Lancaster County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
How bail works in Lancaster County
Lancaster County borders the Charlotte area. People arrested in Lancaster, Indian Land, Kershaw, and Heath Springs are usually taken to the Lancaster County Detention Center. Inmate search: Lancaster County Inmate Search.
Where is a person held after a Lancaster County arrest?
The quickest check is the Lancaster County Inmate Search.
Booking questions go to the Lancaster County Detention Center, 1520 Pageland Highway, Lancaster, SC 29721 (803-283-2084).
Tips for the call:
- Give their full legal name.
- Give their date of birth.
- Ask whether bond is set.
Staff may not discuss the charges.
Where is General Sessions court in Lancaster County?
The Lancaster County Courthouse is at 104 N. Main Street, Lancaster, SC 29721 (803-285-1581).
The Clerk of Court office in Lancaster takes cash deposits on circuit cases (S.C. Code §17-15-200).
Call ahead about hours and payment types.
Where are Lancaster County magistrate and city courts?
Bond hearings are held by summary court judges (S.C. Code §22-5-510). Both magistrates and city judges qualify (S.C. Code §14-25-45). Their trial power covers small offenses (S.C. Code §22-3-550).
Find the right office here (magistrate directory; municipal directory).
Who sets bond after a Lancaster County arrest?
In Lancaster County, a magistrate usually sets bond (S.C. Code §22-5-510(A)). Municipal judges have the same power (S.C. Code §14-25-45). A bond hearing is due within 24 hours (S.C. Code §22-5-510(B)). Once bond reaches the jail, staff have four hours to release (S.C. Code §22-5-510(B)).
Rules of evidence do not apply (S.C. Code §17-15-60).
Does Lancaster County use personal recognizance bonds?
Yes. The law starts with a personal recognizance bond (S.C. Code §17-15-10(A)). It is a signed promise to return (S.C. Code §17-15-10(A)). Judges may add terms for flight risk (S.C. Code §17-15-10(A)). The same goes for danger to others (S.C. Code §17-15-10(A)).
Which bond types might a Lancaster County judge set?
These are the usual choices:
- Personal recognizance: A signed promise to appear (S.C. Code §17-15-10).
- Surety bond: A bondsman or other surety backs it (S.C. Code §17-15-10).
- Cash bond: You deposit the whole sum (S.C. Code §17-15-190).
- 10% deposit: Paying part of the bond (S.C. Code §17-15-15).
Every bond requires good behavior (S.C. Code §17-15-20). Leaving the state is barred, too, unless allowed (S.C. Code §17-15-20).
What counts in a Lancaster County bond hearing?
The judge may weigh family ties and work (S.C. Code §17-15-30(A)). So do finances and length of residence (S.C. Code §17-15-30(A)). Review of the criminal record is required (S.C. Code §17-15-30(B)). Reports and pending charges are read, too (S.C. Code §17-15-30(B)). Since 2023, the judge asks about other open bonds (S.C. Code §17-15-30(B)).
Is anyone held without bond in Lancaster County?
Only for certain charges (S.C. Const. art. I, §15). Bail may be refused for capital or life charges (S.C. Const. art. I, §15). This also covers listed violent crimes (S.C. Code §16-1-60). Magistrates have that power for violent charges (S.C. Code §22-5-510(A)).
A charge carrying death or life goes to a judge of the Lancaster County Court of General Sessions (S.C. Code §22-5-510(A)).
Is a 10% bond possible in Lancaster County?
Sometimes. The court may allow a 10% deposit (S.C. Code §17-15-15). It is paid to the Lancaster County Clerk of Court (S.C. Code §17-15-15). It comes back once all conditions are met (S.C. Code §17-15-15). Since 2023, it is barred for violent offenses (S.C. Code §17-15-15). It is also barred for a gun felony while on bond (S.C. Code §17-15-15).
What are the bondsman fee rules in Lancaster County?
The fee cannot be more than 15% (S.C. Code §38-53-170(e)). The minimum is $100 or 10%, whichever is greater (S.C. Code §38-53-170(e)). Payment plans of up to 18 months are allowed (S.C. Code §38-53-170(e)).
A few more rules:
- Check for a valid license (S.C. Code §38-53-80).
