What Happens if I Fail to Appear for Court in Indianapolis?

Posted on November 18, 2022 by admin

If you’ve been summoned to appear in criminal court, it’s important to take this matter seriously. Court hearings are mandatory and missing one can have considerable consequences. In Indiana, if you fail to appear for your criminal court hearing, you could face a contempt of court charge and hefty fines.

Continue below to learn more about Contempt of Court, including what it means, what penalties it might lead to, and more.

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Criminal Contempt for Missing a Court Date

Contempt of court is a criminal charge that involves willfully disobeying or disregarding court orders. If you fail to appear, the presiding judge could find you in contempt and issue a warrant for your arrest. You might also face added charges, such as resisting arrest or failure to comply with court orders.

In addition to being held in contempt of court, failing to show up for a criminal court hearing could also result in being held liable for the full amount of your bond. If you were required to post a cash or surety bond, then you may be forced to pay it in full. If you had originally posted bail, then the court could revoke it and hold you in jail until your next appearance.

Additional Criminal Penalties for Missing Court

There are other penalties you could face as well, including fines or a suspended license. It’s also possible that the judge could increase your bond amount and require you to post it in order to receive bail. If you fail to appear for your criminal court hearing, it will be noted in court records and can impact future proceedings. Not showing up for court can be seen as an admission of guilt, so it’s important to take your criminal case seriously and follow all instructions from the court. Your best option is to contact your attorney and let them know if you cannot attend a hearing or need more time to prepare your defense.

Conclusion

Don’t take your criminal court date lightly. Failing to appear can have serious repercussions, so make sure you’re fully prepared and follow all instructions from the court. Your future could depend on it. If you do miss your court date and an arrest warrant is issued for you, consider prearranging your bail for a faster release from jail.

Ready to prearrange your release from jail in Indianapolis for your arrest warrant? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for fast and secure bail bond service in Marion County, Indiana. We offer prearranged bail bond service for probation violations, too.

Why Does Bail Get Denied?

Posted on November 2, 2022 by admin

After an arrest, a defendant will appear before a judge to have their bail set. The judge will consider several factors in setting bail, including the severity of the crime, the defendant’s criminal history, and whether they are considered a flight risk. Bail may be set at a low amount for minor offenses or at a high amount for more serious crimes. If the defendant is unable to post bail, they will remain in jail until their trial.

But sometimes, bail is denied altogether. Continue below to learn some reasons why this might happen, plus a vital tip on how to get out of jail fast in Indiana.

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Here is Why a Defendant Might Be Denied Bail Privileges

There are a variety of reasons why a criminal defendant might be denied bail. In some cases, the judge may deem the defendant to be a flight risk or a danger to the community. Other times, the defendant may not have the financial resources to post bail.

In any case, being denied bail can have serious consequences for a defendant. Without bail, the defendant will remain in jail until their trial date. This can lead to a loss of income, housing, and other important resources. Additionally, the defendant may have difficulty mounting a proper defense from behind bars.

If you or a loved one has been denied bail, it is important to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can help you understand the reasons for the denial and may be able to get the decision reversed. The consequences of being denied bail can be serious, so it is important to have experienced legal representation on your side.

Granted Bail?

If you were granted bail, contact an Indianapolis bail bondsman to get out of jail as fast as possible. Bail bonds companies in Indiana also offer prearranged bail for those who need to surrender to an arrest warrant. You could be in and out of jail in under an hour! Just be sure to choose the right bail bond agency that can provide safe and secure assistance you can trust.

Not sure which bail bondsman to choose for a fast release from jail in Indiana? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for trusted 24 hour bail bond services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve over 30 counties throughout the state. Request a free estimate or information, anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bench Warrants

Posted on August 17, 2022 by admin

Many people worry about their future after being served with bench warrant. But the outcomes that result from bench warrant proceedings are generally milder than those for arrest warrants. Nonetheless, it is important to educate yourself about the facts surrounding bench warrants to ensure that you are staying within the limits of the law, thus protecting your rights and preserving your freedoms.

Continue reading to review some frequently asked questions about bench warrants that might help you achieve this level of understanding.

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Bench Warrant FAQS You Need to Know

What is a Bench Warrant? Is the Same as an Arrest Warrant?

In contrast to arrest warrants, bench warrants are used for minor cases, mostly citations and similar petty infractions such as traffic tickets or j-walking. A bench warrant is issued by the courts when a person misses their trial for a minor case or infraction, also known as an “FTA”, or “failure to appear.” The word “bench” in bench warrant essentially implies the judge’s seat, and requests that you answer to the court for both your original charge and now for your FTA offense.

