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Failure to Appear & Missed Court Bail Bonds
In Louisiana
Missing a court date in Louisiana triggers two separate things: a new warrant for your arrest, and potentially a new criminal charge for "jumping bail." Carter Bail Bonds explains exactly what happens when court is missed, what it means for the original bond, and how to move forward — 24/7, at Louisiana's straightforward 12% rate.
Table Of Contents
Jump straight to the failure to appear information you need — statutes, forfeiture risk, costs, process, and FAQs.
What Happens When You Miss Court in Louisiana?
Failure to Appear — Charges & Consequences
How Much Does a Failure to Appear Bail Bond Cost?
How The Failure to Appear Bail Process Works
Bail Eligibility After a Missed Court Date
Diversion Programs & Alternatives
What We Need When You Call
FAQs — Failure to Appear Bail Bonds
Service Areas — Parishes We Serve
What Happens When You Miss Court in Louisiana?
Missing a scheduled court date in Louisiana sets off two separate legal processes, and it's important to understand both.
First: The Original Case
Under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 333, the court issues a new warrant for the defendant's arrest. If the defendant was out on bond, the surety (the bail bond company) and any co-signers are notified, and the clock starts on a bond forfeiture process. Under C.Cr.P. Article 335, if the defendant is not surrendered or arrested within 180 days of the notice of warrant being sent, the prosecuting attorney can seek a judgment forfeiting the full bond amount against the defendant and the surety.
Second: A New Charge
Louisiana criminally punishes missing court separately, under a statute called "jumping bail" (La. R.S. 14:110.1) — the intentional failure to appear at the date, time, and place ordered by the court. This is a distinct criminal charge on top of the original case, and it carries its own separate penalties and bail.
Failure to Appear — Charges & Consequences
The jumping bail statute has two tiers — one when the original case was a misdemeanor, one when it was a felony — and there's a separate consequence to be aware of: forfeiture of the original bond.
Jumping Bail — Misdemeanor Cases
Statute: La. R.S. 14:110.1(B)
Intentional failure to appear at the date, time, and place ordered by the court, when the original bail was to assure appearance for a case defined as a misdemeanor. See our Misdemeanor Bail Bonds overview.
Imprisonment up to 6 months; fine up to $500; or both.
Jumping Bail — Felony Cases
Statute: La. R.S. 14:110.1(C)
Intentional failure to appear at the date, time, and place ordered by the court, when the original bail was to assure appearance for a case defined as a felony. See our Felony Bail Bonds overview.
Imprisonment at hard labor, up to 2 years.
The Original Bond: Forfeiture Risk
Separately from the new jumping bail charge, the bond posted on the original case is at risk of forfeiture. Under La. R.S. 15:85 and C.Cr.P. Article 335, if the defendant fails to appear, the court can issue a warrant and a judgment forfeiting the full bond amount against both the defendant and the bail bond company. The defendant can avoid full forfeiture consequences by surrendering or being arrested before the forfeiture judgment is finalized — this is why acting quickly after a missed court date matters enormously, both for the new charge and for the original case.
How Much Does a
Failure to Appear Bond Cost?
Louisiana law (La. R.S. 22:1443) sets the bail bond premium at 12% of the total bail amount, or $120, whichever is greater — the same rate across every licensed bail bond company in the state.
Failure to Appear Bond Cost Examples
Payment plans are available. We offer flexible monthly payment plans and low-down financing so the defendant can get out now and pay over time.
Accepted Payment Methods
- Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
- Zelle
- Cash accepted in person at our Lake Charles office
- Premium is non-refundable by Louisiana state law, regardless of case outcome
How The Failure to Appear Bail Process Works
From missed court date to release, here's the exact sequence when you call Carter Bail Bonds after a warrant hits.
Step 1: Warrant Issuance
Once a court date is missed, the judge issues a new arrest warrant under C.Cr.P. Article 333. If out on bond, notice is sent to the defendant and the surety.
Step 2: Arrest & Booking
Once arrested on the new warrant — whether on the original charge, a new jumping bail charge, or both — the defendant is transported to the Calcasieu Correctional Center (5410 E Broad St, Lake Charles, LA 70615 · 337-491-3800) for booking.
