Are There Penalties for Jumping Bail?

When you are released on bail from jail, one of the conditions is that you do not jump bail, also sometimes called jumping bond. If this is your first time dealing with the bail bonds system, you may not fully know what jumping bail means or if there are penalties associated with jumping bail. Here is some information that you should know about jumping bail.

What Does Jumping Bail Really Mean?

Jumping bail means that you are fleeing from the charges that you are facing after a bail bond has been posted on your behalf. You may be hiding out in town and not going to court dates, or you may have left town and gone to a different city, state or country. Either way, you are not facing the charges that you have been charged with and you are running away from them.

What Happens Once You Jump Bail?

Once you jump bail, there are many different things that happen. Most happen pretty quickly. The very first thing that happens is that a judge issues an arrest warrant for you when you fail to show up for court. If there are conditions associated with your release, such as court-ordered drug testing, the warrant may be issued when you fail to show up for that instead of court, depending on what happens first.

After a warrant has been issued for your arrest, the bail bond company will likely be looking for you. They can arrest you and revoke your bond for failing to show up. If someone co-signed for your bond, the bond company will be putting pressure on them to turn you in. If they are unable to find you by a deadline, they will have to pay the full amount of your bond.

Once you are found after jumping bond, you will be arrested and incarcerated. A judge may deem you a flight risk, meaning you are unable to get bond altogether. In other cases, a judge may increase your bond amount due to the fact that you ran or did not show up for hearings.

Are There Penalties for Jumping Bail?

In most states, jumping bail is a felony crime. You can be charged with felony bail jumping charges if the courts believe that you were intentionally trying to dodge the charges you were facing. In addition to another crime, it may also be harder to get bail both now and in the future. Anytime you are arrested, a judge or magistrate looks at your past criminal history and whether you ran while out on bail. Your actions now can impact your ability to get bail for future crimes.

If you or a loved one has been arrested, Free at Last Bail Bonds can help to post bond and get you out. At Free at Last Bail Bonds, we understand the importance and urgency of reuniting families. If you or a loved one needs our services, we are here for you 24 hours a day at 470-410-3409