Q: Do u know what is considered no unlawful contact w/ another person when ordered by the district court in Annapolis, MD
Unlawful contact was a condition to his release on recognizance after he was arrested for assault & destruction of property over $1000.
A: It means no contact in person, by phone, text, e-mail, social media, or any other means. It also usually means not contacting a third party to get a message to the person. He should review the terms and conditions of his release for more information.
A: "Unlawful" contact --as opposed to "no" contact" -- would mean any contact that violates the law. Any criminal offense, for instance. If the pretrial release on bond conditions include the common restriction to have "no contact with the victim" then any contact initiated by the defendant with the victim would be "unlawful" because it violates the special bond condition of the defendant's release. Read the bond release papers over very carefully. They usually include no contact with the victim and to stay away from the victim's residence and place of employment. However, sometimes the condition is not so broad, and if all it refers to is no "unlawful" contact and there is no blanket stay away order, then it just means no contact that would rise to the level of a crime (assault, threats, harassment, telephone misuse, trespassing, etc.). However, in all such cases, I advise my client to absolutely stay away and have no contact with the victim/complaining witness in the case, because inevitably, any contact will lead either to new accusations, and revocation of bond plus new charges.
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