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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78904</law_id><section_number>19.2-128</section_number><catch_line>Penalties for failure to appear</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-456</reference><reference>19.2-129</reference><reference>19.2-169.1</reference><reference>19.2-169.2</reference><reference>19.2-73</reference><reference>19.2-74</reference><reference>19.2-76</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="9">Bail and Recognizances</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Bail</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Whoever, having been released pursuant to this chapter or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="When execution of sentence to be suspended; bail; appeal from denial" href="/19.2-319/">19.2-319</a> or on a <span class="dictionary">summons</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Issuance of summons instead of warrant in certain cases" href="/19.2-73/">19.2-73</a> or <a class="law" title="Issuance and service of summons in place of warrant in misdemeanor case; issuance of summons by special conservators of the peace" href="/19.2-74/">19.2-74</a>, willfully fails to appear before any <span class="dictionary">court</span> or judicial officer as required, shall, after notice to all interested parties, incur a forfeiture of any security that may have been given or pledged for his release, unless one of the parties can show good cause for excusing the absence, or unless the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, in its sound discretion, shall determine that neither the interests of justice nor the power of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> to conduct orderly proceedings will be served by such forfeiture. <a id="paragraph-282601" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-128/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> (i) charged with a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span> or (ii) convicted of a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span> and execution of sentence is suspended pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="When execution of sentence to be suspended; bail; appeal from denial" href="/19.2-319/">19.2-319</a> who willfully fails to appear before any <span class="dictionary">court</span> as required is guilty of a Class 6 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. <a id="paragraph-282602" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-128/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> (i) charged with a <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span> or (ii) convicted of a <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span> and execution of sentence is suspended pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="When execution of sentence to be suspended; bail; appeal from denial" href="/19.2-319/">19.2-319</a> who willfully fails to appear before any <span class="dictionary">court</span> as required is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-282603" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-128/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The provisions of this section shall not apply to any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who is (i) incarcerated in any correctional facility or (ii) (a) detained in any state or federal facility or (b) in the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer at the time such <span class="dictionary">person</span> is required to appear before any <span class="dictionary">court</span> or judicial officer. <a id="paragraph-282604" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-128/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 19.1-109.7; 1973, c. 485; 1975, c. 495; 1981, c. 382; 1982, c. 271; 1999, c. 821; 2024, c. 109.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
