Which of the following is NOT listed as a factor in bond decisions?

• A. Severity of the crime
• B. Ties to the community
• C. Eye color
• D. Criminal history

Answer: (C)

In bond decisions, the core idea is to assess risk: whether the person will return for court and whether releasing them would pose a danger to the community. Severity of the crime helps judge potential danger and sets a baseline for how strict bail should be. Ties to the community indicate lower flight risk because strong connections make it likelier the person will stay local and attend court. Criminal history informs how likely someone is to reoffend or avoid appearing in court, which can raise or lower the bail level accordingly.

Eye color, on the other hand, has no bearing on flight risk or public safety, so it isn’t a factor in setting bond.