When released on bail, they’re usually given a set of terms or conditions they must follow. If those terms are broken, there can be serious consequences. We’ll break it down for you:
- Arrest and Jail: First and foremost, if you break your bail conditions, you can be arrested and put back in jail. A warrant may be issued for your arrest, and depending on the nature of the violation, you might be held in jail until your trial.
- Bail Forfeiture: If you don’t show up to court (often called “jumping bail”), you or your bail bondsman could lose the entire amount of the bail money. This is called “bail forfeiture.”
- Additional Charges: Depending on the nature of the bail violation, you might also face additional criminal charges. For example, if your bail conditions required you to stay away from certain people or places, and you didn’t, you could be charged with new crimes.
- Bail Revocation or Increase: The judge may decide to increase the amount of your bail, or they might revoke your bail entirely, meaning you would have to stay in jail until your trial.
- Bounty Hunters: If you used a bail bondsman and skipped bail, the bondsman could send a bounty hunter after you. The bounty hunter’s job is to find you and bring you back to court so the bondsman doesn’t lose the money they put up for your bail.
Remember to follow all the terms of your bail. The consequences of violating bail conditions can be serious and long-lasting.
