Rule 37.14 Conditions of Release: Rules of Evidence Inapplicable

When a judge decides whether to release you before trial and what conditions to set (like bail), the hearing doesn't have to follow strict courtroom evidence rules. The judge can look at information in a more relaxed, informal way to make this decision.

This means the process moves faster and is less formal than a regular trial. The judge can consider things that might not normally be allowed as evidence in a full trial, like hearsay or other information, when deciding on release conditions. The goal is to let the judge get the information needed to make a fair decision about release without getting bogged down in technical evidence rules that are meant for trials, not quick release hearings.