; Return of Deposit) to provide (1) procedures for applying bail monies that would be returnable to the defendant after full and final disposition of the case to the defendant's outstanding restitution, court fees, fine, and costs in the current case and (2) notice to depositors to warn of the possibility of the loss of security deposited. This Supplemental Report explains the proposed changes to the original proposal that were made in response to communications to the Committee from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania after publication of our original explanatory Report. This revised proposal has not been submitted for review by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
The following explanatory Supplemental Report highlights the Committee's considerations in formulating this proposal. Please note that the Committee's Supplemental Report should not be confused with the official Committee Comments to the rules. Also, note that the Supreme Court does not adopt the Committee's Comments or the contents of the explanatory Reports.
The text of the proposed amendments to the rules precedes the Report. Additions are shown in bold; deletions are in bold and brackets.
We request that interested persons submit suggestions, comments, or objections concerning this proposal in writing to the Committee through counsel,
Jeffrey M. Wasileski, Counsel
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Criminal Procedural Rules Committee
601 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 6200
Harrisburg, PA 17106-2635
fax: (717) 231-9521
e-mail: criminalrules@pacourts.usno later than Friday, March 7, 2014.
By the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee:
THOMAS P. ROGERS,
Chair
Annex A
TITLE 234. RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
CHAPTER 5. PRETRIAL PROCEDURES IN COURT CASES
PART C(1). Release Procedures Rule 528. Monetary Condition of Release on Bail.
* * * * * (E) The bail authority shall record on the bail bond the amount of the monetary condition imposed and the form of security that is posted by the defendant or by an individual acting on behalf of the defendant or acting as a surety for the defendant.
(F) Except as limited in Rule 531 (Qualification of Surety), the defendant or another person may deposit the cash percentage of the bail. If the defendant posts the money, the defendant shall sign the bond, thereby becoming his or her own surety, and is liable for the full amount of bail if he or she fails to appear or to comply. When a person other than the defendant deposits the cash percentage of the bail, the clerk of courts or issuing authority shall explain and provide written notice to that person that:
(1) if the person agrees to act as a surety and signs the bail bond with the defendant, the person shall be liable for the full amount of bail if the defendant fails to appear or comply; or
(2) if the person does not wish to be liable for the full amount of bail, the person shall be permitted to deposit the money for the defendant to post, and will relinquish the right to make a subsequent claim for the return of the money pursuant to these rules. In this case, the defendant would be deemed the depositor, and only the defendant would sign the bond and be liable for the full amount of bail.
(3) Pursuant to Rule 535(E), if the bail was deposited by or on behalf of the defendant and the defendant is the named depositor, the amount otherwise returnable to the defendant may be used to pay and satisfy any outstanding restitution, fees, fines, and costs owed by the defendant as a result of a sentence imposed in the court case for which the deposit is being made.
Comment * * * * * If a percentage of the cash bail is accepted pursuant to these rules, when the funds are returned at the conclusion of the defendant's bail period, the court or bail agency may retain as a fee an amount reasonably related to the cost of administering the cash bail program. See Schilb v. Kuebel, 404 U.S. 357 (1971).
[Except as limited in Rule 531 (Qualification of Surety), the defendant or another person, such as a relative or neighbor, may deposit the cash percentage of the bail. If the defendant posts the money, the defendant must sign the bond, thereby becoming his or her own surety, and is liable for the full amount of bail if he or she fails to appear or to comply. When someone other than the defendant deposits the cash percentage of the bail, the clerk of courts or issuing authority must explain to that person that:
1) if the person agrees to act as a surety and signs the bail bond with the defendant, the person will be liable for the full amount of bail if the defendant fails to appear or comply; or
2) if the person does not wish to be liable for the full amount of bail, the person will be permitted to deposit the money for the defendant to post, and will relinquish the right to make a subsequent claim for the return of the money pursuant to these rules. In this case, the defendant would be deemed the depositor, and only the defendant would sign the bond and be liable for the full amount of bail. See Rule 535.]
Paragraph (F), which formerly was included in the Comment, was added to the rule in 2014 to clarify the manner in which the defendant or a third party may act as a surety for the defendant's bond. The rule now requires that written notice be given to the person posting the bail, especially a third party, of the possible consequences if the defendant receives a sentence that includes restitution, a fine, fees, and costs.
The defendant must be permitted to substitute the form(s) of security deposited as provided in Rule 532.