Do I Have to Respond to a Bench Warrant?

If you do not take care of a bench warrant responsibly and in a way that the state or county expects you to, then you could be faced with an actual arrest warrant, which would force you to surrender to the jail. To respond to a bench warrant, contact the county clerks’ office and notify them that you got the document. From there, they will make arrangements for you to appear in court or see a judge, plus pay the assigned bail.

Do I Need a Bail Bond for a Bench Warrant?

If you cannot afford to pay the bail, you may be able to hire a licensed Indiana bail bondsman to act as a surety. They will cover the full cost, but only charge you a small, nonrefundable fee. Unfortunately, most bail bondsmen will not cover bail payments for bench warrants. If you are arrested for an outstanding bench warrant, you can contact a bail bondsman in Indiana to get you out of jail. This bail bond fee would be separate from your bench warrant bail payments.

Will I Spend Time in Jail for a Bench Warrant?

Probably not, but in the case of negligence, you might. If you do not satisfy your bench warrant obligations, you will eventually have an outstanding bench warrant against you. In this case, police can arrest you on the spot if you have an encounter with them, even if something innocent. For instance, if you are rear-ended by another driver, the responding officer can take you into custody once they run your information and see that you have an outstanding bench warrant.

Do you need to surrender to an arrest warrant or get a friend out of jail? Are you looking for the easiest and fastest way to do that? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for the fastest and friendliest bail bond services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Request a free estimate or information, anytime.

The Typical Arrest Process in Marion County Indiana

Posted on July 27, 2022 by admin

Was your friend or loved one just arrested in Marion County, Indiana? Or maybe you just received notice of an arrest warrant for yourself? If so, it may be wise to review the typical judicial process in Indianapolis. Continue below to learn what to expect during the arrest, jail, bail, and court process in Marion County, Indiana. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a bonus tip on how to get out of jail faster than anyone else.

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Getting Arrested in Marion County, Indianapolis

There are two primary ways to get arrested in Indianapolis: you can be arrested on the spot by police or you can be indicted via arrest warrant, in which case you’d be required to surrender to the jail on your own volition to be physically arrested and booked into the system. The criminal process all starts with an arrest, then proceeds through the jail, bail, and court phases.

Expected Timeline of Events

As soon as you are arrested by law enforcement, you will be driven to the Marion County police station. Once at the police station, you will be “booked and processed”, which is a colloquial phrase that describes going through a series of mundane data collection procedures, like fingerprinting and mugshots.

If you are the jail staff will not begin your booking process until you are considered sober. This is usually a wait time of 6 to 8 hours.

After completing the booking process, you will likely be given a chance to post your bail based on the state’s bail payment schedule for nonviolent misdemeanors. You can choose to pay the jail cash directly for a fraction of the cost and much faster service.

If you choose to not post your bail, you will be required to wait in jail until your initial hearing, which is called an arraignment. At your arraignment, the judge will give you a chance to enter a plea, plus set or reduce your bail. They may release you without bail, known as an OR, or being released on your own recognizance.

In the case that an arraignment is not scheduled within the first 48 hours of arrest, a bail hearing will be scheduled, or even a special hearing to address the validity of criminal charges and circumstances of bail.

Are you looking for trusted and friendly bail bond solutions in Indiana? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for 24 hour bail bond services you can trust. We also offer prearranged bail bond service for arrest warrants.

Can I Be Arrested For Making Prank Calls?

Posted on July 13, 2022 by admin

Prank calling is somewhat of a milestone we reach in our prepubescent and adolescent years. However, making prank calls as an adult can come with some legal consequences if it goes too far. Whether you can be arrested for making prank calls depends on the circumstances surrounding the phone calls and the content delivered within each call.

Continue reading to learn how one might face criminal or civil consequences for making prank calls, and what you can do if you suspect that you will soon be served an arrest warrant for a prank call that crossed the line.

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How Prank Calls Can Be a Criminal Offense

In most cases, prank calling is not a criminal matter. The majority of prank callers are children looking for a little excitement and the means to satisfy an urge to rebel. But there are cases in which prank calling violates civil rights and personal boundaries. Perpetrators of such violations may be indicted on criminal charges.

