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.

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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.