What happens if a defendant fails to appear in court after posting bail?

When a defendant fails to appear in court after posting bail, the bond is forfeited. This means that the court will terminate the bail agreement, and the amount of bail that was posted will be lost, as the purpose of bail is to ensure the defendant's appearance in court. When the defendant does not show up for their scheduled court date, the court sees this as a breach of the conditions of the bail, which can lead to the forfeiture of the bail amount.

Additionally, the court may issue a bench warrant for the defendant's arrest, to ensure that they are brought to court to answer for the charges pending against them. The forfeiture of the bond serves both as a consequence for not appearing and as an incentive for defendants to comply with their court summons.

In contrast, other options are not accurate in this context. The bail agent does not get relieved of all responsibility; instead, they may still pursue the defendant to ensure compliance with the court's terms. Charging additional fees does not come into play merely for failing to appear, and the judge does not dismiss the case automatically; the case remains open and may proceed in the defendant's absence.