The method of valuation when realty is offered to satisfy the monetary condition pursuant to paragraphs (D)(3) and (D)(4) is determined at the local level. If no satisfactory basis exists for valuing particular tracts of offered realty, especially tracts located in remote areas, acceptance of that realty is not required by this rule.
Official Note: Former Rule 4007 adopted July 23, 1973, effective 60 days hence, replacing prior Rule 4013; amended January 28, 1983, effective July 1, 1983; rescinded September 13, 1995, effective January 1, 1996, and replaced by Rule 4011. Present Rule 4007 adopted September 13, 1995, effective January 1, 1996. The January 1, 1996 effective dates extended to April 1, 1996; the April 1, 1996 effective dates extended to July 1, 1996; renumbered Rule 528 and amended March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001; amended September 21, 2012, effective November 1, 2012; amended , 2013, effective , 2013.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
* * * * * Report explaining the proposed changes to Rule 535 concerning retention of bail to be applied to fees, fines, costs, and restitution published for comment at 42 Pa.B. 6253 (October 6, 2012); Supplemental Report explaining the revised proposed amendment providing for the advice required to be given concerning possible forfeiture of the deposit published for comment at 44 Pa.B. 781 (February 8, 2014).
PART C(2). General Procedures in all Bail Cases Rule 535. Receipt for Deposit; Return of Deposit.
(A) Any deposit of cash in satisfaction of a monetary condition of bail shall be given to the issuing authority, the clerk of courts, or another official designated by the president judge by local rule pursuant to Rule 117(C). The issuing authority, clerk, or other official who accepts the deposit shall give the depositor an itemized receipt, and shall note on the bail bond the amount deposited and the name of the person who made the deposit. The defendant shall sign the bail bond, and be given a copy of the signed bail bond.
(1) When the issuing authority accepts a deposit of bail, the issuing authority shall note on the docket transcript the amount deposited and the name of the person who made the deposit. The issuing authority shall have the deposit, the docket transcript, and a copy of the bail bond delivered to the clerk of courts.
(2) When another official is designated by the president judge to accept a bail deposit, that official shall deliver the deposit and the bail bond to either the issuing authority, who shall proceed as provided in paragraph (A)(1), or the clerk of courts, who shall proceed as provided in paragraph (A)(3).
(3) When the clerk of courts accepts the deposit, the clerk shall note in the list of docket entries the amount deposited and the name of the person who made the deposit, and shall place the bail bond in the criminal case file.
[(4) At the time bail is being deposited, no inquiry shall be made of the depositor whether he or she consents to have the deposit retained to be applied toward the defendant's fines, costs, or restitution, if any. ]
(B) When the deposit is the percentage cash bail authorized by Rule 528, the depositor shall be notified that by signing the bail bond, the depositor becomes a surety for the defendant and is liable for the full amount of the monetary condition in the event the defendant fails to appear or comply as required by these rules and that, if the defendant is the named depositor, the amount otherwise returnable may be used to pay and satisfy any outstanding restitution, fees, fines, and costs owed by the defendant as a result of a sentence imposed in the court case for which the deposit is being made.
(C) The clerk of courts shall place all cash bail deposits in a bank or other depository approved by the court and shall keep records of all deposits.
(D) [Within] Unless the court has issued an order issued pursuant to paragraph (E), within 20 days of the full and final disposition of the case, the deposit shall be returned to the depositor, less any bail-related fees or commissions authorized by law, and the reasonable costs, if any, of administering the percentage cash bail program.
(E) In any case in which the defendant is the named depositor, upon the full and final disposition of the case, the court may order, upon motion of the attorney for the Commonwealth, that any money deposited pursuant to this rule by or on behalf of the defendant that is otherwise returnable to the defendant be held and applied to the payment of any restitution, fees, fines, and costs imposed upon the defendant in the case for which the deposit had been made unless the defendant shows that he or she would suffer an undue hardship.
[(E)] (F) When a case is transferred pursuant to Rule 130(B) or Rule 555, the full deposit shall be promptly forwarded to the transfer judicial district, together with any bail-related fees, commissions, or costs paid by the depositor.
Comment When the president judge has designated another official to accept the bail deposit as provided in Rule 117, the other official's authority under Rule 117 and this rule is limited to accepting the deposit, having the defendant sign the bail bond, releasing the defendant, and delivering the bail deposit and bail bond to the issuing authority or the clerk of courts.
