How may a surety be affected if the accused fails to attend court?

If the accused fails to attend court, the surety may face legal action for estreatment, which means the court may forfeit the bail amount that the surety guaranteed. The surety typically agrees to take responsibility for ensuring that the accused appears in court as part of a bail agreement. If the accused does not attend as required, it indicates a breach of that agreement.

In this context, estreatment serves as a protective measure for the court system, ensuring that defendants are incentivized to appear in court. When this obligation is not met, the surety can be held liable for the full amount of the bail they guaranteed, and a court may initiate proceedings to recover this amount. This is a significant consequence, as it emphasizes the surety's legal responsibility connected to the accused's appearance.

Other options do not accurately reflect the legal ramifications of such a situation. For example, a surety is not automatically relieved of obligations if the accused fails to appear, nor is the surety simply required to pay a fine without further legal consequences. Additionally, the surety does not have the option to choose not to attend the next hearing based on the accused’s failure, as their responsibility remains in effect regardless of their personal attendance.