IN THE [COURT NAME]

OF [COUNTY] COUNTY, INDIANA

STATE OF INDIANA,
                                Plaintiff,
v.
[DEFENDANT NAME],
                                Defendant.

Cause No. [CAUSE NUMBER]

MOTION TO REDUCE BAIL AND REQUEST FOR HEARING

[// GUIDANCE: Replace all bracketed placeholders with matter-specific information. Align caption format with the local rules of the particular Indiana trial court (e.g., Marion Superior Court – Criminal Division).]

I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1. On [DATE OF ARREST], Defendant was arrested and charged with [CHARGE(S)] under Ind. Code § [RELEVANT CHAPTER/SECTION].
2. At the Initial Hearing on [DATE], the Court set bail in the amount of $[CURRENT BAIL AMOUNT] cash/surety.
3. Defendant has been detained at [DETENTION FACILITY] since that date and is financially unable to post the currently-set bail.

[// GUIDANCE: Where possible, attach an affidavit of the Defendant or family member documenting inability to pay.]

II. STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL POSTURE

4. No trial date has yet been set / Trial is scheduled for [TRIAL DATE].
5. Discovery is ongoing; the State has produced [STATUS OF DISCOVERY].
6. This Motion is timely filed pursuant to Ind. Code § 35-33-8-5 and Indiana Rule of Criminal Procedure 26, which authorize review and modification of previously-fixed bail.

III. APPLICABLE LAW

7. The Indiana Constitution provides that “Offenses shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for murder or treason.” Ind. Const. art. I, § 17.
8. In fixing or reviewing bail, the Court must consider the statutory factors enumerated in Ind. Code § 35-33-8-4 (2023), including but not limited to:
    a. The length and character of the Defendant’s residence in the community;
    b. Defendant’s employment status, family ties, and financial resources;
    c. Defendant’s character and mental condition;
    d. Defendant’s prior criminal record, if any;
    e. Defendant’s history of appearing (or failing to appear) for court;
    f. The nature and gravity of the offense charged; and
    g. The potential risk to the safety of any other person or the community.
9. Pursuant to Ind. Code § 35-33-8-3.2 (2023), the Court may impose any combination of statutory non-monetary conditions reasonably necessary to assure the Defendant’s appearance and community safety.

IV. ARGUMENT

A. The Current Bail Amount is Excessive and Contrary to the Statutory Factors.

10. Defendant is a lifelong resident of [COUNTY], maintains stable employment at [EMPLOYER], supports [NUMBER] dependents, and has no prior felony convictions.
11. Defendant’s sole misdemeanor conviction from [YEAR] involved no violence, and Defendant has never failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing.
12. The alleged offense is non-violent / involves no allegation of harm to an identifiable victim.
13. Given Defendant’s limited financial means (weekly income of $[AMOUNT]) and lack of liquid assets, the current bail is tantamount to a pre-trial detention order—contrary to the principle that bail should be “sufficient” but not “excessive.”

B. Non-Monetary Conditions and/or a Lower Bond Will Reasonably Assure Appearance and Community Safety.

14. Under Ind. Code § 35-33-8-3.2, the Court may employ graduated conditions such as:
     a. Release to the supervision of the [COUNTY] Pretrial Services Agency;
     b. GPS monitoring;
     c. Weekly in-person or telephonic reporting;
     d. Abstention from alcohol/drugs with random testing;
     e. No-contact orders (if applicable); and
     f. Travel restrictions to the State of Indiana.
15. These conditions, singly or in combination, fully mitigate any articulated flight-risk or safety concerns.

C. Indiana Criminal Rule 26 Favors Release of Low-Risk Defendants.

16. Per Crim. R. 26, individuals assessed as “low” or “moderate” risk by an evidence-based pretrial risk assessment tool should be released without money bail, absent articulable grounds to deviate.
17. Defendant’s risk-assessment score of [SCORE] (attached as Exhibit A) places Defendant in the [LOW/MODERATE] category, triggering the presumption of non-monetary release.

[// GUIDANCE: If your jurisdiction has not fully implemented Rule 26, delete ¶¶ 16-17 or modify to reflect local practice.]

V. PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE BAIL AND CONDITIONS

18. Defendant respectfully requests that bail be:
     a. Reduced to $[PROPOSED AMOUNT] cash/surety; OR
     b. Converted to Release on Own Recognizance (ROR) subject to the following conditions:
      i. Comply with all pretrial services directives;
      ii. Submit to GPS monitoring at Defendant’s expense (or waiver of fees if indigent);
      iii. Abide by any no-contact or stay-away orders;
      iv. Maintain employment or actively seek work; and
      v. Appear at all scheduled court dates and refrain from criminal activity.

[// GUIDANCE: Tailor proposed conditions to address specific concerns raised by the prosecution or noted on the record.]

VI. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Defendant respectfully prays that the Court:
1. Grant this Motion and order the reduction or modification of bail as set forth above;
2. Schedule a prompt hearing pursuant to Ind. Code § 35-33-8-5(b); and
3. Grant all other just and proper relief.

VII. NOTICE OF HEARING (OPTIONAL)

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the undersigned will bring this Motion on for hearing before the Court on the ___ day of _, 20_, at : .m., or as soon thereafter as counsel may be heard.

[// GUIDANCE: Insert only if local rules require a self-generated hearing notice; otherwise, the court will set the hearing.]

VIII. VERIFICATION

I, [DEFENDANT NAME], affirm under the penalties for perjury that the foregoing representations are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date: ___, 20

[DEFENDANT NAME]

IX. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that on ___, 20, a copy of the foregoing Motion was served upon the following by [METHOD OF SERVICE in conformity with Ind. Trial Rule 5]:

• [PROSECUTING ATTORNEY NAME]
 [PROSECUTOR’S ADDRESS]

[ATTORNEY NAME] (# [BAR NO.])
Counsel for Defendant
[LAW FIRM NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE] | [EMAIL]

END OF TEMPLATE

[// GUIDANCE:

1. Statutory Citations: Ind. Code §§ 35-33-8-3.2, -4, -5 (2023) are well-established and safe to cite.
2. Attachments: Consider filing (a) defendant’s affidavit of indigency, (b) pretrial risk assessment, and (c) character letters as separate exhibits.
3. Local Variations: Many Indiana counties issue standing orders or bail schedules—verify and reference them where favorable.
4. Formatting: Preserve double-spacing and 12-point font when converting this Markdown to word-processing format for filing.
5. Hearing Promptness: Ind. Code § 35-33-8-5(b) requires the Court to promptly grant a hearing—cite this on the record if delay occurs.
   ]