Jumping bail, also known as skipping bail, is when you fail to appear in court after being released. If you jump bail, several things can happen:
- Your bail will be forfeited: When you are released, you promise to appear in court as required. If you fail to do so, the court will likely forfeit your bail, which means you will lose the money or collateral that you put up to secure your release.
- A warrant will be issued for your arrest: When you fail to appear in court as required, the court will issue a warrant. This means that law enforcement will be actively searching for you and can arrest you at any time.
- Your bail bond may be revoked: If you used a bail bondsman to post bail, the bondsman may revoke your bond and hire a bounty hunter to find and apprehend you.
- You may face additional charges: Jumping bail is a serious offense, and you may be charged with a separate crime in addition to the original charges you were facing. This can result in additional fines, jail time, and other penalties.
Take your legal obligations seriously and appear in court as required. If you cannot make a court appearance, notify your attorney and the court as soon as possible and work with them to resolve the issue.
You may also face additional criminal charges for the failure to appear.
