What happens if someone misses a court date

A person convicted of a Class I misdemeanor faces one year in jail. Additionally, the judge could run the sentence on the charge of failure to appear consecutively with the sentences for other crimes. A charge of failure to appear survives even if the court dismisses the charges that brought you to court. The court could hold you in contempt as an alternative to issuing a new criminal charge. Failing to appear in court might trigger a security forfeiture hearing. The court can order you to forfeit the bond posted unless you have a good excuse or the court finds that forfeiting your security would be unjust.

Acting swiftly and taking responsibility for missing a court date could help you avoid the severe consequences of failing to appear. Judges tend to look more favorably upon someone who takes responsibility for their actions instead of coming up with excuses.

Do not wait to find out what happens when you miss your court date. You should contact my office immediately to prepare to remove a bench warrant or answer to a contempt charge. Walking into court alone or waiting until you get arrested could make matters worse for you. The judge could detain you or set a higher bond than previously posted if you go to court without a lawyer by your side. To discuss your situation, call our office or fill out our online form to schedule your free consultation today.

Phone: What happens if I miss my court date for a criminal offense? He could also order the following: Bench warrant. The judge may issue a warrant for your arrest. This is more likely for a misdemeanor or felony offense, but is also possible if you are required to go to court for a traffic violation. If the charges are serious, the police may actively look for you to arrest you, including going to your home or job. If you are charged with a less serious offense, you may not be arrested unless you are stopped for a traffic violation and the police check the computer records and see that a bench warrant was issued.

Bail bond. You could have your bail revoked and be required to remain in jail until your case goes to trial. In addition, you could forfeit the original bond that you paid to be released when you were arrested initially.

Separate criminal charge. Your absence may also be in contempt of court if the judge believes you skipped on purpose. Essentially, contempt of court refers to disobeying a court order. In federal courts, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure state that any party who fails to perform a specific action can be charged with contempt.

There are two types of contempt the court may charge you with: indirect and direct contempt. Charges of contempt can result in fines and imprisonment, but the final verdict depends on whether it is a civil or criminal contempt charge. You can plead with the court to recall the warrant.

Depending on the court schedule and your situation, you may need to schedule a hearing to provide proof of compliance and pay outstanding fines.

The judge may choose to recall the warrant if you approach the court as soon as possible about your absence. However, explanations may not be enough if the charges against you are serious or the court issued several warrants before you came forward.

Most employers use background checks to search for crimes, but an outstanding warrant may have additional consequences - an outstanding warrant will prevent you from leaving the state or country. If there are no reasonable factors to prevent your attendance, it is always best to attend your court date to avoid additional charges. If you need legal counsel regarding a bench or probation warrant in Ft.