18 U.S.C. § 3146 — Penalty for failure to appear

Page 723 TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE § 3146 § 3144. Release or detention of a material witness If it appears from an affidavit filed by a party that the testimony of a person is material in a criminal proceeding, and if it is shown that it may become impracticable to secure the pres- ence of the person by subpoena, a judicial officer may order the arrest of the person and treat the person in accordance with the provisions of sec- tion 3142 of this title. No material witness may be detained because of inability to comply with any condition of release if the testimony of such witness can adequately be secured by deposition, and if further detention is not necessary to pre- vent a failure of justice. Release of a material witness may be delayed for a reasonable period of time until the deposition of the witness can be taken pursuant to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. (Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 203(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1982; amended Pub. L. 99–646, § 55(e), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3609.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, referred to in text, are set out in the Appendix to this title. PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 3144, act June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 821, related to cases removed from State courts, prior to repeal in the revision of this chapter by section 203(a) of Pub. L. 98–473. AMENDMENTS 1986—Pub. L. 99–646 substituted ‘‘subpoena’’ for ‘‘sub- pena’’ and inserted ‘‘of this title’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1986 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 99–646 effective 30 days after Nov. 10, 1986, see section 55(j) of Pub. L. 99–646, set out as a note under section 3141 of this title. § 3145. Review and appeal of a release or deten- tion order (a) REVIEW OF A RELEASE ORDER.—If a person is ordered released by a magistrate judge, or by a person other than a judge of a court having original jurisdiction over the offense and other than a Federal appellate court— (1) the attorney for the Government may file, with the court having original jurisdic- tion over the offense, a motion for revocation of the order or amendment of the conditions of release; and (2) the person may file, with the court hav- ing original jurisdiction over the offense, a motion for amendment of the conditions of re- lease. The motion shall be determined promptly. (b) REVIEW OF A DETENTION ORDER.—If a person is ordered detained by a magistrate judge, or by a person other than a judge of a court having original jurisdiction over the offense and other than a Federal appellate court, the person may file, with the court having original jurisdiction over the offense, a motion for revocation or amendment of the order. The motion shall be de- termined promptly. (c) APPEAL FROM A RELEASE OR DETENTION ORDER.—An appeal from a release or detention order, or from a decision denying revocation or amendment of such an order, is governed by the provisions of section 1291 of title 28 and section 3731 of this title. The appeal shall be determined promptly. A person subject to detention pursu- ant to section 3143(a)(2) or (b)(2), and who meets the conditions of release set forth in section 3143(a)(1) or (b)(1), may be ordered released, under appropriate conditions, by the judicial of- ficer, if it is clearly shown that there are excep- tional reasons why such person’s detention would not be appropriate. (Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 203(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1982; amended Pub. L. 101–647, title IX, § 902(c), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4827; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 3145, act June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 821, provided cross references to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure for rules covering parties and wit- nesses, prior to repeal in the revision of this chapter by section 203(a) of Pub. L. 98–473. AMENDMENTS 1990—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–647 inserted at end ‘‘A person subject to detention pursuant to section 3143(a)(2) or (b)(2), and who meets the conditions of re- lease set forth in section 3143(a)(1) or (b)(1), may be or- dered released, under appropriate conditions, by the ju- dicial officer, if it is clearly shown that there are ex- ceptional reasons why such person’s detention would not be appropriate.’’ Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries CHANGE OF NAME Words ‘‘magistrate judge’’ substituted for ‘‘mag- istrate’’ in subsecs. (a) and (b) pursuant to section 321 of Pub. L. 101–650, set out as a note under section 631 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. § 3146. Penalty for failure to appear (a) OFFENSE.—Whoever, having been released under this chapter knowingly— (1) fails to appear before a court as required by the conditions of release; or (2) fails to surrender for service of sentence pursuant to a court order; shall be punished as provided in subsection (b) of this section. (b) PUNISHMENT.—(1) The punishment for an offense under this section is— (A) if the person was released in connection with a charge of, or while awaiting sentence, surrender for service of sentence, or appeal or certiorari after conviction for— (i) an offense punishable by death, life im- prisonment, or imprisonment for a term of 15 years or more, a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than ten years, or both; (ii) an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of five years or more, a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than five years, or both; (iii) any other felony, a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than two years, or both; or Page 724 TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE § 3147 (iv) a misdemeanor, a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both; and (B) if the person was released for appearance as a material witness, a fine under this chap- ter or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. (2) A term of imprisonment imposed under this section shall be consecutive to the sentence of imprisonment for any other offense. (c) AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE.—It is an affirma- tive defense to a prosecution under this section that uncontrollable circumstances prevented the person from appearing or surrendering, and that the person did not contribute to the cre- ation of such circumstances in reckless dis- regard of the requirement to appear or sur- render, and that the person appeared or surren- dered as soon as such circumstances ceased to exist. (d) DECLARATION OF FORFEITURE.—If a person fails to appear before a court as required, and the person executed an appearance bond pursu- ant to section 3142(b) of this title or is subject to the release condition set forth in clause (xi) or (xii) of section 3142(c)(1)(B) of this title, the judi- cial officer may, regardless of whether the per- son has been charged with an offense under this section, declare any property designated pursu- ant to that section to be forfeited to the United States. (Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 203(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1982; amended Pub. L. 99–646, § 55(f), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3609; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(2)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(a)(4), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3498.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 3146, added Pub. L. 89–465, § 3(a), June 22, 1966, 80 Stat. 214; amended Pub. L. 97–291, § 8, Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1257, related to release in noncapital cases prior to trial, prior to repeal in the revision of this chapter by section 203(a) of Pub. L. 98–473. Another prior section 3146, act Aug. 20, 1954, ch. 772, § 1, 68 Stat. 747, which prescribed penalties for jumping bail, was repealed by Pub. L. 89–465, § 3(a), June 22, 1966, 80 Stat. 214, and covered by former sections 3150 and 3151 of this title. AMENDMENTS 1996—Subsec. (b)(1)(A)(iv). Pub. L. 104–294 substituted ‘‘a fine under this title’’ for ‘‘a fined under this title’’. 1994—Subsec. (b)(1)(A)(iv). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted ‘‘fined under this title’’ for ‘‘fine under this chapter’’. 1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–646, § 55(f)(1), added sub- sec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which read as follows: ‘‘A person commits an offense if, after having been released pursuant to this chapter— ‘‘(1) he knowingly fails to appear before a court as required by the conditions of his release; or ‘‘(2) he knowingly fails to surrender for service of sentence pursuant to a court order.’’ Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–646, § 55(f)(1), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which was captioned ‘‘Grading’’, and which read as follows: ‘‘If the person was released— ‘‘(1) in connection with a charge of, or while await- ing sentence, surrender for service of sentence, or ap- peal or certiorari after conviction, for— ‘‘(A) an offense punishable by death, life impris- onment, or imprisonment for a term of fifteen years or more, he shall be fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both; ‘‘(B) an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of five or more years, but less than fifteen years, he shall be fined not more than $10,000 or im- prisoned for not more than five years, or both; ‘‘(C) any other felony, he shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than two years, or both; or ‘‘(D) a misdemeanor, he shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both; or ‘‘(2) for appearance as a material witness, he shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. A term of imprisonment imposed pursuant to this sec- tion shall be consecutive to the sentence of imprison- ment for any other offense.’’ Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–646, § 55(f)(2), substituted ‘‘re- quirement to appear’’ for ‘‘requirement that he appear’’ and ‘‘the person appeared’’ for ‘‘he appeared’’. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–646, § 55(f)(3), inserted ‘‘of this title’’ after ‘‘3142(b)’’ and substituted ‘‘clause (xi) or (xii) of section 3142(c)(1)(B) of this title’’ for ‘‘section 3142(c)(2)(K) or (c)(2)(L)’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1986 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 99–646 effective 30 days after Nov. 10, 1986, see section 55(j) of Pub. L. 99–646, set out as a note under section 3141 of this title. § 3147. Penalty for an offense committed while on release A person convicted of an offense committed while released under this chapter shall be sen- tenced, in addition to the sentence prescribed for the offense, to— (1) a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years if the offense is a felony; or (2) a term of imprisonment of not more than one year if the offense is a misdemeanor. A term of imprisonment imposed under this sec- tion shall be consecutive to any other sentence of imprisonment. (Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 203(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1983; amended Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 223(g), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2028; Pub. L. 99–646, § 55(g), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3610.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 3147, added Pub. L. 89–465, § 3(a), June 22, 1966, 80 Stat. 215, related to appeals from conditions of release, prior to repeal in the revision of this chapter by section 203(a) of Pub. L. 98–473. AMENDMENTS 1986—Pub. L. 99–646 substituted ‘‘under’’ for ‘‘pursu- ant to’’ in two places and ‘‘for the offense,’’ for ‘‘for the offense’’. 1984—Pub. L. 98–473, § 223(g), struck out ‘‘not less than two years and’’ after ‘‘imprisonment of’’ in par. (1), and ‘‘not less than ninety days and’’ after ‘‘imprisonment of’’ in par. (2). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1986 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 99–646 effective 30 days after Nov. 10, 1986, see section 55(j) of Pub. L. 99–646, set out as a note under section 3141 of this title.