Paragraph (A) was amended in 2006 to make it clear that the clerk of courts or other official accepting a deposit of cash bail is not permitted to request that the depositor agree to have the cash bail deposit retained after the full and final disposition of the case to be applied toward the payment of the defendant's fines, costs, or restitution, if any. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. McDonald, 476 Pa. 217, 382 A.2d 124 (1978), which held that a deposit of cash to satisfy a defendant's monetary bail condition that is made by a person acting as a surety for the defendant may not be retained to pay for the defendant's court costs and/or fines.
Paragraph (E) was added in 2014 to permit the attorney for the Commonwealth to seek, at the full and final disposition of any case in which the defendant is the named depositor of bail money, to have the deposited bail money applied to any restitution, fees, fines, and costs imposed on the defendant in the case for which the deposit had been made. This new provision, adopted pursuant to the authority granted in 42 Pa.C.S. § 5702, is a procedural mechanism by which the court may retain money previously deposited with the court to satisfy the defendant's obligations but only in the current criminal case. This procedure also secures the right of the defendant to proffer reasons why retention of the bail money would be an undue hardship. See Commonwealth v. McDonald, supra.
The procedure stated in this rule is the only procedure by which bail may be retained to pay for assessments imposed on the defendant. Any local practice that permits the retention of bail other than as provided in this rule is inconsistent with the statewide rules and subject to the provisions in Rule 105(B).
For the manner of distribution of any funds applied to the outstanding restitution, fees, fines, and costs owed by the defendant, see the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Uniform Disbursement Schedule, In Re: Promulgation of Financial Regulations Pursuant to Act 49 of 2009 (42 PA.C.S. §§ 3733(A.1) and 3733.1), No. 335 Judicial Administration Docket (October 29, 2009), 204 Pa. Code § 29.353.
The procedures in paragraph (E) contemplate the decision to retain the bail to be made at the court of common pleas. There may be court cases in which bail had been set that are resolved at the magisterial district court, for example, in cases in which a plea agreement is entered to withdraw misdemeanor or felony charges in exchange for a plea to summary charges or misdemeanor charges within the jurisdiction of the magisterial district judge. In such cases, the magisterial district judge may not order the retention of bail money for the payment of assessments unless the parties agree.
Any order issued pursuant to paragraph (E) shall be in conformance with Rule 114.
Given the complexities of posting real estate to satisfy a monetary condition of release, posting of real estate may not be feasible outside the normal business hours.
Paragraph (B) requires the issuing authority or the clerk of courts who accepts a percentage cash bail deposit to explain to the person who deposits the money the consequences of acting as a surety. There will be cases in which a person merely deposits the money for the defendant to post, and is not acting as the defendant's surety. In this situation, the defendant is the depositor and should receive the receipt pursuant to paragraph (A). See Rule 528. See also Rule 528 for the notice the clerk of courts or issuing authority must provide when a person other than the defendant deposits the cash percentage of the bail.
When cash bail that is deposited in a bank pursuant to paragraph (C) is retained by a county in an interest-bearing account, case law provides that the county retains the earned interest. See Crum v. Burd, 131 Pa. Cmwlth. 550, 571 A.2d 1 (1989), allocatur denied 525 Pa. 649, 581 A.2d 574 (1990).
The full and final disposition of a case includes all avenues of direct appeal in the state courts. Therefore, the return of any deposits would not be required until after either the expiration of the appeal period or, if an appeal is taken, after disposition of the appeal. See Rule 534.
Any fees, commissions, or costs assessed pursuant to paragraph (D) must be reasonably related to the county's actual bail administration costs. Each county should establish local procedures to ensure adequate notice and uniform application of such fees, commissions, or costs. See, e.g., Buckland v. County of Montgomery, 812 F.2d 146 (3rd Cir. 1987).
When a case is transferred pursuant to Rules 130(B) and 555, paragraph [(E)] (F) and Rules 130(B) and 555 require that any bail-related fees, commissions, or costs collected pursuant to paragraph (D) be forwarded to the transfer judicial district. Fees, commissions, or costs that have been assessed but not paid at the time of transfer may not be collected in the transferring judicial district.
When bail is terminated upon acceptance of the defendant into an ARD program, such action constitutes a ''full and final disposition'' for purposes of this rule and Rule 534 (Duration of Obligation). See Rule 313.
