If you are indicted and charged with certain offenses, you may be freed on bail during the trial period. However, it is important to understand that bail comes with a set of conditions. And one of these is attending your court dates without fail.
Failing to show up in court on your assigned dates is a very serious offense. No matter what you have been charged with, it is in your best interest that you avoid jumping bail at all costs.
Here are some of the repercussions that you might have to contend with if you jump bail:
The revocation of your bail
Missing a mandatory court appearance will automatically lead to the revocation of your bail. The same can happen when you violate other bail terms like interfering with investigations, committing another crime while on bail or traveling out of state without notifying the court. If your bail is revoked, the court will issue an arrest warrant against you. And this means that you will be sent to jail for the remainder of your trial period.
Bounty hunters will come after you
If you do not surrender to the court following the issuance of the arrest warrant, or if your bondsman cannot reach you, then the court will declare you a fugitive. Consequently, bail enforcement agents, also known as bounty hunters, will do everything in their power to capture and present you before the court.
Your bail money will be gone
Jumping bail will automatically lead to the forfeiture of your bail money. Thus, if your bail was paid by an agency, then you will be having one more problem to deal with: debt. Eventually, this will push up your legal cost.
Facing a criminal charge is a big deal. If you are out on bail, it is important that you know your rights and obligations so you can avoid costly mistakes that might compound your woes.