COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY, JUSTICE AND 
PUBLIC SAFETY 
04/24/2025-AMENDED AND REPORTED OUT TO THE FLOOR 
04/03/2025-AMENDED AND REPORTED OUT TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND JUDICIARY 
BILL NO. 
36-0005 
 
Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
February 27, 2025 
 
 
 
An Act amending title 16 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 2, section 99 establishing a mandatory 
minimum bail amount in domestic violence cases 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY: 
 
 
Senators Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Dwayne M. DeGraff and 
Carla J. Joseph 
 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
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SECTION 1.  (a) Title 16 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 2, section 99, is amended as 
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follows:  
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(1) 
subsection (b): 
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(A) in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) by by striking “with no 10% provision” 
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and inserting “however, bail must be determined based on the defendant’s risk to 
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the victim and the community and fully secured where there is clear and convincing 
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evidence of a threat to the victim or likelihood of flight” after “harm;” in each 
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paragraph respectively; and 
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(B) by inserting the following paragraph (4): 
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“(4) If the underlying crime has a higher bail amount than the amount 
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in subsection (b) of this section, the higher bail amount shall apply.” 
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(b) 
subsection (c) is amended by inserting the following after “forthwith.”: “If the 
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People can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant contacted the victim in 
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violation of a protective order, the defendant shall be remanded to custody and bail shall be 
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reconsidered based on the severity of the violation.  The court may consider alternative non-
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monetary conditions, such as electronic monitoring, house arrest, or mandatory check-ins 
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where the defendant demonstrates financial hardship, provided these measures sufficiently 
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protect the victim.  The court shall also consider risk assessments, victim statements, and law 
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enforcement recommendations when setting bail or release conditions to ensure protection of 
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victims while upholding constitutional protections.  To be released, the defendant must 
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demonstrate to the Court that he is not a danger to the victim.” 
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(c) 
subsection (e) is amended by inserting the following after “center.”: “Appropriate 
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treatment options include a certified Partner Abuse Intervention Program.”  The court may 
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require the defendant to complete a domestic violence intervention program from a court 
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approved provider. 
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BILL SUMMARY 
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This bill establishes a mandatory minimum bail amount for a person arrested for or 
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charged with a crime that constitutes domestic violence. 
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BR25-0024/February 7, 2025/AA/Revised/February 26, 2025 
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