Section 5-101 - Release on personal recognizance(a) This section shall be liberally construed to carry out the purpose of relying on criminal sanctions instead of financial loss to ensure the appearance of a defendant in a criminal case before verdict or pending a new trial.(b)(1) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, if, from all the circumstances, the court believes that a minor or adult defendant in a criminal case will appear as required for trial before verdict or pending trial, the defendant may be released on personal recognizance.(2) A failure to appear as required by personal recognizance is subject to the penalties provided in § 5-211 of this title.(c) A defendant may not be released on personal recognizance if the defendant is charged with: (1) a crime listed in § 5-202(d) of this title after having been convicted of a crime listed in § 5-202(d) of this title; or(2) a crime punishable by life imprisonment without parole.Amended by 2013 Md. Laws, Ch. 156,Sec. 3, eff. 10/1/2013.