If a defendant fails to appear, what is the likely consequence?

• A. Forfeiture of bond.
• B. Exoneration immediately.
• C. Automatic release of indemnitors.
• D. Reduction of bond amount.

Answer: (A)

Failing to appear is a breach of the bail contract. When the defendant misses a court date, the court declares the bail bond forfeited, meaning the full bond amount becomes due to the court. This places the liability squarely on the bondsman (and any indemnitors) to cover the forfeited amount. The bondsman may then take steps to locate and return the defaulter, and the defendant is typically subject to a warrant or capias for arrest. Exoneration isn’t automatic with a failure to appear; it happens only when the court releases liability after the defendant appears or the bond is properly discharged. Automatic release of indemnitors isn’t the result of a failure to appear—the indemnitors remain liable to reimburse the bondsman for the forfeited amount. Reducing the bond amount isn’t a consequence of a defendant’s failure to appear.