What Happens If Someone Fails To Appear In Court?

When someone is released on bail from a South Bay jail, they will need to fulfill certain obligations to the court. In many cases, they will need to appear before a judge at a predetermined date and time in order to have their case resolved. Skipping a required court hearing, also known as a "failure to appear" (or FTA), is never recommended.

An FTA will result in the issuance of a "bench warrant", which provides for a defendant's immediate arrest. Air travelers and persons crossing the border are frequently screened for warrants, as are persons who are pulled over for moving violations.

If that person did not work with a South Bay bail bondsman and posted the full amount of the bail with the court, that money is considered to be "forfeited", meaning the bail money is gone.

On the other hand, if they worked with a bail bonds company, that company assumes responsibility to help locate them (and get them back to jail). Typically, this must be done within six months or the bondsman (and the person who signed the contract for the bond) be required to pay the full bail amount to the court.

All that said, courts understand simple mistakes like illness or car trouble. These situations can be taken care of very simply. Persons who have missed their court date should contact their bail bondsman as soon as possible.

If you or someone you know has questions about South Bail bail bonds, call us at 310-626-4100.