Missing a court date can feel frightening and worrying. Although it is a serious issue, there are ways to rectify the problem. You must act immediately and responsibly, with the help of an experienced and qualified attorney. Keep reading to learn more about what happens if you miss your court date and best next steps once the court date is missed.
Do Not Panic
Missing a court date is commonly called “failing to appear” or an “FTA.” Failing to appear in court can lead to the judge issuing a bench warrant for your arrest. Failing to appear can also lead to additional charges or jail time.
Continuing to evade court will only make matters worse. The sooner you address the issue, the better chance you have of resolving the issue without facing additional charges or jail time.
Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney Immediately
A missed court date can have serious consequences. Therefore, it is crucial that you hire an experienced criminal defense attorney who can quickly take the following steps:
- Determine whether a warrant was issued;
- Request that the judge reschedule your court appearance;
- Determine whether you are facing additional charges;
- Quickly appear in court on your behalf; and
- Explain your absence to the judge.
Be Honest with the Judge About Why You Missed Court
Although many judges will not take kindly to failing to appear for court, they are more understanding if you are honest, take responsibility, and act quickly to resolve the issue. If your absence was the result of a personal or family emergency, illness, transportation issues, lack of notice about the court date, or a different unforeseen circumstance, let your lawyer know. Your lawyer can inform the judge about what happened and explain that you did not intentionally evade court.
Do Not Wait to be Arrested
If a judge issues a bench warrant for your arrest, then any law enforcement officer can arrest you at any time. The law enforcement officer can arrest you during a routine traffic stop, in your home, at work, or while walking down the street. Taking the initiative to act quickly, responsibly, and with the help of lawyer demonstrates to the judge that you are behaving in good faith. Acting quickly can also help you avoid an arrest that can permanently impact your criminal record.
Implement Practices to Prevent it from Happening Again
Once the bench warrant is resolved, be sure to take extra steps to ensure this does not happen again. For example, you can:
- Create a calendar reminder as soon as you are told about a court date;
- Keep your attorney informed if your contact information changes so that your attorney can inform you about upcoming court dates. Immediately send your attorney your new cellphone number, email address, home phone number, or any other changed contact information; and
- Show up thirty minutes to an hour early for any court appearance.
Need Help? Give Me a Call.
Failing to appear in court is a serious problem, but if you act quickly, you can correct the situation while avoiding long-term negative consequences. If you or a family member missed their court date, give me a call. We can discuss best next steps, work with the judge, and help you avoid jail time.
