AB 638

Under current law, bail jumping means failure to comply with the terms of a

bond after being released from custody in a pending criminal matter. Bail jumping

for a defendant who has been released on bond after being charged with a crime is

a Class A misdemeanor if the offense with which the defendant is charged is a

misdemeanor and a Class H felony if the offense with which the defendant is charged

is a felony, and bail jumping for a witness for whom bail has been required is a Class

I felony. Under this bill, bail jumping means failure to appear as required or failure

to comply with a term of a bond that prohibits contact with another individual or

prohibits his or her presence in a specified location. Under the bill, any form of bail

jumping is a Class B misdemeanor, regardless of the underlying offense or whether

the person for whom bail is required is a defendant or a witness. In addition, under

this bill, a person may only be charged with bail jumping once per underlying charge

for which he or she has been released on bail.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,

the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a

report.