Failure to appear; contempt of court, penalties.

Penalties for failure to appear; contempt. Provides that any person (i) charged with any offense or (ii) convicted of any offense and execution of sentence is suspended who willfully fails to appear before any court or judicial officer as required is guilty of contempt punishable by a fine of no more than $100 or imprisonment of no more than two days, either or both. Under current law, such person is guilty of a Class 6 felony, if charged with a felony, or a Class 1 misdemeanor, if charged with a misdemeanor, for such a violation. The bill excludes from such penalty persons who are incarcerated, in the custody of a law-enforcement officer at the time such person is required to appear, or has a matter scheduled to appear before another court and appears before such court on the same date. The bill provides that if a person does not appear in court as required, the court shall first issue a rule to show cause summons returnable at a future date for such person's appearance, and if such person fails to appear at the show cause hearing, the court may issue a capias.