Law enforcement in Cumberland County recently arrested several individuals for failing to appear in court for various offenses.

Depending on the nature of the original crime the defendant is charged, failing to appear in court can be a Class A misdemeanor, which means it is punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in jail, or as a Class E Felony, which is punishable by up to 2 years in prison.

Not every failure to appear is willful defiance.

Legitimate reasons for the absence may exist, such as an illness, accident, family emergency, or similar circumstance out of the defendant’s control. If this is the case, the individual scheduled to appear in court should explain the circumstances promptly by phone or in person and request to reschedule the court date.

If you have a question regarding a court appearance, call the Cumberland County General Sessions Court office at (931) 484-6647 or the Cumberland County Criminal Court Office at (931) 484-5852.