In most cases of prank calling crimes, a person is charged with harassment. Prank calling can be considered harassment if the calls are:

▶ Late at Night
▶ Ceaseless
▶ Derogatory
▶ Pejorative
▶ Intimidating
▶ Aggressive
▶ Sexual in Nature
▶ Threatening
▶ Racist

Perpetrators may also be charged with disorderly conduct, wiretapping, or even a hate crime depending on the circumstances and details of the phone calls. You can learn more about the penalties for harassment under Indiana Code Section 35-45-2-2.

Prank Call Arrest Warrants and Bail Bonds

If an individual is cited for prank calling, but they miss fail to meet the conditions of the release, such as showing up for their court hearing, prank call violators can be taken into custody via arrest warrant. Otherwise, if reported to and caught by law enforcement, a person might be issued a citation release for harassment. This could leave you facing legal penalties and a criminal record, putting a damper on your future prospects.

If you suspect that you will soon be indicted on prank call criminal charges like harassment or disorderly conduct, you have the opportunity to prearrange a bail bond, which will get you out of jail in as little as a couple of hours after surrendering to your warrant. Be sure to choose a licensed and experienced Indiana bail bond company for the fastest prearranged bail bond services around.

Not sure which bail bond company to choose for arrest warrant assistance in Indiana? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for prearranged arrest warrant bail bond service in Indianapolis and all surrounding counties. We serve all of Northern, Central, and Southern Indiana.

How to Get Your Kid Out of Juvenile Detention in Indiana

Posted on May 26, 2022 by admin

Learning that your minor child has just been arrested is emotional. Following those initial feelings of panic, worry, and anger, you begin to think about your kid’s well-being, wanting them home safe, and as soon as possible. But with your head filled with so many questions, like “Why have they been arrested?”, “How can I get them out of juvenile detention?”, and “Do I need to hire a bail bondsman?”, your first step toward getting your loved one home can be unclear.

Fortunately, you are in the right place for answers to these questions and more. Continue below to learn what you need to know about getting your kid out of juvenile detention in Indiana.

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Police Can Arrest Kids

Although you might find it unbelievable, the fact of the matter is, police are permitted to arrest children. Law enforcement is highly trained on dealing with criminal activity among kids and minors, so they are skilled in various types of responses when detaining, questioning, or arresting children under the age of 18 years old. So, if your kid was just arrested, it is very likely that the arresting officers have reasonable suspicion that your child has committed or participated in some level of offense.

Just because your child was arrested does not mean that the officers are mistreating them. Law enforcement officials, as mentioned, are highly trained to work with juvenile offenders, and aim for a path of understanding, connection, and rehabilitation with each individual they come across. In fact, most times, officers will choose an alternative way of dealing with an offending juvenile instead of placing them under arrest, such as a ride home in the squad car, on-the-scene counseling and release, and even a short-term trip to the station house.

Although you do not have to worry about your kid’s experience with police and jail, you do have to worry about the legal process that ensues while they are detained and after they are released from juvenile detention.

Juvenile Detention Centers in Indiana

In most states, including Indiana, law enforcement is required by law to immediately notify parents or legal guardians of a child’s arrest. This phone call will inform you of the location of the juvenile detention center, the charges your child was arrested under, and instructions on how to move forward.

Top Juvenile Detention Centers Near Indianapolis:

Marion County Juvenile Division
Indianapolis, IN
(317) 327-8300

Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility
Pendleton, IN
(765) 778-3778

Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility
Indianapolis, IN
(317) 244-3387

Getting Your Kid Out of Juvie

Once your child has been arrested and transferred to the nearest juvenile detention center, they will be taken through a booking process that may involve search and seizure, data collection, fingerprinting, mugshots, and more. While this is happening, a judge is already scheduling your kid’s first hearing.

For adults, this hearing is known as the arraignment, but for juveniles, it’s simply referred to as a juvenile detention hearing. This hearing comes fast, as decreed by law, typically by the next working business day, or within 24 hours. Most often, children are released back into their parent’s custody. Sometimes, the judge orders them to remain in juvenile detention.

Hiring a Bail Bond Service

For this reason, you do not need to hire a bail bondsman to get your child out of juvenile detention. You do, however, need to hire a lawyer. If your child is a minor who has been arrested and taken to adult jail, it is strongly encouraged to contact a licensed Indianapolis bail bond company and get them out of jail using a bail bond.

Are you ready to get a bail bond going for your minor child who is being held in an Indiana county jail? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for 24 hour bail bond services in over 30 Indiana counties. We also offer prearranged bail bond service for arrest warrants.

What is Bail Forfeiture?

