recognizance n : (law) a security entered into before a court with a condition to perform some act required by law; on failure to perform that act a sum is forfeited [syn: recognisance]

Recognizance \Re*cog"ni*zance\, n. [F. reconnaissance, OF. recognoissance, fr. recognoissant, p. pr. of recognoistre to recognize, F. reconna[^i]tre, fr. L. recognoscere; pref. re- re- + cognoscere to know. See Cognizance, Know, and cf. Recognize, Reconnoissance.] [Written also recognisance.]
1. (Law) (a) An obligation of record entered into before some court of record or magistrate duly authorized, with condition to do some particular act, as to appear at the same or some other court, to keep the peace, or pay a debt. A recognizance differs from a bond, being witnessed by the record only, and not by the party's seal. (b) The verdict of a jury impaneled upon assize. --Cowell. Note: Among lawyers the g in this and the related words (except recognize) is usually silent.
2. A token; a symbol; a pledge; a badge. That recognizance and pledge of love Which I first gave her. --Shak.
3. Acknowledgment of a person or thing; avowal; profession; recognition.

See more meaning on Recognizance...

In some common law nations, a recognizance is a conditional obligation undertaken by a person before a court. It is an obligation of record, entered into before a court or magistrate duly authorized, whereby the party bound acknowledges (recognizes) that he owes a personal debt to the state. A recognizance is subject to a "defeasance"; that is, the obligation will be avoided if person bound does some particular act, such as appearing in court on a particular day, or keeping the peace. The concept of a recognizance exists in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Canada and the United States.

Recognizances are most often encountered regarding bail in criminal cases. By filing a bail bond with the court, the defendant will usually be released from imprisonment pending a trial or appeal. If no bail has been set, the defendants are released "on their own recognizance". Release on recognizance is sometimes abbreviated as RoR, or, particularly in the United States, OR.

• Falmouth man arraigned in double fatal car crash - Boston Globe
  FALMOUTH, Mass.—A Falmouth man charged with driving drunk and causing a crash that killed two other occupants in the same car has been released on personal recognizance after pleading not guilty. Matthew Laughead was arraigned Thursday on ... Read more on this news related to 'Recognizance'
• Girl caught smoking 'blunt,' endangering children, simple assault - Bridgeton Blotter - NJ.com
  He was released on his own recognizance. • Alfonso Ruiz, 21, of North Myrtle Street in Vineland, was arrested Saturday and charged with simple assault. Police said the charge stemmed from a domestic violence incident and would not release any ... Read more on this news related to 'Recognizance'
• Dover teen pleads not guilty to facilitating underage party - Fosters Daily Democrat
  Ziggy Huggins, 17, of 99 Bayview Road, had bail set at his arraignment of $500 personal recognizance bail. On March 25 around 7 a.m., officers were dispatched to the residence after an anonymous caller reported there was a party occurring at the house. Read more on this news related to 'Recognizance'