Nolo's Plain-English Law Dictionary

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Own Recognizance (Or): A way the defendant can get out of jail pending trial on the charges, without paying bail, by promising to appear in court when next required to be there. Sometimes called "personal recognizance." Only those with strong ties to the community, such as a steady job, local family, and no history of failing to appear in court are good candidates for "OR" release. If the charge is very serious, however, OR may not be an option.