Can a person be charged for failing to appear in court?

• A. No
• B. Yes
• C. Only if a warrant is issued
• D. Only after a hearing

Answer: (B)

Failing to appear in court is itself a crime. When a person is ordered to appear and does not, prosecutors can file a separate charge of failure to appear, in addition to whatever they were charged with originally. This means you can be charged for not showing up regardless of whether a warrant has already been issued or a hearing has taken place—the act of missing court is the basis for the new charge. A warrant or a hearing may occur as consequences or process after the missed appearance, but they are not required to create the charge itself. That’s why the correct answer is Yes. The other options are not accurate because the charge can arise independently of warrants or hearings, and it is possible to be charged even without a prior hearing.