What is Bail Forfeiture?

Forfeiting bail is not something you want to do if you have just been bailed out of jail. Also known as bail forfeiture, failing to appear for court is a violation, and one that comes with additional penalties. Continue below to learn what you need to know about FTA’s and forfeiting bail, including how to resolve the mistake of missing court after bailing out of jail.

Bail Bondsman Marion County Indiana 317-876-9600
Bail Bondsman Marion County Indiana 317-876-9600

Do Not Miss Court After an Arrest

Whether you use a bail bond to get out of jail or paid the jail directly, you do not want to miss your court date. Failing to appear for court, also known as an FTA, is a violation of your bail agreement. When you post bail, you are agreeing to appear for court in return for being released in the meantime. So, when you do not show up for your court date, you have welshed on your promise to the jail, court, and bail bondsman.

Penalties for Failing to Appear (FTA)

The first penalty you can expect from failing to appear for court is bail forfeiture. This means that you forfeit your bail privileges and must return to jail while awaiting your upcoming, scheduled court hearings. Generally, an arrest warrant is issued for an absent defendant. The defendant is required to turn themselves into authorities at the local jail to resolve their legal matters. Additionally, FTAs cause defendants to forfeit their bail money. This can happen in more than one way depending on the method used to bail out of jail.

Failing to Appear on a Bail Bond

If a person hires a bail bondsman to get them out of jail, they pay only a fraction of their bail premium. The bail bondsman covers the rest. When the person appears for court, the bail bondsman gets their money back. If the person fails to show up for court, they are legally responsible for paying back the money fronted by the bail bondsman, and in full. For example, if a defendant’s bail is set at $5000 and the bail agent charges a 10% fee, the defendant will pay $500 for bail bond services. But if they fail to appear for court, they must pay back the remaining $4500 in cash or collateral.

FTA’s and Cash Bonds

If a person foregoes the opportunity to hire a bail bondsman and instead pays the jail directly using a cash bond, they will have to pay for their entire bail premium out of their own pocket. Using the example above, this means the defendant would pay $5000 in cash or collateral to the jail. Once they appear for court, they will receive this money back in full. However, if they do not show up for court, they forfeit this money and do not get it back. Now that’s a serious consequence.

Criminal Penalties for FTAs

There are also potential criminal penalties for failing to appear for court after being bailed out of jail. These penalties differ among jurisdiction, but primarily involve fines and court ordered community service. It might also include jail time or additional misdemeanor charges.

Are you looking for a local bail bond company in Marion County that can get you or your loved one, out of jail faster than all the rest? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for fast and secure bail bond service in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties.

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What are the Consequences of Bail Jumping in Indiana?

Failing to appear for a scheduled court hearing for a criminal charge will result in certain punishment. The extent of such punishment will vary depending on a wide range of factors, but mostly, it will depend on your excuse. Continue reading to learn how a criminal defendant might be penalized for jumping bail in Indiana, plus what you should do if you have just missed your court date while out on bail.

Bail Bonds Indianapolis Indiana 317-876-9600
Bail Bonds Indianapolis Indiana 317-876-9600

Missing Court is a Failure to Appear

Missing a court hearing for criminal charges is recorded and labeled as a Failure to Appear (FTA), but if the defendant is released on bail, it is also regarded as bail jumping. When a criminal defendant does not show up for their scheduled court hearing, there are some expected legal consequences on both the criminal law side and the bail bond side. This applies whether their hearing is being held remotely via online video conferencing, or in-person at the attorney’s office or courthouse.

Missing a criminal hearing is serious business if you are the defendant. Not only can you get in trouble with the state, but you can also be penalized by the bail bond company that facilitated your release from jail. If you had a co-signer sign your bail bond agreement, they too can be held liable.

The Top 3 Consequences of Jumping Bail

Bail Bond Forfeiture

When a person is released on bond, they are promising to appear for court. If they do not show up for their hearing, they immediately forfeit their bond. This means they do not get their money back if they posted their bond directly with the jail. If they used a bail bond service, they are legally required to pay back the remaining bond premium in addition to the bail bond fee that has already been paid.

Criminal Charges

In addition to losing a massive amount of cash, which just adds to the legal fines and fees you will have to pay for come sentencing, bail jumping will also land you in more legal trouble. Not only will you still be facing your original criminal charges, but the state can pursue a separate set of criminal charges for skipping your court hearing. Two sets of criminal charges means more money, more penalties, and more time.

Delayed Criminal Justice

The whole point of showing up for court is to face your criminal charges, do your time, and move forward with your life. One of the main consequences of bail jumping is that your criminal charges take longer to go away. Jumping bail causes more legal chaos in your world, especially since they can bring on a separate set of criminal charges, thus prolonging the judicial process for your original charges. This is even worse for those who are innocent and must fight their charges for vindication.

Do you need to surrender to an arrest warrant or get a friend out of jail? Are you looking for the easiest and fastest way to do that? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for the fastest and friendliest bail bond services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Request a free estimate or information, anytime.

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Indiana Bail Bonds 317-876-9600
Indiana Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

What Do I Need to Do for a Bench Warrant?

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Bench warrants are arrest warrants, simply put. They are generally issued in criminal cases after a person violates a court order. The term “bench” is meant to refer to the judge’s bench, while the phrase is meant to imply that an offender is being called to the judge’s bench to answer for their crimes. In Indiana, bench warrants are mostly issued for FTA violations. The acronym “FTA” stands for “failure to appear.” It is when a person fails to appear for a scheduled court hearing following an arrest or criminal charge. When this happens, offenders can expect a judge to issue a bench warrant authorizing law enforcement to arrest them on sight.

The Difference Between Arrest and Bench Warrants

Many people confuse arrest warrants with bench warrants since they both authorize the arrest of an offender. But the difference between the two warrants is great. For a judge to issue an arrest warrant, they must rely on the state’s testimony and evidence. Whereas a judge can issue a bench warrant solely on the violation of the court order itself.
Also, arrest warrants are usually issued for more serious cases, and will cause law enforcement to immediately begin the search and detainment an offender. When facing a bench warrant, a person’s name is entered and flagged into a state-wide database that is used by the entire law enforcement community. If they have a random (or even innocent) encounter with police, for instance a routine traffic stop, police CAN and WILL arrest them and take them into custody on the spot.

What to Do

If you are facing a bench warrant in Indiana, it is in your best interest to surrender to law enforcement as soon as possible. The safest and most comfortable method for turning yourself in is using the help of a local and experienced Indiana bail bond company. They can pre-arrange your release from jail so that you can turn yourself in, get booked into the jail’s system, and be home in time for supper. In most cases, an experience bail bondsman can obtain a release from jail for a bench warrant in as little as a couple of hours. This, of course, also depends on how busy the jail is that day and the amount of jail staff.

Many companies also offer free pickup and drop off services to and from the jail, to their office. This means you can easily drive yourself to the bail bond office, pre-arrange your bail bond, and get bailed out of jail, all on your own. Once you pay the bail for your bench warrant, the warrant is formally recalled. But then you will be scheduled a new court date to face your previous charges, as well as, the penalties for missing your initial hearing.

Woods Bail Bonds

Woods Bail Bonds Indiana

Indiana Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 to prearrange a bail bond in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner, James Woods, and his team of bail bondsmen, are licensed, insured, and bonded. They have served the Hoosier counties with trusted bail bond services for over 30 years! Whether you need to prearrange bail or post bail for a loved one, we are the friendly professionals for the job. We provide 24 hour bail bond services in virtually ALL Indiana counties, as well as, a wide range of additional services. Call 317-876-9600 to learn more about Indianapolis
bail bonds
, any time.