---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 3149"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "3149"
heading: "Surrender of an offender by a surety"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/3149"
units:
  - "Part II — Criminal Procedure"
  - "Chapter 207 — Release and Detention Pending Judicial Proceedings"
---

# §3149. Surrender of an offender by a surety


A person charged with an [offense](/usc/18/3156.md?p=a-2), who is released upon the execution of an appearance bond with a surety, may be arrested by the surety, and if so arrested, shall be delivered promptly to a United States marshal and brought before a [judicial officer](/usc/18/3156.md?p=a-1). The [judicial officer](/usc/18/3156.md?p=a-1) shall determine in accordance with the provisions of [section 3148(b)](/usc/18/3148.md?p=b) whether to revoke the release of the person, and may absolve the surety of responsibility to pay all or part of the bond in accordance with the provisions of [Rule 46](/usc/18/46.md) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. The person so committed shall be held in official detention until released pursuant to this chapter or another provision of law.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 203(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1984.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 3149, added Pub. L. 89–465, § 3(a), June 22, 1966, 80 Stat. 216, related to release of material witnesses, prior to repeal in the revision of this chapter by section 203(a) of Pub. L. 98–473.