Jumping Bail

What Happens If You Jump Bail in Houston?

November 12, 2014

When we think of “bail jumping,” the first thing that comes to mind is the popular reality show, Dog the Bounty Hunter. Now, you might think the mere thought of having Dog hunting you down is enough to convince you to make your court date, but in reality between 32,000 and 35,000 defendants jump bail each year in the United States. In Texas, one in four defendants don’t bother to show up for their trials, making it a state with one of the highest bail jumping rates.

So, what does bail jumping actually mean, how do jumpers get caught and what penalties can you expect for doing so? Here’s how it works.