We want to be clear: It is never a good idea to flee the state while you’re out of jail on bail in the State of California. Further, it’s not smart or safe to jump bail in any state. There are significant consequences.

To help deter individuals from making this mistake, the skilled and professional team at 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds has put together this resource page. Below, you will learn about the consequences of fleeing while on bail, important details about the bail process, and how to secure how assistance if you want to get out of jail on bail.

Don’t Leave the State while on Bail

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fleeing while on bail has become more common than ever before. Still, that doesn’t make doing it right—and when you’re caught, your punishment could be severe.

When you decide to get out of jail and wait for your court date in the comfort of your own home, you make a promise to the court that you will show up when that date arrives. Of course, mistakes do happen. If you happen to miss your court date due to a mistake or sickness, your bail bond agent may be able to reschedule your court appearance—but this is not guaranteed or always easy to accomplish.

It’s also possible for the judge to forfeit your bond, meaning you can’t recover the full value of the bond. Additionally, you could be forced to pay back the bond agency its premium.

Again, to be clear: Fleeing the state while on bail is wrong, even a crime. In California, if you’ve missed your court date and have not been in contact with the court for up to 14 days, you could be charged under California Penal Code 1320.5. Your original charges will be used to determine your consequences for fleeing while on bail.

If you flee bail on a misdemeanor charge, you could potentially face an additional misdemeanor, as well as face up to six months in jail and have to pay a $1,000 fine.

If you flee from a felony charge, the consequences are even more extreme. Not only could you face another felony charge, but you could also be sentenced to one or more of the following:

  • Up to one year in jail
  • Up to a year and a half, two years, or three years in prison
  • A fine of up to $10,000

Fleeing while on bail should never cross your mind as a possibility. For some reason, if you are unable to make your scheduled court date, let your bail bond agent know in advance.

If you need a co-signer on your bond to make bail and then flee, the financial responsibilities o the bond fall back on that co-signer. While a co-signer won't face criminal charges, the civil fines from the court could be hefty.

Finally, if you flee while on bail, the bail bond agency may send a bounty hunter to locate you, resulting in only more charges and challenges.

For everyone’s sake, especially your own, do not flee while on bail.

Working with a Bail Bond Agent to Get Out of Jail

Once it has been determined that a bail bond will be used to get the defendant out of jail, paperwork will need to be signed. This paperwork details the collateral used to purchase the bond, the fees involved, and who is responsible for ensuring the defendant shows up to all court proceedings.

For the bail agent to set up the bond, the agent will need the full name of the defendant, the booking number, the charge or charges the defendant is facing, and the location of the jail. Then, the bail agent will bond the defendant out of jail. This entire process can take several hours, depending on how busy the jail is.

If the defendant fails to show up to his or her court proceedings, the person who took out the bail bond (or the co-signer) stands to lose their collateral and faces additional penalties, as stated above.

There are different types of bonds to choose from, including:

  • Cash Bond—Bail is paid for in full with cash, a certified check, credit or debit card, or a money order
  • Surety Bond—A surety bond refers to when a family or friend contacts a bail bond agency to help get a defendant out of jail via a bond
  • Property Bond—Property is pledged to the court on behalf of the defendant, much like a lien, and held until the end of the case
  • Own Recognizance—When a judge allows the defendant to be released from jail without bail
  • Federal Immigration—Federal bonds are necessary when a defendant is detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service; these bonds have the highest bail bond fee percentage

Once you’ve contacted us for a free price quote, we can discuss in more detail the type of bond that is most appropriate for your specific case.  

The price of a bail bond is determined by the location of where the crime occurred and the charge. However, in most cases, the cost of the bond is between seven and ten percent of the bail amount.

We conveniently accept a variety of payment methods for our services, such as:

  • Credit Cards
  • Debit Cards
  • Cash
  • PayPal
  • Venmo
  • Zelle
  • Bank Transfers

We offer military discounts, payment plans, and rarely require collateral.

Contact 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds

The team at 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds always provides discrete, confidential services. We guarantee your complete satisfaction and promise to never share information with any outside agencies. Remember, we provide free quotes, fast and easy payment plans, and military discounts.

If you want to chat with a bail bond agent today, feel free to give us a call at 800-930-8999. You can also contact us via our website if that’s easier for you. We look forward to hearing from you. During this challenging time, you are not alone. Our bail bond agents can help you move on with your life.