Will you go to jail for failure to appear?

Possibly. The court system is designed in nearly every US jurisdiction to give the court power to sanction those who choose not to respect the rules. If you have been properly served with a notice to appear - do so - you can always request the court grant you additional time to respond for good cause (i.e., such as time to find a lawyer). My advice is to find a lawyer in your state.

If you are a defendant in a criminal matter, a bench warrant for your arrest will issue and you may be put in jail until you make bail or are otherwise released.

If you are a plaintiff in a civil matter, you will not face jail but your complaint may be dismissed for lack of prosecution.

If you are a defendant in a civil matter, your Answer may be suppressed and the plaintiff allowed to proceed to try and prove its case as if you had never filed an Answer to the complaint.

If you are a witness under subpoena in a criminal or civil case, a bench warrant may issue and you may be put in jail until you make bail or are otherwise released.