When the court declares a forfeiture of a bond, how is the judgment against the bondsman defined?

The correct answer is defined by the principle that when a court declares a forfeiture of a bond, the judgment against the bondsman is typically calculated in the amount for which the bondsman is bound, which is the amount of the bond, plus any costs incurred in securing that bond, without adding a penalty assessment.

This reflects a standard procedure in bail forfeiture cases, where the court seeks to recover the bond amount for the benefit of taxpayers or the state, as well as reasonable costs related to the enforcement of the bond, but does not typically impose additional penalties beyond what was agreed upon in the bond.

In this context, while options suggesting penalties or doubling the amount may seem punitive, the established law focuses on recovering the bond and necessary costs rather than imposing excessive fines or penalties that would not be legally justified in the context of a bail bond forfeiture. Therefore, this approach ensures that bondsmen are held accountable for the bond amounts without facing undue financial hardships beyond their obligations.