What Happens When You Don’t Pay Your Bail Bond

Do I have to pay bond? If you are arrested and taken into custody, you may be given a bond, set by a judge, if you were charged with a crime. For you to be released from jail, you must pay a bond. Skipping bonds can result in severe consequences. This is one of the reasons why many people turn to bail bondsmen for assistance. Depending on the state you reside in, the consequences of skipping bonds can vary.

Consequences of Skipping Bail

I forgot to pay my bond, now what? The point of bail is to ensure that the individual that was arrested will appear in court on their scheduled date. Working with a bail bondsman ensures that the entire amount of your bail is paid in full, except for about 10% of which you are responsible for. Once you appear in court and your case is over, the bail will be returned.

Besides just having to show up for your scheduled court date, you may also be responsible for other things that the judge ordered. For example, a judge may order a person to avoid traveling outside the county or city until their case is over. Or the judge may even order a person to avoid engaging in particular activities or communicating with other criminals. Furthermore, a judge can order any individual to submit to regular drug testing or even undergo treatment for drug or alcohol abuse.

Skipping bail is when the individual violates the terms set forth by a judge. These violations usually mean a person fails to attend their scheduled court date. There may even be some instances where an individual may flee the area to try and steer clear of possible consequences.

If a person does skip bail and is found, they may be arrested and ordered to remain in jail until their case is over. Additionally, the remainder bail amount may be forfeited. It is a crime to skip bail. However, an individual still has the legal right to defend themselves if they are charged. But the person must have an excuse that is sensible by the courts. Skipping bail after being charged with a misdemeanor can result in being charged with a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted, you may be ordered to pay an additional fine of up to $500. Skipping bail after being charged with a felony may result in an upgraded charge of a third-degree felony. This means that a judge could sentence you up to 10 additional years on top of your original felony case.

 

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