Bail Bondsman
A bail bondsman can provide you with the tools and necessary funds to secure your release from jail while your case is still pending and best of all they can do it without requiring you to put up all the bond money up front but rather a small percentage of it, usually 10% of the total amount of the bond.
Bail is the security given to the court that allows your release from custody whereby if you fail to show up for court, any appearances, or fail to abide by the terms and conditions of bond then you will lose your money and be sent back to jail until your case is resolved, which can be over a year in many cases.
Can I get bail if I have been charged with more than one crime?
Yes, you can. However, not all crimes will be given a bond by the judge. On the more serious crimes such as murder or a serious felony where the victim was seriously hurt the judge could deny bond, but if a bond is set then you can employ the services of a bail bondsman to help secure your release from jail.
New bond law in South Carolina
In April 2014 South Carolina passed a new bill making it harder for repeat offenders to get a bond on new charges if the person is already on bond for a violent offense. In the bill a violent offense is governed by the statute of the state so if your charge is one of those types of crimes it will be much more difficult to get a bond but not impossible.
The bond statutes in South Carolina are found in the South Carolina Code of Laws under the section:
- §17-15-10 (persons charged with non-capital and burglary charge cases)
- §17-15-15 (deposit percentage required to make bond)
- §17-15-20 (conditions of appearance when bond is set)
Since April 14, 2014, if a person commits a new crime and it is violent while they are out on bond for a previous violent crime then the bond hearing must be held within 30 days from the date of the new crime. A judge may make the decision that despite the new crime a person is still entitled to a bond and will set the conditions necessary to ensure that the person will still appear for their court appearances. The judge may also decide that a person is not entitled to a new bond and therefore will revoke the previous bond, and not give a bond on the newer charge so that person is stuck in jail until all the charges are resolved.
The best way to handle your case if you have been arrested for a criminal offense in South Carolina is to retain an experienced Charleston Criminal Defense Lawyer, who understands the new bond laws and has the contacts to local reliable bail bondsmen to help you afford your bail payments to start getting your life back on track.