When you are arrested and bailed out, you have to return to court for your hearing. If you do not show up for your appearance, you have officially jumped bail. This is something you never want to do, as it can come with a host of repercussions. Here is what you need to know:
What Happens if You Jump Bail?
Jumping bail will result in criminal charges in addition to the charges you are already facing. Every state is different when it comes to the type of criminal charge, but you will likely receive a harsh penalty no matter where you live. There could be a warrant put out for your arrest. Law enforcement will look for you and place you under arrest right away once you are found. The warrant will not expire. It will remain in effect until you turn yourself in or are arrested.
You can also face revocation of bail. The court will no longer have enough trust in you to release you on bond. You will go directly to jail once you are caught or you turn yourself in. in addition to going to jail, you can also face forfeiture of bail. This means that any assets that were used for your bail will go to the court, and you will not get it back. This can be financially devastating. If you used a bail bond agency to help with your bail, they can also file a lawsuit against you so that they do not have to pay for your bail out-of-pocket.
How Do You Avoid Jumping Bail?
Not everyone who jumps bail does so on purpose. You may have missed some crucial communication regarding your court hearing date and missed it on accident. This will not necessarily hold up in court and you can still face some penalties. However, the court may allow you to have a hearing solely to explain why you jumped bail. You will need compelling evidence that shows you did not purposefully jump bail. You cannot simply say you forgot or that you did not get your mailed communication. You need a very good reason for missing your hearing in order to avoid additional charges for jumping bail.
The best way to avoid jumping bail is to keep up with any and all communication you receive from the court. Most of the communication will come via certified mail which you have to sign for. Make sure to keep an eye on your court dates. Confirm them from time to time, as court dates can change occasionally.
To learn more about bail, reach out to a bail bond company, such as Bail House Bail Bonds.
Share10 January 2023
Too many single people assume they don't need to plan their estate. My brother fell into this category, and his unexpected passing left our entire family struggling to deal with his home, belongings, and financial accounts. It took nearly three years for the courts to set up a deal because he left no paperwork detailing how he wanted his estate divided. The situation immediately convinced me to work on my own estate, even though I'm still in my early 30's and don't have children or a spouse to worry about. Since it's a little harder to pick beneficiaries and estate managers when you're single, I collected the resources I used for making my own decisions and decided to publish them here on my blog. Use these resources before talking to an estate planning attorney so you're prepared for making hard decisions.