SentenceCalc

Failure to Appear (Bail Jumping) Sentence Calculator

This page covers cases where a person skipped court or did not report to serve a sentence. Federal sentences for failure to appear (bail jumping) are calculated under §2J1.6 of the Sentencing Guidelines, which sets a starting offense level from 6 to 11 depending on the kind of offense, then adds levels for the facts of the case. At the first starting point in the table below (level 6) alone, someone with no criminal history points who pleads guilty scores 0–6 months under the guidelines.

Verified Checked against the manual text in at least five AI-assisted review rounds. Not yet reviewed by an attorney. Guidelines Manual effective November 1, 2025Updated October 4, 2026

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Starting level and typical ranges

These ranges use the starting level alone, before any of the facts listed below, for someone with no criminal record unless the column says otherwise. Most real cases add levels.

Starting pointLevelTrialGuilty pleaPlea + zero-pointCategory IV, plea
What did the person fail to show up for: A court date60–6 months0–6 months0–6 months2–8 months
What did the person fail to show up for: Reporting to serve a sentence118–14 months4–10 months0–6 months12–18 months

What changes the sentence

Each of these facts moves the offense level under §2J1.6. Adjustments that apply to every offense, such as role in the offense, obstruction, a guilty plea and criminal history, come after these.

FactEffectRule
Turned themselves in within 96 hours of the scheduled report time−5§2J1.6(b)(1)
Was ordered to report to a halfway house or similar community facility, and did not turn themselves in within 96 hours−2§2J1.6(b)(1)
How serious was the charge in the case the person skipped: A felony with a maximum under 5 years+3§2J1.6(b)(2)
How serious was the charge in the case the person skipped: Maximum of 5 years or more, but under 15 years+6§2J1.6(b)(2)
How serious was the charge in the case the person skipped: Maximum of 15 years or more, or death+9§2J1.6(b)(2)

Important details

  • By law, any prison time for failure to appear runs after, not at the same time as, any other prison sentence (§2J1.6, note 3).
  • If the person is convicted of both the original charge and skipping a court date, the failure to appear is handled as an obstruction increase (§3C1.1) on the original charge, and the counts are grouped (§2J1.6, note 3). Failure to report for a sentence is instead calculated on its own.
  • The general obstruction adjustment (§3C1.1) is not added on top, unless the person also obstructed the failure to appear case itself (§2J1.6, note 2).
  • The sentence for the original charge counts toward criminal history here only when the offense was failing to report to serve a sentence (§2J1.6, note 4).
  • The calculator does not apply mandatory minimum sentences set by statute for this offense. If the statute of conviction requires one and it is higher than the range shown, the minimum controls; check the statute or ask a lawyer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the base offense level for failure to appear (bail jumping)?

The guideline for failure to appear (bail jumping) is §2J1.6 of the federal Sentencing Guidelines. Before any adjustments, its starting level depends on the facts: from level 6 to level 11. The table on this page lists each starting point.

What is the guideline range for failure to appear (bail jumping) with no criminal history points and a guilty plea?

Using the first starting point in the table on this page (level 6) alone, a person with no criminal history points who pleads guilty scores 0–6 months, including the 2-level zero-point reduction. The facts listed under “What changes the sentence” can add levels, and the judge can sentence outside the range.

Is probation possible for failure to appear (bail jumping)?

The guidelines allow it at the first starting point in the table: with a guilty plea and the zero-point reduction the range begins at 0 months (Zone A), so prison is not required, unless the offense is a Class A or B felony or the statute rules probation out (§5B1.1(b)). Added facts can raise the range out of Zone A.

Is the calculator accurate for failure to appear (bail jumping)?

It follows §2J1.6 of the Guidelines Manual effective November 1, 2025. It passed 6 review rounds, each comparing every number, rule and label with the manual text, and its last round found nothing to correct. Those reviews were done with AI tools, not by lawyers, and it has not yet been reviewed by an attorney, so mistakes are possible. The guidelines are advisory, and a lawyer who knows the case can tell you what actually applies.