In addition to their immediate arrest, a person may be subject to other consequences for failing to appear in court. A court may impose fines under South Carolina Code of Laws §17-15-90 if it determines that a person has willfully missed a court date. Additionally, if a person released on bail fails to appear, the judge might revoke their bail. When this happens, a person may have to remain in jail until their case is over. A judge could also deny bail in the future based on a failure to appear.
Unfortunately, when the police arrest someone for failing to appear, there may be harsh consequences, even if the underlying charge was minor. A short arrest can still affect a person’s employment or their ability to care for their children. A missed court date lawyer in Summerville could minimize those consequences.