Step 3: Call Carter Bail Bonds
Call us immediately with the defendant's full name, date of birth, and the arresting agency. Time matters here more than on most charges — the sooner a defendant is surrendered or arrested, the better positioned everyone is regarding the original bond's forfeiture status.
Step 4: Review Costs & Sign Paperwork
Before anything is signed, we walk you through the premium on any new bond needed, payment plan options, and collateral requirements. If the original bond is at risk of forfeiture, we'll also explain what that process looks like.
Step 5: Bond Is Posted at the Jail
Once paperwork and payment arrangements are complete, our licensed agent posts the bond directly at the facility holding the defendant.
Step 6: Release & Strict Court Requirements
After release, the defendant must attend every remaining scheduled court date without exception and comply with any additional release conditions imposed given the missed-court history. A second missed court date is treated far more seriously than the first.
Bail Eligibility After a Missed Court Date
Both misdemeanor- and felony-tier jumping bail charges are typically bailable — but expect the court to weigh flight risk heavily given the missed-court history.
Jumping Bail Is Generally Bailable
Both the misdemeanor and felony tiers of the jumping bail charge are typically bailable offenses in Louisiana.
When Bail May Be Increased or Restricted
- A documented history of missing court dates, which directly signals flight risk to a judge
- The severity of the underlying original charge
- Whether the failure to appear appears intentional versus explainable (illness, emergency, lack of notice)
- Outstanding warrants in other cases
Conditions of Release
- Stricter check-in requirements than the original bond
- GPS monitoring, in some cases
- Appearance at every remaining scheduled court date without exception
- No new arrests while the case is pending
Bail eligibility is always decided by a judge. Carter Bail Bonds does not set bail amounts or determine release — we post the bond once the court has set it.
Diversion Programs & Alternatives to Incarceration
Diversion is possible for some jumping bail cases, and an explainable missed court date can matter enormously — both for the new charge (which requires intent) and for bond forfeiture proceedings on the original case.
Calcasieu Parish Pre-Trial Diversion
The Calcasieu Parish District Attorney's Pre-Trial Diversion Program gives eligible defendants — particularly first-time, non-violent offenders — an alternative to prosecution. More information is available directly from the District Attorney's Office at calcasieuda.com.
A Note on Explainable Missed Court Dates
If a missed court date resulted from something like a documented medical emergency, lack of proper notice, or another explainable circumstance rather than an intentional failure to appear, this is a critical fact for a defense attorney to raise — it can affect both the jumping bail charge (which requires intent) and any bond forfeiture proceedings on the original case.
Diversion eligibility is determined entirely by the District Attorney's Office, not by Carter Bail Bonds. We are a licensed bail bond company — we handle release from custody, not case disposition. For questions about program eligibility or explaining a missed court date, contact a Louisiana defense attorney or the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney's Office directly.
What We Need When You Call
Having these details ready helps us move quickly and get your loved one released as fast as possible. Don't have everything? Call anyway — we can often look it up.
Full Legal Name
First, middle, and last name as it appears on their ID.
Date of Birth
Prevents confusion when multiple people share the same name in the booking system.
Jail / Detention Facility
In most Calcasieu Parish arrests, this is Calcasieu Correctional Center, 5410 E Broad St, Lake Charles, LA 70615.
The Original Case Information
What the original charge was and, if known, the original bond amount — this affects both the new charge and the forfeiture status of the original bond.
Your Contact Info
Your name, phone number, and relationship to the defendant so we can keep you updated at every step.
Approximate New Bail Amount (If Known)
If the court has already set bail on the new arrest, knowing the amount lets us start calculating your premium immediately.
FAQs — Failure to Appear Bail Bonds
Straight answers to the questions families ask us most about missed court dates and jumping bail charges.
Service Areas — Parishes We Serve
Carter Bail Bonds posts bonds across Southwest Louisiana. Select your parish to learn more, or call us directly if you don't see your parish listed — we work statewide.
Calcasieu Parish
Lake Charles · Sulphur · Westlake · Iowa · Vinton
Jefferson Davis Parish
Jennings · Welsh · Lake Arthur · Elton
Beauregard Parish
DeRidder · Merryville · DeQuincy area
Allen Parish
Oakdale · Oberlin · Kinder · Elizabeth
Cameron Parish
Cameron · Creole · Grand Chenier · Hackberry