Posted on May 19, 2022 by admin

Forfeiting bail is not something you want to do if you have just been bailed out of jail. Also known as bail forfeiture, failing to appear for court is a violation, and one that comes with additional penalties. Continue below to learn what you need to know about FTA’s and forfeiting bail, including how to resolve the mistake of missing court after bailing out of jail.

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Do Not Miss Court After an Arrest

Whether you use a bail bond to get out of jail or paid the jail directly, you do not want to miss your court date. Failing to appear for court, also known as an FTA, is a violation of your bail agreement. When you post bail, you are agreeing to appear for court in return for being released in the meantime. So, when you do not show up for your court date, you have welshed on your promise to the jail, court, and bail bondsman.

Penalties for Failing to Appear (FTA)

The first penalty you can expect from failing to appear for court is bail forfeiture. This means that you forfeit your bail privileges and must return to jail while awaiting your upcoming, scheduled court hearings. Generally, an arrest warrant is issued for an absent defendant. The defendant is required to turn themselves into authorities at the local jail to resolve their legal matters. Additionally, FTAs cause defendants to forfeit their bail money. This can happen in more than one way depending on the method used to bail out of jail.

Failing to Appear on a Bail Bond

If a person hires a bail bondsman to get them out of jail, they pay only a fraction of their bail premium. The bail bondsman covers the rest. When the person appears for court, the bail bondsman gets their money back. If the person fails to show up for court, they are legally responsible for paying back the money fronted by the bail bondsman, and in full. For example, if a defendant’s bail is set at $5000 and the bail agent charges a 10% fee, the defendant will pay $500 for bail bond services. But if they fail to appear for court, they must pay back the remaining $4500 in cash or collateral.

FTA’s and Cash Bonds

If a person foregoes the opportunity to hire a bail bondsman and instead pays the jail directly using a cash bond, they will have to pay for their entire bail premium out of their own pocket. Using the example above, this means the defendant would pay $5000 in cash or collateral to the jail. Once they appear for court, they will receive this money back in full. However, if they do not show up for court, they forfeit this money and do not get it back. Now that’s a serious consequence.

Criminal Penalties for FTAs

There are also potential criminal penalties for failing to appear for court after being bailed out of jail. These penalties differ among jurisdiction, but primarily involve fines and court ordered community service. It might also include jail time or additional misdemeanor charges.

Are you looking for a local bail bond company in Marion County that can get you or your loved one, out of jail faster than all the rest? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for fast and secure bail bond service in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties.

Do I Surrender to the Jail for a Bench Warrant?

Posted on April 6, 2022 by admin

Warrants can be confusing to anyone, regardless of intellectual quotient. This is especially true since there are multiple kinds of warrants. You may already be familiar with arrest warrants, but there are also bench warrants issued for defendants of the county or city. If you are currently facing a bench warrant, it is important to take the responsible and lawfully-expected steps to remedy your legal matters. Otherwise, you could be surrendering to the jail and spending time there while awaiting your bail to be posted.

Continue reading to learn how to avoid jail time if you have just been issued a bench warrant in Indiana.

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How to Manage a Bench Warrant

You were issued a bench warrant because you missed a court date. There could be other reasons, but this is the most common one. If you do not take care of a bench warrant responsibly and in a way that the state or county expects you to, then you could be faced with an actual arrest warrant, which would force you to surrender to the jail.

What to Do To Recall a Bench Warrant:

To satisfy a bench warrant, it is best to contact the county clerks’ office. You may also call or visit the local courthouse or police department in the county of the warrant.

Tell them about your bench warrant, then they will make arrangements for you to come in, in person, and pay the bail associated with the warrant. This step will keep you from being named in an arrest warrant.

Once you pay the bail, the court or judge will recall the bench warrant. If you cannot afford to pay the bail, you may be able to hire a licensed Indiana bail bondsman to act as a surety. They will cover the full cost, but only charge you a small, nonrefundable fee. But keep in mind that most bail bondsmen will not cover bail payments for bench warrants.

Since you missed your court date, your bail money has already been forfeited, so a bail bondsman would not likely pay your bond for you under the normal indemnity arrangement. This also means that you cannot get your bail money back from the court after you satisfy your bench warrant. If you ask the courts, they may grant you credit for your court fines and fees. But this is rare.

Are you ready to learn more about bail bond options in Indiana? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for speedy and secure bail bond services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer prearranged bail bond service for arrest warrants and probation violations, too.

What are the Consequences of Bail Jumping in Indiana?

