MOTION FOR BAIL REDUCTION

(New York Criminal Procedure Law §§ 510.10, 510.20, 510.30 & 510.40)

[// GUIDANCE: This template is intentionally comprehensive so that it can be pared down to meet the needs of any particular case. Remove inapplicable sections before filing.]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Document Header
2. Notice of Motion
3. Affirmation of Counsel in Support
4. Proposed Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law (Optional)
5. Proposed Order
6. Certificate of Service

1. DOCUMENT HEADER

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF [COUNTY] │ Part ___
-------------------------------------------------------------x
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, │ Indictment/Docket No.: [DOCKET NO.]
│
-against- │
│ MOTION FOR BAIL REDUCTION
[DEFENDANT FULL NAME], │ (NY CPL Art. 510)
│
Defendant. │
-------------------------------------------------------------x
Date of Filing: [DATE]
Assigned Justice: Hon. [NAME]

2. NOTICE OF MOTION

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that upon (i) the annexed Affirmation of [ATTORNEY NAME], Esq., dated [DATE]; (ii) all prior proceedings and filings herein; and (iii) such further argument as may be presented at the hearing of this motion, the undersigned will move this Court at Part ___, located at [COURTHOUSE ADDRESS], on [RETURN DATE] at [TIME] a.m./p.m., or as soon thereafter as counsel may be heard, for an Order pursuant to New York Criminal Procedure Law (“CPL”) §§ 510.10, 510.30 & 510.40:

1. Reducing bail from the current amount of $[CURRENT AMOUNT] to $[REQUESTED AMOUNT] or releasing Defendant on the least-restrictive alternative condition(s) enumerated under CPL § 510.10(1); and
2. Granting such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

Dated: [CITY], New York
[DATE]

Respectfully submitted,

[ATTORNEY NAME], Esq.
Attorney for Defendant
[FIRM NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE] | [EMAIL]

3. AFFIRMATION OF COUNSEL IN SUPPORT

I, [ATTORNEY NAME], an attorney duly admitted to practice law before the courts of the State of New York, affirm under penalty of perjury pursuant to CPLR § 2106 as follows:

3.1 Procedural Posture

1. Defendant was arrested on [ARREST DATE] and is presently charged with [SPECIFY CHARGES & PENAL LAW §§].
2. At arraignment on [DATE], bail was set in the amount of $[CURRENT AMOUNT] in the following form(s): [CASH / BOND / PARTIALLY SECURED BOND / ELECTRONIC MONITORING].
3. Defendant has remained in custody at [FACILITY] since [DATE] because of inability to post the set bail.

3.2 Applicable Legal Standard

4. Under CPL § 510.10(1), the Court must “select the least restrictive alternative and conditions that will reasonably assure the principal’s return to court.”
5. In determining an appropriate securing order, CPL § 510.30(2)(a) directs the Court to consider, inter alia:
   a. Principal’s activities and history;
   b. Charges’ nature and circumstances;
   c. Family and community ties;
   d. Employment and financial resources;
   e. Record of court appearances; and
   f. Any other factor bearing on risk of flight.

3.3 Bail Factors Supporting Reduction

6. Community Ties: Defendant has resided at [ADDRESS] for [NUMBER] years with [RELATIONSHIP(S)].
7. Employment/Education: Defendant is employed as [OCCUPATION] at [EMPLOYER] earning $[AMOUNT]/[WEEK/MONTH], or is enrolled at [SCHOOL/PROGRAM].
8. Criminal Record & Appearance History: Defendant has [NO / MINIMAL] prior convictions and has [NEVER / CONSISTENTLY] appeared in prior proceedings.
9. Financial Circumstances: Defendant’s verified financial statement, annexed as Exhibit A, evidences inability to post the existing bail.
10. Public Safety: The alleged offense is [NON-VIOLENT / NON-QUALIFYING] and no allegations suggest an articulable threat to public safety.
11. Compliance Options: Defendant is amenable to (i) supervised release, (ii) weekly in-person reporting, (iii) electronic monitoring, or (iv) any other condition the Court deems necessary.

3.4 Constitutional & Statutory Considerations

12. Excessive bail is prohibited under U.S. Const. amend. VIII and N.Y. Const. art. I, § 5.
13. The current amount is not the “least restrictive” means mandated by CPL § 510.10(1) and therefore violates both statutes and constitutional safeguards.

3.5 Prayer for Relief

WHEREFORE, Defendant respectfully requests that this Court reduce bail to $[REQUESTED AMOUNT] or impose non-monetary conditions sufficient to secure attendance, together with such other relief as the Court deems just and proper.

Executed on [DATE] at [CITY], New York.

[ATTORNEY NAME], Esq.

4. PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT & CONCLUSIONS OF LAW (Optional)

[// GUIDANCE: Some judges require or appreciate a proposed order with specific findings, particularly in superior courts. Delete this section if not needed.]

Findings of Fact:
1. Defendant has significant community ties, including [DETAILS].
2. Defendant lacks financial resources to post the existing bail of $[CURRENT AMOUNT].
3. The charged offense(s) [are/are not] violent felonies and [are/are not] qualifying offenses under CPL Art. 510.

Conclusions of Law:
1. Existing bail is more restrictive than necessary under CPL § 510.10(1).
2. A secured bail of $[REQUESTED AMOUNT] or non-monetary conditions will reasonably assure Defendant’s return.

5. PROPOSED ORDER

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF [COUNTY] │ Part ___
-------------------------------------------------------------x
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, │ Indictment/Docket No.: [DOCKET NO.]
│
-against- │ ORDER
│ (Bail Reduction – CPL Art. 510)
[DEFENDANT FULL NAME], │
│
Defendant. │
-------------------------------------------------------------x
Upon reading and filing Defendant’s Motion for Bail Reduction, the Affirmation of [ATTORNEY NAME], Esq., dated [DATE], and after hearing argument of counsel, it is:

ORDERED that the securing order dated [PRIOR DATE] is VACATED; and it is further

ORDERED that bail is hereby fixed in the adjusted amount of $[NEW AMOUNT] or in the alternative the following least-restrictive condition(s) are imposed pursuant to CPL § 510.10(1):
[ ] Supervised Release (CPL § 500.10(3-a))
[ ] Partially Secured Bond – 10 % deposit
[ ] Electronic Monitoring
[ ] In-Person Reporting to [AGENCY]
[ ] Other: ____

SO ORDERED.

Dated: [CITY], New York
____, 20

HON. [JUSTICE NAME]
Justice of the Supreme Court

6. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that on [DATE] a true and correct copy of the foregoing Motion for Bail Reduction, including all supporting papers, was served upon the [DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE NAME] at [ADDRESS] by [METHOD OF SERVICE].

[NAME], [TITLE]

EXHIBITS CHECKLIST (Remove/attach as applicable)

• Exhibit A – Defendant’s Financial Disclosure Affidavit
• Exhibit B – Letters of Support (Family & Community)
• Exhibit C – Proof of Employment/School Enrollment
• Exhibit D – Prior Appearance History Report
• Exhibit E – Proposed Release Plan

[// GUIDANCE:
1. Tailor the motion to the specific “qualifying” or “non-qualifying” offense category under NY bail reform statutes.
2. Verify the court’s individual part rules for motion practice (e-filing, service deadlines, word limits).
3. For misdemeanors and many non-violent felonies, bail may be outright prohibited—consider seeking release on recognizance instead of reduction.
4. When annexing exhibits containing sensitive personal data (e.g., Social Security numbers), comply with 22 NYCRR § 202.5(e) redaction requirements.
5. If representing an indigent defendant, note potential eligibility for bail funds or charitable bail organizations.
]