When a person is arrested, they are taken to the police station for booking and are held in custody until they are able to post bail or be released on their own recognizance. Bail is a process in which a person pays a designated amount of money as collateral in exchange for their release, under the agreement that they will return to court on a specified date to face their charges. If a person attends all scheduled court dates, the bail will be returned in full minus any administrative costs. What happens, however, if a person fails to attend their court date and skips out on their bail?
WHAT ARE FAILURE TO APPEAR CHARGES?
If a person fails to attend their court date as instructed, a warrant will be issued for their arrest. If a person still does not appear in court within a reasonable period of time or provide the courts with a satisfactory reason for their absence, the prosecution will likely file additional Failure to Appear charges against the defendant. Failure to Appear charges can add an additional misdemeanor or felony offense to a person’s list of charges, depending on the defendant’s pending accusations.
WHAT HAPPENS TO A PERSON’S BAIL MONEY?
In addition, failing to attend a court date after posting bail will result in the county claiming a person’s bail money. Since bail can easily reach six and seven figures depending on the offense, this can be an incredible financial loss. If a person uses a bail bond agency to pay their bail, the bail bond agency will be responsible for the full amount unless they are able to locate and surrender the defendant to the courts.
CONTACT A BAIL BOND AGENCY IN SARASOTA & BRADENTON
If you have been arrested in Sarasota or Bradenton, Florida, a bail bond agent from Bad Boy Bail Bonds can help secure your release and get you back home where you belong. We are open 24/7 and can provide the invaluable support you need to help you get through this difficult time.
Contact a bail bond agent today to find out more about how we can help.