Georgia House Passes Legislation to Help Prevent Criminals from Skipping Bond

ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives passed House Bill 889 on Friday, March 26, 2010, by a vote of 105 to 56.  Sponsored by Representative Len Walker (R-Loganville), HB 889 limits the recognizance of bonds for persons who are charged with certain crimes.

“The public safety of all of Georgia is at stake when those charged with serious or violent crimes are released on their own recognizance even when a substantial bond is set,” said Representative Walker. “This legislation is needed to prevent persons who are released on their own recognizance and into a pretrial program from skipping out of the bond and the program.”

HB 889 prevents a person charged with serious violent felonies, such as aggravated assault, child molestation, felony pimping, or felony DUI, from being released on his or her own recognizance.

A link to HB 889 can be found by clicking here.  The bill is now in the Senate for consideration.

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Representative Len Walker represents the citizens of District 107, which includes portions of Gwinnett and Walton Counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1994, and is currently the Chairman of the Higher Education Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Human Relations and Aging, Rules, and State Planning and Community Affairs Committees.