Municipal Division

---

You do not have to wait for a judge to assign you to a public defender. If you are unable to afford an attorney and are charged with a misdemeanor that carries the possibility of a jail sentence, you are eligible for an attorney from our Office. You do not need to decide for yourself if you are eligible, just contact us at (216) 443-2190 or submit a request for assistance. After an intake specialist gets your basic information, you will be contacted by an attorney within 24-48 hours.

The sooner you contact our Office, the sooner we can assist with your case.

Types of cases that we do NOT handle because they do not carry the possibility of a jail sentence:

• Minor misdemeanor offenses (e.g. speeding, littering, etc.)
• Parking tickets

If you fail to appear for court or violate any other conditions set by the judge, a warrant may issue for your arrest and you may be subject to arrest.

Bond

In the majority of misdemeanor cases, the Municipal Court will not require you to post a financial bond. A financial bond is uncommon unless you have been arrested on a more serious case (e.g. domestic violence).

If a bond is set in your case, it must be posted in person at the third floor of Justice Center in the Cleveland Municipal Clerk of Courts Office. Family and friends who are going to post a bond on your behalf will need proper photo identification and must pay with cash or credit card (no personal checks). Bonds can be posted 24 hours a day.

If you appear for court and comply with the conditions of release, the entire amount posted (with the exception of processing fees) will be returned to the person who posted the bond. If you fail to appear, the bond may be increased or forfeited.

If you cannot afford to post the bond yourself, you can contact the Bail Project, a non-profit organization that provides free bail assistance to low-income individuals. If they are able to assist you, the Bail Project will post your bond and provide other support (e.g. court reminders) to help you make your court dates. The Bail Project can be reached at (216) 223-8708.

Conditions of Pre-Trial Release

Instead of or in addition to requiring the posting of a bond, the judge may also impose non-financial conditions of release including, but not limited to, restrictions on travel, house arrest, electronic monitoring. The failure to comply with any court-ordered conditions of release could subject you to arrest and a possible increase in the amount of bond or the conditions of your release.

Two common conditions of release in more serious misdemeanor cases include:

• No Contact Order: In cases where there is an alleged victim, the arraignment judge will often order that you have “no contact” with the alleged victim as a condition of your release. If a “no contact” order is issued, it will be enforced. Violation of no contact orders could result in the forfeiture of your bond and possible arrest. In addition, some violations are charged as a new criminal offense, contempt of court, that carries the possibility of additional jail time.
• Electronic Monitoring: Also in cases where there is an alleged victim, you may be placed on electronic monitoring to ensure that you do not enter an “exclusion zone” – normally an area around the residence of the victim. If electronic monitoring is required, it will be enforced. Judges are very involved in the supervision of electronic monitoring. If you enter an exclusion zone, tamper with the monitor, or fail to ensure the device is charged, the Court will be notified and may revoke your bond and place you in jail.