US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

     629.54 Requiring a witness to recognize. 

    When a person charged with a criminal offense is admitted 
 to bail or committed by the judge, the judge shall also bind by 
 recognizance any witnesses against the accused whom the judge 
 considers material, to appear and testify at any trial or 
 hearing in which the accused is scheduled to appear.  If the 
 judge is satisfied that there is good reason to believe that a 
 witness will not perform the conditions of the witness' 
 recognizance unless other security is given, the judge may order 
 the witness to enter into a recognizance for the witness' 
 appearance, with sureties as the judge considers necessary.  
 Except in case of murder in the first degree, arson where human 
 life is destroyed, and cruel abuse of children, the judge may 
 not commit any witness who offers to recognize, without 
 sureties, for the witness' appearance. 

    HIST: (10589) RL s 5248; 1983 c 359 s 139; 1985 c 265 art 10 s 
 1; 1986 c 444 

Copyright 2005 by the Office of Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota.