What Are The Consequences Of Jumping Bail?
Posted on: 10 February 2019
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If you or a loved one need assistance from a local bail bondsman in order to be released from jail, it is crucial that you are aware of what will occur in the event that the accused individual does not fulfill his or her legal obligations. If a defendant doesn't show up to court, there are consequences for both the defendant as well as the indemnitor (aka the co-signer of the bail bond). Here is a closer look at some of those consequences.
Financial Consequences
When you hire a bail bondsman for the release of a loved one from jail, you are essentially vouching for that individual to show up to the court date that has been established in the future. This is particularly true if you have signed an indemnity agreement. This is a contract that ultimately makes both you and the surety accountable for the defendant's appearance in court. In the event that the defendant does not appear in court, you are at risk of losing as much as the full amount of the bond as well as any collateral that you may have put up in order to get that bond.
Civil Liability
When the defendant fails to fulfill his or her legal obligation and his or her failure to appear in court is believed to be intentional, the individual who put up the collateral and the money to the bondsman is held civilly liable. Due to the fact that you signed the indemnity contract, you can now be held accountable.
Legal Liability
As for the arrested individual, it can be considered a criminal offense in certain jurisdictions for jumping bail. Therefore, he or she may be at risk of additional charges on top of the charges that he or she was already facing.
Enforcement of the Bail
If the defendant is unable to be found and continues to fail to fulfill his or her legal obligations regarding his or her legal case, a bail enforcement agent will likely be sent to find and recovery the individual. Once the defendant is recovery, he or she will be turned over to the proper authorities to await his or her trial for the initial offense as well as the failure to appear in court charges. More often than not, bail isn't an option.
If you would like to learn more about bail bonds, how they work, and more, contact a bail bondsman near you or visit a site like https://www.bradsbailbonds.com.