Which statement about bond forfeiture and appearances is true?

Which statement about bond forfeiture and appearances is true?

• A. Docket call is when the court determines if all the prospective jurors appeared.
• B. When a defendant who has a bond filed with the court fails to appear, the prosecutor can request the court forfeit the bond.
• C. If a mistrial is declared, the case must be tried within two days.
• D. If a jury finds a defendant not guilty, the defendant is still liable for the costs of the trial.

Answer: (B)

Bond security exists to ensure the defendant shows up in court. When that defendant misses a required appearance, the court can forfeit the bond, meaning the money or collateral posted is kept by the court and the defendant (or the surety) owes the full amount. The prosecutor may request this forfeiture, and the court will typically issue a warrant for the defendant’s arrest or otherwise move to collect the bond if the appearance isn’t secured. This mechanism is the primary way courts enforce attendance and maintain the calendar. The other statements don’t fit this concept. Docket calls aren’t about determining juror appearance; they’re about scheduling and confirming readiness for cases on the court’s calendar. A mistrial doesn’t impose a two-day trial deadline; retry schedules depend on specific rules and can vary. And the notion that not guilty automatically leaves the defendant liable for trial costs isn’t about bond forfeiture and appearance, which is why it isn’t the correct focus here.

Bond security exists to ensure the defendant shows up in court. When that defendant misses a required appearance, the court can forfeit the bond, meaning the money or collateral posted is kept by the court and the defendant (or the surety) owes the full amount. The prosecutor may request this forfeiture, and the court will typically issue a warrant for the defendant’s arrest or otherwise move to collect the bond if the appearance isn’t secured. This mechanism is the primary way courts enforce attendance and maintain the calendar.

The other statements don’t fit this concept. Docket calls aren’t about determining juror appearance; they’re about scheduling and confirming readiness for cases on the court’s calendar. A mistrial doesn’t impose a two-day trial deadline; retry schedules depend on specific rules and can vary. And the notion that not guilty automatically leaves the defendant liable for trial costs isn’t about bond forfeiture and appearance, which is why it isn’t the correct focus here.