You may have heard the term “flight risk” if you’ve watched any amount of law-and-order or courtroom movies. While the term comes up frequently, you may be wondering exactly what it means and how that designation is determined.
What Is a Flight Risk?
Flight risk is a designation given to someone who is considered likely to flee the city/state/country to avoid criminal prosecution. The term is usually assigned by a court after an individual has been accused of a crime.
How Is Flight Risk Determined?
A judge will make the decision of whether or not the individual on trial is a flight risk by weighing several factors. One of the factors that judges look for are family or community ties in the area. If a person has responsibilities such as caring for a family or managing a church group, they are less likely to be considered flight risks. On a similar note, if a person can prove that they are employed in the area, the court will view them as unlikely to abandon their job.
A determining factor that people may be unaware of is how wealthy the person on trial is. The more financially successful a person is, the higher the chance that they will be considered a flight risk. With more money comes more opportunities to leave the area, making the possibility of skipping out on court more likely. One of the most important factors that a judge will look at in determining your flight risk is your record of attendance at court or past flight. Obviously, if you have a history of fleeing or failure to appear in court, the possibility of you receiving the flight risk designation will increase.
Flight Risk and Bail
One of the most important factors in determining the amount of bail or whether it will even be granted is if a person is considered a flight risk. If someone receives this designation, it is likely that they will see a much higher bail amount. Obviously, the court wants to keep this person around for a trial, so sometimes bail will be denied to ensure that they stay in the area. Previously stated, if you have a history of fleeing or failing to show up to court, you will probably be held on a short leash if you are ever arrested again. This is why it is so imperative to get appropriate legal counsel, show up to your court hearings, and follow all guidelines given to you by a court. A past instance of flight can tarnish your reputation with courts around the country and can cost you a significant amount of money in the long run. This is because, on the slim chance that you are granted bail, you will have to pay much higher due to your likelihood to flee.
Let Delta Bail Bonds Get You Back Home
Don’t await your trial from prison. Because of the presumption of innocence, you have the right to await trial from your own home, where you can provide for yourself and your family. Contact us here so we can help you post bail and get back home!