When you are arrested and charged with a crime, one of the options you have is to post bail and be released until your trial. If you choose not to post bail, you will be held in jail until your trial.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, around 38 percent of defendants have bench warrants issued each year for choosing to skip bail because they don’t want to wait in jail. This is a huge mistake. In this article, we will discuss the consequences of skipping bail and why you should never do it!
Bail Skipping Consequences
When you’re arrested and charged with a crime, the court will set bail. Bail is an amount of money that you must pay in order to be released from jail until your trial date. If you can’t afford bail, there are options for you to get help from a bail bond company. But whatever you do, don’t skip bail. Here’s why:
If you skip bail, a warrant will be issued for your arrest. This means that if you’re stopped by the police for any reason, they will take you into custody and bring you back to jail. And once you’re back in jail, it will be very difficult to get out again before your trial date.
This is particularly troubling if you have family or job responsibilities to which you must attend. It’s a decision that can rip families apart and cause further financial distress.
Worsening the Sentence
If you’re convicted of the crime you’re charged with, skipping bail will only make your sentence worse. The punishment for skipping bail is typically more jail time, and in some cases, you may even be fined on top of that.
Judges are able to work from a sentencing schedule. Showing them that you do not respect the laws of the jurisdiction while charges are pending looks guilty and tosses any chance of leniency right out the window.
Skipping bail gives the court a reason to believe that you’re not going to show up for your trial. This means that they may set a higher bail amount the next time you’re arrested, or that once you’re rearrested, you will get no bail whatsoever. The BJS reports that one-sixth of defendants are held without bail, so that’s certainly an option you might end up facing.
Skipping Bail Unravels Any Goodwill
If you skip bail, it looks bad to a jury as well. It shows that you’re not taking your charges seriously, and it makes it less likely that they’ll believe anything you say in your defense. This places your attorney behind the 8-ball when it comes to arguing your case.
Remember, even being found guilty and serving some jail time is preferable and can help to mitigate any repercussions. A good attorney can work with a cooperative defendant. Failing to meet him or her halfway with your pretrial behavior shuts the attorney down and can make it that much harder for you to get good representation later down the line.
Skipping Bail When You Are Not a US Citizen
If you’re not a U.S. citizen, and you skip bail, it could lead to your deportation. If you’re deported, you could be banned from returning to the U.S., and you would have to leave any family or friends behind. You would also lose any job or housing that you had in the states.
Deportation can be a very difficult and stressful experience, so it’s best to avoid it if at all possible. If you’re facing charges that could lead to your deportation, speak to an attorney about your options and what you can do to try to stay in the U.S.
Make the Best Decision Possible When Facing Charges By Not Skipping Bail
If you have been charged with a crime and need help with bail, contact Delta Bail Bonds. We can help you get out of jail, so you can prepare for your trial and fight the charges against you.
You can count on Delta Bail Bonds to act quickly and keep your best interests at heart through this stressful process. We’ve been helping defendants in the Dallas and Collin County areas for many years and work efficiently to get you back your freedom. Don’t go at it alone. Call us today!