Official Note: Former Rule 4015, previously Rule 4009, adopted November 22, 1965, effective June 1, 1966; renumbered Rule 4015, former paragraph (b) integrated into paragraph (a) and new paragraph (b) adopted July 23, 1973, effective 60 days hence; rescinded September 13, 1995, effective January 1, 1996, and replaced by present Rule 4015. Present Rule 4015 adopted September 13, 1995, effective January 1, 1996. The January 1, 1996 effective dates extended to April 1, 1996; the April 1, 1996 effective dates extended to July 1, 1996; renumbered Rule 535 and amended March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001; amended April 20, 2000, effective July 1, 2000; amended March 3, 2004, effective July 1, 2004; amended June 30, 2005, effective August 1, 2006; amended March 9, 2006, effective August 1, 2006; amended , 2014, effective , 2014.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
* * * * * Report explaining the proposed changes to paragraph (D) Rule 535 concerning defendant's deposits of bail to be applied to fees, fines, costs, and restitution published for comment at 42 Pa.B. 6253 (October 6, 2012); Supplemental Report explaining revised proposed amendments concerning defendant's deposits of bail to be applied to restitution, fees, fines, and costs in the current case published for comment at 44 Pa.B. 781 (February 8, 2014).
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT
Proposed Amendments to Pa.Rs.Crim.P. 528 and 535
Use of Bail Money for Payment of Restitution, Fees, Fines, and Costs The Committee has been examining procedures that would permit retention of a defendant's bail money that would be returnable to the defendant after full and final disposition of the case in order for it to be applied to the defendant's outstanding restitution, court fees, fine, and costs. The Rules of Criminal Procedure traditionally have precluded directly applying bail money in this manner, based on the concept that the purpose of bail is to ensure the presence of the defendant during the pendency of the case and not to obtain a ''deposit'' on future assessments. However, the Committee concluded that a change that would permit the retention of returnable bail money to satisfy a defendant's existing obligations to the court was a valid exercise of the rule-making authority and that such a change has the potential to be a useful tool for the more efficient collection of owed moneys, including restitution, reducing collection costs for the court and even for the defendant who would otherwise face additional costs where the court is forced to seek collections processes.
The Committee previously developed a proposal, which was published for comment at 42 Pa.B. 6253 (October 6, 2012), that would have amended Rule 535 and revised of the Comment to Rule 528 to permit the clerk of courts to automatically apply any bail monies that otherwise would be returnable to the defendant after full and final disposition of the case to any of the defendant's outstanding restitution, court fees, fines, costs, and bail judgments. The proposal would have been limited to only money that has been deposited by the defendant and would have permitted relief where its application would work a hardship on the defendant.
Following publication of this proposal, the Committee received further direction from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to narrow the scope of the proposal by requiring the prosecution to make a motion for holding deposited funds for payment of outstanding restitution, fees, fines, and costs assessed in the case for which the deposit had originally been made. Additionally, the exemption for third party sureties and for cases in which the defendant would suffer an undue hardship were to be more explicitly stated and fuller notice be provided to the depositor of the potential loss of the deposit.
The Committee has therefore revised the proposal to enhance the protection afforded to third party depositors by requiring detailed notice that the bail authority must provide to depositors to warn them of the possibility of the loss of security deposited if they allow the defendant to be the named depositor. Rule 528 would be amended to move into the rule text the language currently in the Comment that describes the manner by which a depositor may be named and the consequences for a third party of allowing the defendant to be named depositor when the third party has supplied the bail money, including the possibility of the money being applied to assessments. This notice requirement would be reiterated in Rule 535(B).
Additionally, a new paragraph (E) would be added to Rule 535 that would establish the procedures for retaining the bail money. A motion by the attorney for the Commonwealth would be required before the bail money could be retained and could only be retained for the payment of assessments placed on the case for which the money had originally been deposited with the defendant being the named depositor. The paragraph would also contain the exemption when the defendant shows that retention of the bail money would be a hardship.
An additional change would be the removal of current paragraph (A)(4) of Rule 535 that prohibits inquiring whether the defendant consents to applying deposited bail money towards fines, costs, etc., because the defendant's consent to having the bail money retained would no longer be needed if the defendant was the named depositor and third party depositors would be provided more detailed notice of the potential consequences.
The Comment to Rule 535 would be revised to describe the rationale and basis for this change as well as cross-reference the Court's Uniform Disbursement Schedule that details the manner in which the retained money would be dispersed. The Comment would also state that the proposal would not apply to cases before a magisterial district judge unless the parties agree.
There was a concern raised by the Committee that some counties may be retaining bail presently, despite being contrary to the rules, so the proposal includes language in the Rule 535 Comment that any local practice that varied from that in Rule 535 would be inconsistent with the statewide rules.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-272. Filed for public inspection February 7, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]
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