Arizona Bail Guide
What Happens If You Skip Bail in Arizona?
The consequences of skipping bail in Arizona: bench warrant, failure to appear charge, bond forfeiture, cosigner liability, and recovery agents. And how to fix it.
The Warrant
When a defendant on bond misses court, the judge issues a bench warrant immediately. Any police contact leads to arrest, and the court will typically set a higher bond or no bond on re-arrest.
Forfeiture
The court orders the bond forfeited and notifies the surety. Arizona law provides a period during which the surety can return the defendant and ask the court to set aside the forfeiture. If the defendant is not returned, the forfeiture becomes final and the surety pays the full bail to the court.
Cosigner Liability
Under the indemnity agreement, the cosigner then owes the surety the full bail amount plus the costs of locating and returning the defendant. Collateral is applied to that debt. This is the worst case, and it is why we work hard with families to get a defendant back before the judge quickly.
Recovery
Arizona permits licensed bail recovery agents to locate and return a defendant who has skipped. That is a last resort. In most cases a phone call from the family and a voluntary return to court resolves the matter, the forfeiture is set aside, and the bond continues. If someone you cosigned for has missed court, call us today, not next week.
How One Stop Bail Bonds helps. Our licensed agents deal with skipping bail questions every week. Call at any hour and we will confirm the custody location and bail amount from the jail and court records, explain the release conditions in plain language, quote the premium to the dollar, and, if a bond is the right move, take your e-signature and post at the jail while you stay home. If a bond is not the right move, or not possible yet, we will tell you that too. Read how bail bonds work or use the calculator to estimate the cost.
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Questions
Is skipping bail a separate crime in Arizona?
Failure to appear can be charged as a separate offense in addition to the original case, and it is a felony when the underlying charge is a felony.
How long does the surety have to return the defendant?
The court sets the schedule in the forfeiture proceedings. Acting within days, not months, gives the best chance of setting the forfeiture aside.
Can the cosigner get out of liability if the defendant runs?
Only by the defendant being returned to custody within the court's timeline, or by the court setting the forfeiture aside. Cosigners should call us immediately so we can help locate and return the defendant.