Posted on March 16, 2022 by admin

Failing to appear for a scheduled court hearing for a criminal charge will result in certain punishment. The extent of such punishment will vary depending on a wide range of factors, but mostly, it will depend on your excuse. Continue reading to learn how a criminal defendant might be penalized for jumping bail in Indiana, plus what you should do if you have just missed your court date while out on bail.

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Missing Court is a Failure to Appear

Missing a court hearing for criminal charges is recorded and labeled as a Failure to Appear (FTA), but if the defendant is released on bail, it is also regarded as bail jumping. When a criminal defendant does not show up for their scheduled court hearing, there are some expected legal consequences on both the criminal law side and the bail bond side. This applies whether their hearing is being held remotely via online video conferencing, or in-person at the attorney’s office or courthouse.

Missing a criminal hearing is serious business if you are the defendant. Not only can you get in trouble with the state, but you can also be penalized by the bail bond company that facilitated your release from jail. If you had a co-signer sign your bail bond agreement, they too can be held liable.

The Top 3 Consequences of Jumping Bail

Bail Bond Forfeiture

When a person is released on bond, they are promising to appear for court. If they do not show up for their hearing, they immediately forfeit their bond. This means they do not get their money back if they posted their bond directly with the jail. If they used a bail bond service, they are legally required to pay back the remaining bond premium in addition to the bail bond fee that has already been paid.

Criminal Charges

In addition to losing a massive amount of cash, which just adds to the legal fines and fees you will have to pay for come sentencing, bail jumping will also land you in more legal trouble. Not only will you still be facing your original criminal charges, but the state can pursue a separate set of criminal charges for skipping your court hearing. Two sets of criminal charges means more money, more penalties, and more time.

Delayed Criminal Justice

The whole point of showing up for court is to face your criminal charges, do your time, and move forward with your life. One of the main consequences of bail jumping is that your criminal charges take longer to go away. Jumping bail causes more legal chaos in your world, especially since they can bring on a separate set of criminal charges, thus prolonging the judicial process for your original charges. This is even worse for those who are innocent and must fight their charges for vindication.

Do I Have to Check In With My Bail Bondsman After Being Released From Jail?

Posted on March 11, 2022 by admin

There are many terms and conditions a bail applicant must comply with in order to qualify for bail bond services. Whether or not they will be required to physically check in with the bondsman after they have been released from jail will depend on a few factors.

Continue below to learn when a bail bondsman might require periodic check ins and how they might go about arranging such meetings.

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Bail Bond Agreements

When you bail a person out of jail using bail bond services, you will be required to sign a contract that will legally bind you to all financial responsibility in the case that the inmate does not appear for court. If the inmate you are bailing out of jail flees, you will owe their entire bond premium under law. To avoid this liability turning into a financial disaster, it is important to sign a bail bond contract on behalf of someone you really trust or can keep tabs on while awaiting the initial hearing.

Within a conventional bail bond agreement, you will have your basic requirements, like not being allowed to leave the state or committing any more crimes. But some bail bond agreements can be customized to add a clause for periodic check ins. Bail bond companies might ask a bail applicant to routinely check in with their office under certain circumstances.

Periodic Check Ins May Be Required If…

A bail bond agency might require the indemnified to check in with them if the person they bailed out of jail is a known flight risk, meaning they have a history of fleeing the justice system or the community in general.

Another reason might be because it is a high stakes criminal case. For instance, if someone is arrested on multi-felony drug trafficking charges, they might be considered a person who might consider fleeing.

Lastly, a bail bond agent may require periodic check ins if the court system is significantly delayed over a long period of time. For instance, if you are arrested, but your court date is pushed back for a year or more, you might be asked to check in with the agency that implemented your bail bond service.

Ways to Check in With a Bail Agent:

► In Person at Their Office – A bail agency might require in-person, physical check ins at their office location.

► Over the Phone – Some bail bond companies will permit phone calls as a form of checking in. They may insist on FaceTime, but not require it.

► Via Online Conference – A bail bondsman may allow their clients to check in virtually to save on traveling expenses and time using portals like Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime.

► Online Check In – Larger, national bail bond agencies may have a private software system and application that allows their clients to check in via the web.

► GPS Ankle Bracelets – In serious cases, a bail bondsman might require their client to wear a GPS ankle monitoring system. This is rare, and usually is required by the courts rather than the bondsman.

Are you looking for a friendly bail bondsman to help you surrender to a warrant or bail your loved one out of jail in Indiana? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for fast and secure bail bond service in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties.

The Responsibilities of a Bail Bond Contract
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How Long Will I Be Out on Bail?