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If you are charged with a crime, regardless of whether you are guilty or not, you may need to spend sometime in jail. You will be required to remain in a cell until you pay the necessary bail amount. Bail is set during a bail hearing and the amount is determined by numerous factors. This could include:
- The severity of the crime committed
- Your reputation in the local community
- Whether or not this is a repeat offense
The bail cost can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands. Again, this largely depends on the crime you have been charged with. Due to the cost of posting bail many people will use a bail bond service instead of paying the amount of their own private funds.
The bail amount is refunded once you have completed all the necessary court hearings. However, this is contingent on certain requirements including showing up all your required court appearances.
What Happens If You Jump Bail?
If you jump bail, then your bail money is forfeit. Jumping bail refers to not showing up for your court appearances and essentially running from the crime you have been charged with. Even if you have a good reason for skipping bail such as being too ill to attend, then you could still suffer significant consequences.
If you paid the bail amount out of your own pocket, then this money won’t be returned to you if you don’t show up for your court hearings. On the other hand, you may have used a bail bond service. If this is the case, then you will have borrowed the amount required to post bail from a bail bond company. This is the step the majority of defendants will take as most people won’t have the amount required in liquidated assets. Even if you have property of the required value it can still take some time to access the money and during this time, you will remain stuck in jail.
Bail bond services provide a rapid, efficient solution. While bail bond companies do charge a fee for their services, it is only a fraction of the bail amount. This is far easier compared to managing the whole bail figure.
If you use a bond service and you jump bail, then you will owe the bond company the entire amount of the bail. As mentioned, this could be an amount ranging in the hundreds of thousands, depending on the crime you have been charged with. This is why it is always in your best interest to attend all of your hearings. It’s also why you should make sure that you know when your hearings are and don’t miss any dates. Believe it or not, a common reason people skip bail is because they are confused about dates and times.
What Are The Consequences Of Jumping Bail?
If you jump bail, then there are consequences that extend beyond being in debt to the bond company or losing the money that you posted for your bail. For instance, if you do use a bail bond company, then they could decide to send a bounty collector after you to retrieve the debt that they are owed. Alternatively, you could also be arrested for not showing up for your court hearing. If you are arrested, then it is unlikely that you will be able to post bail again as you will have a record of skipping bail in the past. This means that your bail will probably be set higher and could be completely unaffordable. A bail bond company is also unlikely to offer you their services because they will be worried that you would skip bail a second time.
Understanding Bail Bond Fees For Jumpers
Even if you have a valid reason for missing your court hearing, then you could still be subject to bail bond fees. This will put you in more financial pressure and mean that you struggle to cover the cost of your legal issues. Don’t forget, the bail amount isn’t the only cost you will incur if you are charged with a crime. You will also need to manage expenses for your legal defense. This can match or even surpass the total bail amount.
We hope this helps you understand what happens to the bail money if someone jumps bail. At Alana's Bail Bonds, we are always eager to help those who need support getting out of jail. Our service is available 24/7 and designed to be as user-friendly as possible. Contact our team today for more info.
