What are common failure to appear consequences?

When a person has been arrested and charged with a criminal offense, the first time they appear in court will be to establish whether or not they are eligible for bail. For most non-violent crimes, the judge will usually set a bail amount that corresponds with the offense committed, taking into account the defendant’s past criminal record and if they pose a flight risk. The criminal trial process can be lengthy requiring the defendant to appear many times during the process along with their defense counsel.

Failing To Appear In Court May Result in New Accommodations

Failure to appear during a criminal trial proceeding can have serious consequences, some of which may include:

• The judge will issue an immediate bench warrant for your arrest. If you fail to turn yourself in within 30 days and are picked up by the police, the judge may preclude you from being eligible for bail a second time. This means that you will spend the remainder of time in jail while the criminal trial continues.

• All monies paid towards bail will be automatically forfeited.

• Defendants who are charged with a felony offense and jump bail can be punished with severe fines of up to $5,000 and additional prison time.

• Out of state bail jumping will result in a warrant for your immediate arrest. Local, state and even federal law enforcement officials may be hot in pursuit.

• If your bail was posted using a bail bonds service, they will most likely send a bounty hunger to track you down, slap you in cuffs and turn you over to the authorities.

In some cases, your defense attorney may ask the judge to lift the warrant if there was a medical emergency, a sudden death in your immediate family or you were involved in an auto accident.

Your Defense Counsel Can Act As a Buffer

Many judges take it as a personal affront to their authority when criminal defendants are guilty of a failure to appear. When you hire a skilled criminal defense attorney, they may be able to provide convincing arguments to keep you from additional time in the slammer.