What is the classification for a person charged with a felony who willfully fails to appear in court?

A person charged with a felony who willfully fails to appear in court is typically classified as committing a felony offense. This is due to the legal principle that failure to appear after being charged with a felony reflects a serious disregard for the judicial process, and the offense is treated as such.

In California, this failure is often viewed as an aggravating factor associated with the initial felony charge, and the law imposes additional penalties to address the disrespect for the court's authority and to encourage compliance with legal obligations.

By classifying this action as a felony, it aligns the consequences with the severity of the original charge, reinforcing the legal system's emphasis on accountability among defendants. Other classifications, like misdemeanor or infraction, do not adequately capture the seriousness of the situation, as they pertain to less severe offenses. A violation is typically a civil or minor offense and would not apply in this legal context. Thus, the correct classification is indeed a felony.