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Getting arrested can turn your life upside down in an instant. You must deal with court dates, lawyers, and possibly bail money. With so much happening, it might be easy to think about skipping a court date or assume missing one won’t be a big deal. But the truth is that missing even one court date can lead to more consequences.

But the good news is that you can avoid most of these consequences of missing court if you know what’s at stake.

Importance of Court Appearances in California

Court dates in California aren’t just something to check off your to-do list. They give you a chance to keep your case moving forward and to show the judge that you’re serious about this process.

Below are reasons why attending scheduled court dates is important:

  1. You Avoid Bench Warrants

One of the consequences of missing court in California is that the court issues a bench warrant against you. This warrant allows the police to find, arrest, and take you back to court. Once you’re in court, the court can cancel the bench warrant or give you a sentence for not following court orders, depending on your explanation.

Missing the court date also gives the prosecution a reason to bring criminal allegations for failing to appear. Based on the charges you already have, missing your court date can be treated as either a felony or a misdemeanor. To be found guilty of missing your court date, the prosecutors must show the following:

  • The court released you from jail
  • You were convicted or charged with committing an offense in California
  • You intentionally did not show up for your court date
  • You missed court to try to avoid the legal process

  1. You Keep Your Bail Money

If the court releases you from jail on a bail bond and you fail to appear, the bail bonds agent could ask the judge to revoke the bail and render it forfeited when they learn you failed to appear. When the court agrees to the request, the bail is officially revoked. That means that you could be rearrested.

The bail bonds company and anyone who co-signed your bail will face significant financial loss because of the forfeiture. If a bail is forfeited, the court requires the bail bonds company to settle the full bail amount for your legal matter. This financial commitment can be substantial based on the seriousness of the original allegations and the judge’s discretion.

Once the court issues the forfeiture order, your bail bondsman will set a time to act and try to have this forfeiture canceled. The best move for them during this time is to locate you and bring you back to court.

Also, your bail bondsman can offer the court a valid reason for your absence or for meeting any conditions. When the bail bondsman does not bring you back or provide a good legal justification within this period, they must pay the full forfeited bond amount to the court.

  1. Attending Scheduled Court Dates Means You Won’t Face Additional Charges

If you intentionally skip a scheduled court hearing after being released on your own recognizance, you can face misdemeanor charges. The law also makes it a felony if you intentionally skip a court date after being granted bail for a felony charge.

These additional charges will stack on top of your existing charges and could lead to harsher penalties if convicted. Remember that these penalties will be added to any penalties you might face for the original crime. You will face consequences of missing court regardless of the outcome of the original charge, as long as the failure to appear is proven.

  1. You Keep Your Collateral

When you skip bail, you risk losing any properties or valuable items you pledged to a bail bondsman. It stresses you, your family, and friends who may have cosigned the bail amount. When you attend your court hearing, you get to keep any collateral you had put up to get bail.

  1. You’ll Have No Negative Record

Attending scheduled court dates means you will not have to worry about another strike on your record. Like any other offense, missing court often becomes part of your criminal record. FTA can impact different areas of your life, including how judges decide on future cases.

For instance, a history of not showing up might affect your chances of getting bail in future cases. You could be seen as a flight risk, which might sway a judge’s decision on whether to grant bail or how much to set it at after your arrest.

Valid Reasons You Can Give the Judge For Failing To Attend Court

Sometimes life just happens, and even if you plan well, you might not be able to make it to court. Judges understand this, as long as you have a genuine reason for missing your court date and can provide some proof.

Here are a few examples of reasons a judge might find acceptable:

  • You never got the notice about the court date
  • You got into a car accident, or your car broke down on the way to court
  • You had a medical emergency
  • The court messed up the schedule
  • You faced a serious family crisis or emergency
  • Your lawyer dropped your case at the last minute

Some excuses probably won’t work. These are:

  • You just didn’t feel like going
  • You think you’re innocent
  • You couldn’t take time off work
  • You were too busy
  • You chose to hang out with friends or family instead
  • You believe the court doesn’t have authority over you
  • You didn’t think the hearing was important
  • You overslept
  • You forgot about the court date
  • You’re trying to evade responsibility
  • You purposely skipped court to waste everyone’s time
  • You gave the court the wrong contact details or didn’t update them, which made you miss the notice
  • You had another commitment and prioritized that

Some of these might seem reasonable to you, but the court likely won’t accept them.

Find a Knowledgeable Bail Bondsman Near Me

At 24 Hours Bail Bonds, we understand you might deal with work and family issues as you prepare for trial. If you’re having trouble making it to court, contact one of our agents. Our team has decades of combined experience and can help answer your questions.

If you need assistance with bail for a loved one, friend, or relative, contact 24 Hours Bail Bonds online or call us at 800-930-8999. We have agents throughout California and offer some of the best rates in the industry.