What is Bail Forfeiture

What is bail forfeiture you ask? Bail forfeiture is when the bail is released to the court without the possibility of future repayment. It means if you’ve paid bail, you won’t be receiving your posted bail money. Most misdemeanors and non-violent crimes, the accused person can post bail. This payment helps guarantee that the arrested person will show up for future court dates as their case is considered and decided.

Involuntary vs. Voluntary Bail Forfeiture

Involuntary bail forfeiture happens when a defendant fails to appear at court after being released from custody. Unless they have a good reason for missing their scheduled court appearance, they lose their bail money. When a defendant fails to appear in court a bench warrant for their arrest is issued. If a bench warrant is issued for a “Failure to Appear” a new bail amount will need to be issued in order for the defendant to be released from jail. Failure to Appear (FTA) bonds are typically harder to get if a defendant has skipped as some bail agencies may refuse to bond someone out who has skipped bail before.

Some states do allow a defendant to voluntarily release the bail they paid in order to cover their legal fees, court costs or any other fines that come up in the course of their case. However, this money can only be used to cover court fees and fines and cannot be applied toward payments to a victim.

Bail Forfeiture Chart | US State Bail Forfeiture Information

STATE STATUTE

GRACE PERIODS

STATUTORY GUIDANCE TO DEFENSE

STATUTE REMISSION PROCESS

UNPAID FORFEITURE BONDING SUSPENSION

Alabama

28 days

     
§ 15-13-132

       
§ 15-13-139

    X  
§ 15-13-141       X
Alaska
R RCRP Rule 41

30 days If failure to appear was not willful X  
 
Arizona

No Statute Found      
Arkansas

120 days      
§ 16-84-201       X
See: § 17-19-112&
A.C.A. § 16-84-207
§ 16-84-203   Absences due to physical or mental disability; Detained Elsewhere.    
California
§ 1305
30 Days Death, Illness, Insanity; Detained Elsewhere.    
Colorado
§ 16-4-112
14 Days Detained Elsewhere X X
Connecticut        
§ 54-65a 6 Months      
§ 54-74     X  
§ 29-147a       X
Delaware
Supreme Court Rule 32
    X  
Florida        
§ 903.26 60 Days Deemed insane and confined in an institution or hospital; Detained Elsewhere.    
§ 903.28     X  
§ 648.45       X
Georgia

       
§ 17‐6‐70
§ 17–6–72
72 hours Mental or Physical Disability; Detained Elsewhere; Deported.   X
Hawaii
§ 804–51
30 Days      
Idaho
§ 19–2915
§ 19–2918
180 Days   X  
Illinois NO COMMERCIAL BAIL BONDS SYSTEM
Indiana
§ 27‐10‐2‐12
365 days Death or Illness; Detained Elsewhere   X
Iowa
§ 811.6
10 Days   X  
Kansas
§ 22‐2807
60 Days Detained Elsewhere X  
Kentucky NO COMMERCIAL BAIL BONDS SYSTEM
Louisiana
§ 15:85
210 days for under $50,000; 400 days for bonds over $50,000   X
Maine
Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 46
30 Days   X  
Maryland
MD Rules, Rule 4‐217
90 Days Detained Elsewhere X X
Massachusetts

       
M.G.L.A. 276 § 70 An act of God; an act of the government of the United States, of any state or by sentence of law.    
M.G.L.A. 276 § 69     X  
M.G.L.A. 276 § 61B       X
Michigan
§ 765.15
45 Days   X  
Minnesota
Gen.R.Prac., Rule 702
90 Days     X
§ 629.59     X  
Mississippi
§ 99–5–25
90 Days Detained Elsewhere; Is hospitalized or in a recognized drug rehabilitation program; Has been placed in a witness protection program; Any other reason justifiable to the court X X
Missouri        
§ 374.763 6 months      
§ 374.770   Detained Elsewhere    
§ 544.640     X  
§ 374.755       X
Montana
§ 46‐9‐503
90 Days Death;  Detained Elsewhere; Has been placed in court ordered treatment in other jurisdiction.    
Nebraska
§ 29‐1109
NO COMMERCIAL BAIL BONDS SYSTEM
Nevada 180 days      
§ 178.508   Death, Illness, Insanity; Detained Elsewhere; Deported. See also N.R.S. 178.512    
§ 178.509        
§ 178.516       X  
New Hampshire
§ 597:30
§ 598‐A:2
  An act of God or of the Government of the state or of the United States, or by sentence of law.   X
New Jersey NO COMMERCIAL BAIL BONDS SYSTEM
New Mexico
§ 31‐3‐2
10 days   X X
New York        
CPL § 540.10 45days      
CPL § 540.30     X  
North Carolina

       
§ 15A‐544.6 150 Days      
§ 15A‐544.5   Death;  Detained Elsewhere    
§ 15A‐544.8     X  
North Dakota        
§ 26.1‐26.6‐09     X  
§ 26.1‐26.6‐05       X
Ohio        
§ 2937.36 Not less than 45 nor more than 60 days      
§ 2937.39     X  
§ 3905.14       X
Oklahoma        
59 Okl.St.Ann. § 1332 90 days   X  
59 Okl.St.Ann. § 1310       X
Oregon NO COMMERCIAL BAIL BONDS SYSTEM
Pennsylvania        
Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 536 20 days   X  
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5746       X
Rhode Island
Super. R. Crim. P., Rule 46
    X  
South Carolina
§ 17‐15‐180
    X  
South Dakota
§ 23A‐43‐24. (Rule 46(e)(4))
    X  
Tennessee        
§ 40‐11‐139
§ 40‐11‐201
180 days Mental or physical disability; Detained Elsewhere    
§ 40‐11‐204     X
See also T. C. A. § 40‐11‐205
 
§ 40‐11‐306       X
Texas        
C.C.P. Art. 22.13   Death; Sickness or Uncontrollable Circumstance; Detained Elsewhere    
C.C.P. Art. 22.16     X  
Utah        
§ 31A‐35‐504       X
§ 77‐20b‐102 6 months      
§ 77‐20b‐104 Death      
Vermont
13 V.S.A. § 7560a
10 days      
Virginia
§ 19.2‐143
60 days Detained Elsewhere X  
Washington        
§ 10.19.100 60 days      
§ 10.19.140     X  
West Virginia        
§ 62‐1C‐9 10 Days      
§ 62‐1C‐11     X  
Wisconsin NO COMMERCIAL BAIL BONDS SYSTEM