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Frost Law GroupSummerville, SC(843) 419-6653
Criminal defense · Summerville, SC

Bond Hearings in Summerville, Dorchester and Berkeley County

The bond hearing is the first decision in a case, and it is made within a day of arrest. Here is what happens and how to make it go better.

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When and where

After a warrant arrest, South Carolina requires a bond hearing within 24 hours (S.C. Code § 22-5-510). In Dorchester County the hearing is held by a magistrate at the Dorchester County Detention Center on Hodge Road in Summerville; in Berkeley County at the Hill-Finklea Detention Center in Moncks Corner; in Charleston County at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center in North Charleston. Municipal charges are heard by the municipal judge. For the most serious offenses—those punishable by life or death—only a circuit judge can set bond, which takes longer.

What the judge decides

  • Whether to release on a personal recognizance (PR) bond—a promise to appear, with no money
  • The amount of a surety or cash bond, based on the charge, the person's ties to the community, criminal history and risk of flight or danger
  • Conditions: no contact with the alleged victim, no return to a residence, electronic monitoring, no alcohol, surrender of firearms

The judge hears from the officer, the alleged victim if one appears, and the defendant or counsel. Most people say too much. A lawyer speaks to the factors that matter—job, family, residence, no history—and says nothing about the facts of the case.

After the hearing

  1. Posting bond. Cash to the clerk, or a bondsman for a percentage fee. Property bonds are possible but slow.
  2. Reduction or modification. If bond is set too high or the conditions are unworkable—a no-contact order that keeps a parent from a child, a curfew that conflicts with work—a motion to reconsider goes to the court that set it, or to circuit court for General Sessions charges.
  3. Stay compliant. A violated condition or a missed court date leads to revocation and a bench warrant. We calendar every date for you.

If someone you love was arrested

Call (843) 419-6653. Tell us the name, the charge and where they are being held. We can often appear at the hearing, and in every case we can prepare you for what the judge will ask and arrange the release once bond is set.

Someone in custody?

Bond hearings happen fast. Call now and we will tell you what to expect in the next 24 hours.

Schedule a consultation(843) 419-6653

Questions people ask

How much is bond in South Carolina?

There is no schedule; the judge sets it case by case. Many misdemeanors get a PR bond; felonies vary widely.

Do I get bond money back?

A cash bond is returned at the end of the case (less any fines) if every court date was kept. A bondsman's fee is not refundable.

Can bond conditions be changed?

Yes, by motion to the court that set them. No-contact orders in domestic cases are the most common request.

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