When you bail someone out of jail, you’re doing them a huge favor. Facing criminal charges can be nerve-racking enough without having to wait in jail for your court date. However, for those facing serious charges and significant consequences, being out on bail can foster an overwhelming desire to flee.
Often referred to as “skipping bail,” failure to appear for court or disappearing before one’s court date is a serious issue. The first thing that happens is a judge will issue a bench warrant for the suspect’s arrest. In some cases, additional charges may be filed as well. Also, any bail that has been paid already is probably going to be forfeit.
The police probably won’t be the ones who actively pursue you – that’s usually up to the bail bondsman. However, the bench warrant means that if the police ever come into contact with the suspect and run their ID, they will initiate the arrest at that time.
Aside from the above, skipping bail will most assuredly have a negative impact on the ongoing criminal trial. The credibility and trustworthiness of the defendant may be severely affected in the eyes of the jury and the court. This can result in less leniency in sentencing, and make the jury see the defendant in a more negative light.
Of course, not everyone who misses a court date is necessarily trying to skip bail – and the court knows this. If you or anyone you know has missed a court date and doesn’t want to be punished for it, it’s important to begin acting immediately. You should contact your bail bondsman immediately when you know you’ve missed a court date or if you know you’re going to. Contacting your legal representation is also critical. In California, if you can show that the missed court date wasn’t intentional, you can significantly mitigate any potential negative outcomes associated with the missed date.
