When a person, under recognizance in a case, either as party or witness, fails to perform the condition of appearance thereof, if it is to appear before a court of record, or a district court, a hearing shall be held upon reasonable notice to all parties affording them opportunity to show cause why the recognizance or any part thereof should not be forfeited. Notice of such hearing shall be sent to sureties by court.
B. Recording of forfeiture upon 60 days after default.
1. If the court finds the recognizance or any part thereof should be forfeited, the default shall be recorded therein, unless, the defendant or juvenile is brought before the court within sixty days of the findings of default.
2. After sixty days of the finding of default, his default shall be recorded therein, and if it is to appear before a district court, his default shall be entered by the judge of such court, on the page of his docket whereon the case is docketed unless the defendant or juvenile has been delivered or appeared before the court.
A. CODE OF VIRGINIA TITLE 19.2. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. CHAPTER 9. BAIL AND RECOGNIZANCES. ARTICLE 2. RECOGNIZANCES. § 19.2-143
Where default recorded; process on recognizance; forfeiture on recognizance; when copy may be used; cash bond
Evidence that the defendant or juvenile is incarcerated or subject to court process in another jurisdiction on the day his appearance is required or a medical certificate from a duly licensed physician that the defendant was physically unable to so appear shall be considered evidence of good cause why the recognizance should not be forfeited.
B. CODE OF VIRGINIA TITLE 19.2. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. CHAPTER 9. BAIL AND RECOGNIZANCES. ARTICLE 2. RECOGNIZANCES.
§ 19.2-144 Forfeiture of recognizance while in military or naval service.
If in any motion, action, suit or other proceeding made or taken in any court of this Commonwealth on a forfeited bail bond or forfeited recognizance, or to enforce the payment of the bond in any manner or any judgment thereon, or to forfeit any bail bond or recognizance, it appears that the person for whose alleged default such bail bond or recognizance was forfeited or judgment rendered, or such motion is made or proceeding taken, was prevented from complying with the condition of such bail bond or recognizance by reason of his having enlisted or been drafted in the army or navy of the United States, then judgment or decree on such motion, action, suit or other proceeding shall be given for the defendant.
VI. Remission
A. CODE OF VIRGINIA TITLE 19.2. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. CHAPTER 9. BAIL AND RECOGNIZANCES. ARTICLE 2. RECOGNIZANCES. § 19.2-143
Where default recorded; process on recognizance; forfeiture on recognizance; when copy may be used; cash bond.
1. If the defendant or juvenile appears before or is delivered to the court within twelve months of the findings of default, the court shall remit any bond previously ordered forfeited by the courts, less such costs as the court may direct.
2. If it is brought to the attention of the court that the defendant or juvenile is incarcerated in another state or country within twelve months of the finding of default, thereby preventing his delivery or appearance within that period, the court shall remit any bond previously ordered forfeited. If the defendant or juvenile left the Commonwealth with the permission of the court, the bond shall be remitted without deduction of costs; otherwise, the cost of returning him to the Commonwealth shall be deducted from the bond.
3. If the defendant or juvenile posted a cash bond and failed to appear, but is not tried in his absence, the bond shall be forfeited promptly without further notice. However, if the defendant or juvenile appears in court within sixty days after the bond is forfeited, the judge may remit part or all of any bond previously forfeited and order a refund of the same by the State Treasurer.
B. CODE OF VIRGINIA TITLE 19.2. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. CHAPTER 9. BAIL AND RECOGNIZANCES. ARTICLE 2. RECOGNIZANCES. § 19.2-145 How penalty remitted.
When in an action or on a motion to extend the period for enforcement of a judgment on a recognizance the penalty is adjudged to be forfeited the court may on an application of a defendant or juvenile remit the penalty or any part of it and render judgment on such terms and conditions as it deems reasonable.
C. Caldwell v. Commonwealth, 55 Va. (14 Gratt.) 698 (1858)
Bowling v. Commonwealth, 123 Va. 340, 96 S.E. 739 (1918)
Bolanz v. Commonwealth , 65 Va. (24 Gratt.) 31 (1873).
The statute invests the courts with discretionary powers to meet the exigencies of particular cases by remitting the penalty in whole or in part, and rendering judgment on such terms and conditions as it deems reasonable.
VII. Bail Agent’s Arrest Authority
CODE OF VIRGINIA TITLE 19.2. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. CHAPTER 9. BAIL AND RECOGNIZANCES. ARTICLE 2. RECOGNIZANCES
§ 19.2-149 How surety on a bond in recognizance may surrender principal and be discharged from liability.
