Forfeiture
Every state has a process—statutory or court rule—by which a court may forfeit a defendant’s bail if the defendant fails to appear at a specific time and place when ordered by the court. However, not all states statutorily authorize bail forfeiture for breach of a release condition other than nonappearance. In fact, certain state statutes, including Colorado, Kansas, Mississippi, and Vermont, prohibit forfeiture of bail for a violation of release other than nonappearance.
Fewer than half of the states statutorily allow bail forfeiture for a conditions violation that is not related to appearance. In the remaining states, statutory language was not identified, but the court may (arguably) use its inherent authority to revoke bail in light of a conditions violation to protect the integrity of the judicial process.
Click on a state for statutory citations or court rules on bail forfeiture.
Interactive Map: Bail Forfeiture
All states allow forfeiture for nonappearance. Those in gold also allow forfeiture for violations other than nonappearance; while states in blue prohibit forfeiture for a violation other than nonappearance.
Select the state on the map for statutory citations or court rules on bail forfeiture.
Alaska
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: R. Crim. P. 41(h)
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): R. Crim. P. 41(i)
Note: Has both appearance bond and performance bond. See also Alaska Stat. § 12.30.075 (referencing forfeiture for both failure to appear or conditions violation).
Arizona
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: R. Crim. P. 7.6 (c) (3)
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): R. Crim. P. 7.6 (c) (3)
Note: See State v. Rocha, 572 P.2d 122 (Ariz. App. 1977).
Illinois
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: 725 I.L.C.S. 5/110-7
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): 725 I.L.C.S. 5/110-7
Note: N/A
Kentucky
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Ky. Rev. Stat. § 431.545
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): Ky. Rev. Stat. § 431.545
Note: N/A
Maine
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 15, § 1094
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 15, § 1094
Note: N/A
Minnesota
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Minn. Stat. §§ 629.48, .58
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): Minn. Stat. § 629.58
Note: See State v. Dillon, 529 N.W.2d 387 (Minn. App. 1995).
Missouri
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 374.770
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): Mo. Rev. Stat. § 374.770
Note: N/A
Nebraska
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-1106
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-1106
Note: See State v. Hernandez, 511 N.W.2d 535 (Neb. App. 1993).
Nevada
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Nev. Rev. Stat. § 178.508
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): Nev. Rev. Stat. § 178.506
Note: N/A
North Dakota
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: R. Crim. P. 46 (f)
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): R. Crim. P.46 (f)
Note: See also R. Crim. P. 46 (a) (2) (defining conditions of release).
Ohio
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Ohio Rev. Code § 2937.35
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): Ohio Rev. Code § 2937.35
Note: See State v. McLaughlin, 701 N.E.2d 1048 (Ohio App. 1997).
Oregon
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Or. Rev. Stat. § 135.280
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): Or. Rev. Stat. § 135.280
Note: See State v. Normile, 627 P.2d 506 (Or. App. 1981).
Pennsylvania
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: R. Crim. P. 536
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): R. Crim. P. 536
Note: If surety is a third-party, cash or security may only be forfeited when condition violated is failure to appear. See also 42 Pa.C.S.A § 5702 (rules govern in all matters of bail).
Rhode Island
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-13-16.1
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-32-7, 12-13-16.1; R. Crim. P. 46
Note: N/A
South Carolina
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: S.C. Code § 17-15-170
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): S.C. Code § 17-15-170
Note: See § 17-15-20 (A) (definition of appearance recognizance or bond is broader than appearance only).
Tennessee
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Tenn. Code §§ 40-11-120; -201
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): Tenn. Code §§ 40-11-120; -201
Note: N/A
South Dakota
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: S.D. Code §§ § 23A-43-31
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): S.D. Code §§§ 23A-43-21
Note: N/A
West Virginia
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: W. Va. Code § 62-1C-7
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): W. Va. Code § 62-1C-7
Note: N/A
Wisconsin
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Wisc. Stat. § 969.13
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): Wisc. Stat. § 969.13
Note: See State v. Badzmierowski, 490 N.W.2d 784 (Wisc. App. 1992).
Wyoming
Forfeiture:
- Nonappearance: R. Crim. P. 46.4 (b)
- Violation other than nonappearance (Allowed): R. Crim. P. 46.4 (b)
Note: Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-10-102 (rules govern in all matters of bail)
Colorado
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 16-4-111; -114
- Violation other than nonappearance (Prohibited): Colo. Rev. Stat. § 16-4-105
District of Columbia
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: D.C. Code § 23-1327
- Violation other than nonappearance (Prohibited): D.C. Code §§ 23-1321, -1329
Note: N/A
Delaware
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Del. Code tit. 11 § 2113 (b) (eff. 1/1/19)
- Violation other than nonappearance (Prohibited): Del. Code tit. 11 § 2113 (b) (eff. 1/1/19)
Kansas
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Kan. Stat. § 22-2807 (1)
- Violation other than nonappearance (Prohibited): Kan. Stat. § 22-2807 (2)
Mississippi
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Miss. Code § 99-5-25 (1) (b)
- Violation other than nonappearance (Prohibited): Miss. Code § 99-5-25 (1) (a)
Montana
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Mont. Code § 46-9-503
- Violation other than nonappearance (Prohibited): Mont. Code § 46-9-503
New Jersey
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: N.J. Stat. § 2A:162-17
- Violation other than nonappearance (Prohibited): N.J. Stat. § 2A:162-17
Note: Monetary bail is only to secure defendant’s appearance
New Mexico
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: N.M. Stat. § 31-3-2
- Violation other than nonappearance (Prohibited): N.M. Stat. § 31-3-2
Note: See State v. Romero, 160 P.3d 914 (2007).
Vermont
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Vt. Stat. tit. 13 § 7560a
- Violation other than nonappearance (Prohibited): Vt. Stat. tit. 13 § 7560a
Alabama
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Ala. Code §§ 15-12-80; 15-13-130; 15-13-131; 15-37-137
Arkansas
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Ark. Code § 16-84-201
California
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Cal. Penal Code § 1305
Connecticut
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-65a; R. Sup. Ct. 38-21
Florida
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Fla. Stat. §§ 843.15, 903.23 (b)
Georgia
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Ga. Code §§ 17-6-70, -71
Hawaii
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 804-17, -51
Idaho
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Idaho Code § 19-2915
Indiana
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Ind. Code §§ 35-33-8-7, -8
Iowa
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Iowa Code § 811.6, .9
Louisiana
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: La Code Crim. Proc. art. 336
Maryland
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Md. Crim. P. Code § 5-208
Massachusetts
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 276 §§ 20F, 71
Michigan
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Mich. Comp. Laws § 765.28
Note: See also § 765.6b (specific to violating condition relating to a protection order).
New Hampshire
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: N.H. Rev. Stat. § 597:31
New York
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: N.Y. Penal Law § 540.10
North Carolina
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-544.3
Oklahoma
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Okla. Stat. tit. 22, § 1108
Texas
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Tex. Crim. Proc. Code art. 22.01
Utah
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Utah Code § 77-20-7
Note: See also § 77-3-11 (county shall commence action against principal sureties if undertaking is broken)
Virginia
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Va. Code § 19.2-143
Washington
Forfeiture for:
- Nonappearance: Wash. Rev. Code § 10.19.090