North Carolina Bail Bonds Complete Practice Exam

When a defendant fails to appear in court, it often leads to the forfeiture of the bail bond. This means that the court can retain the amount of the bond that was posted to secure the defendant's release. The purpose of bail is to ensure that the defendant returns for their scheduled court appearances, and when that obligation is not met, the court sees this as a breach of the agreement made when bail was granted.

Forfeiture serves as a penalty for this failure, discouraging defendants from missing their court dates. It also protects the integrity of the judicial process by ensuring accountability. Other options would not accurately reflect what typically happens in these circumstances; for instance, the bond is not automatically returned to the bail bondsman, the defendant is not released immediately, and the court case does not simply end as a result of the defendant’s absence. Instead, additional legal actions may be taken, such as issuing a bench warrant for the defendant's arrest.