A surety on a bond in a recognizance may at any time arrest his principal and surrender him to the court before which the recognizance was taken or before which such principal's appearance is required, or to the sheriff, sergeant or jailer of the county or city wherein the court before which such principal's appearance is required is located; in addition to the above authority, upon the application of the surety, the court, or the clerk thereof, before which the recognizance was taken, or before which such principal's appearance is required, shall issue a capias for the arrest of such principal, and such capias may be executed by such surety, or his authorized agent, or by any sheriff, sergeant or police officer, and the person executing such capias shall deliver such principal and such capias to the sheriff or jailer of the county or the sheriff, sergeant or jailer of the city in which the appearance of such principal is required, and thereupon the said surety shall be discharged from liability for any act of the principal subsequent thereto. Such sheriff, sergeant or jailer shall thereafter deliver such capias to the clerk of such court, with his endorsement thereon acknowledging delivery of such principal to his custody.
VIII. Other Noteworthy Provisions
A. CODE OF VIRGINIA TITLE 19.2. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. CHAPTER 9. BAIL AND RECOGNIZANCES. ARTICLE 2. RECOGNIZANCES. § 19.2-148 Surety discharged on payment of amount, etc., into court.
A surety on a bond in a recognizance may, after default, pay into the court from which the process has issued, or may issue thereon, the amount for which he is bound, with such costs as the court may direct, and be thereupon discharged.
B. CODE OF VIRGINIA TITLE 19.2. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. CHAPTER 9. BAIL AND RECOGNIZANCES. ARTICLE 1. BAIL. § 19.2-119 Definitions.
1. "Bail" means the pretrial release of a person from custody upon those terms and conditions specified by order of an appropriate judicial officer.
2. "Bond" means the posting by a person or his surety of a written promise to pay a specific sum, secured or unsecured, ordered by an appropriate judicial officer as a condition of bail to assure performance of the terms and conditions contained in the recognizance.
3. "Recognizance" means a signed commitment by a person to appear in court as directed and to adhere to any other terms ordered by an appropriate judicial officer as a condition of bail.
IX. Noteworthy State Appellate Decisions
A. Re: In re BAIL AMERICA BONDING CO., Misc. No. 6557.
No. 6557.
Circuit Court of Virginia.
January 27, 1999.
Suspension of Bail Bond Company's License.
1. The evidence presented at the December 11, 1998 hearing demonstrated that Mr. Tommy Simpson, an agent of BAB, had written a bail bond for Mr. Hector Castrejon, a defendant in a criminal proceeding pending in the Fairfax General District Court, for which he received from Mr. Arturo de la Torre, a friend of Castrejon, $1,350: $350 as a bond premium, $1,000 in cash and title to Mr. de la Torre's truck as collateral. Mr. de la Torre received a receipt which listed the amounts received, denominating the $1,000 in cash collateral as "Miscellaneous Charges," and indicating that the collateral was accepted in connection with a bond written by BAB for Mr. Castrejon.
2. This Court has accordingly entered an order today, January 27, 1999, suspending the authority of BAB, its principals, and agents from writing bail bonds in criminal matters pending in the 19th Judicial Circuit after February 1, 1999. This Court, moreover, has received applications for the approval of new agents for BAB. No such application will be considered for approval before July 31, 1999.
3. Finally, only after July 31, 1999, may BAB reapply for authority to write bonds in criminal matters pending in the 19th Judicial Circuit. In connection therewith, BAB will be required to submit a plan showing how the company will in the future monitor activities of its agents and maintain accurate records of bail bonds received.
B. Roger D. ROBERTS, t/a Allstate Bonding Company, etc. v. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ROANOKE COUNTY.
Record No. 940059
Supreme Court of Virginia
January 13, 1995
1. Agent and attorney-in-fact for insurance company sought declaratory judgment that he was not required to obtain revenue license as professional bondsman under county ordinance. The Circuit Court, Roanoke County, denied petition. Agent appealed.
2. The Supreme Court, Carrico, C.J., held that agent was required to pay license tax as professional bondsman. The Circuit Court's decision was affirmed.
C. COMMONWEALTH of Virginia v. ALLSTATE BONDING COMPANY, et al.
Record No. 921704
Supreme Court of Virginia
September 17, 1993
1. Commonwealth moved for forfeiture of bail bonds. The district court ruled that bonds should be forfeited, and sureties appealed. The Circuit Court, City of Roanoke, reversed, and appeal was taken.
2. The Supreme Court held that a delay of 13 months to more than three years between defendants' failure to appear and issuance of notices to sureties to show cause why bonds should not be forfeited did not preclude forfeiture.
X. Bounty Hunter Provisions
At this time, there appear to be no additional regulations specifically for "Bounty Hunters" in the Virginia statutes.