- Registration with the Lancaster County Clerk of Court is required (S.C. Code §38-53-260).
- Get a written receipt for collateral (S.C. Code §38-53-180).
You can check licenses online (SC Department of Insurance search).
What conditions might a Lancaster County judge add?
Limits on travel, contact, or residence are common (S.C. Code §17-15-10(A)). Some people get a curfew (S.C. Code §17-15-10(A)). The written order lists each term (S.C. Code §17-15-40). Violations can lead to a warrant (S.C. Code §17-15-40).
Courts may order GPS monitoring (S.C. Code §17-15-35). Usually the defendant covers the cost (S.C. Code §17-15-35). Tampering with the device is a crime (S.C. Code §24-13-425).
What if the Lancaster County charge is domestic violence?
The hearing needs the criminal record and report (S.C. Code §17-15-30(C)). The 24-hour deadline still applies (S.C. Code §17-15-30(C)). Judges can weigh past abuse and order violations (S.C. Code §16-25-120). Expect no-contact terms (S.C. Code §16-25-120).
Third-degree DV may be tried by a magistrate (S.C. Code §16-25-20(D)).
What if someone misses court in Lancaster County?
The court will issue a bench warrant (S.C. Code §38-53-70). A willful no-show is its own offense (S.C. Code §17-15-90). For felonies, it carries up to five years (S.C. Code §17-15-90).
Call the Lancaster County Clerk of Court right away if a date was missed.
What happens to the surety in Lancaster County after a missed date?
Notice goes out to the surety within 30 days (S.C. Code §38-53-70). They then have 90 days to surrender the person (S.C. Code §38-53-70). If not, the bond is forfeited (S.C. Code §38-53-70). A judge may reduce the amount owed (S.C. Code §38-53-70).
How do we ask to change a Lancaster County bond?
A circuit judge can review it on motion (S.C. Code §17-15-55(A)). File it with the Clerk of Court office in Lancaster (S.C. Code §17-15-55(A)). Later requests need a material change (S.C. Code §17-15-55(A)). Or six months held in jail (S.C. Code §17-15-55(A)).
A violent arrest while out cancels the old bond (S.C. Code §17-15-55(C)). A circuit hearing follows within 30 days (S.C. Code §17-15-55(C)). The new offense can add up to five years (S.C. Code §17-15-270).
When is a Lancaster County cash bond refunded?
Keep the receipt you get (S.C. Code §17-15-210). The deposit is repaid after the case ends (S.C. Code §17-15-220). The premium paid to a bondsman is earned (S.C. Code §38-53-170). Collateral comes back within 10 days (S.C. Code §38-53-170).
How do I reach the Lancaster County public defender?
Ask the judge to appoint the Lancaster County Public Defender.
You can call the office at 803-285-5585.
Expect a short financial form.
Does Lancaster County offer PTI?
Pretrial Intervention is run by the 6th Judicial Circuit Solicitor (S.C. Code §17-22-50). It is mostly for first offenders (S.C. Code §17-22-50). DUI and violent charges do not qualify (S.C. Code §17-22-50).
Finishing it brings a noncriminal disposition (S.C. Code §17-22-150(a)).
What if a teen is arrested in Lancaster County?
Juveniles go to family court, not bond court (S.C. Code §63-19-830). Locking up a child requires specific grounds (S.C. Code §63-19-820). Expect a detention hearing in 48 hours (S.C. Code §63-19-830). Weekends and holidays are not counted (S.C. Code §63-19-830).
What about federal charges from Lancaster County?
Federal cases from Lancaster County belong to the Rock Hill Division (28 U.S.C. §121). Release is set by a federal magistrate judge (18 U.S.C. §3142).
The clerk's office at 901 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201 (803-765-5816) takes filings.
What should I confirm with Lancaster County courts or the jail?
Office hours and payment rules can change.
A quick call first saves a trip.
- Carry photo ID.
- Bring the booking or case number.
- Ask which payment forms are taken.
This is general help, not legal advice.
Lancaster County bail contacts
- Jail
- Lancaster County Detention Center, 1520 Pageland Highway, Lancaster, SC 29721, 803-283-2084
- Courthouse
- Lancaster County Courthouse, 104 N. Main Street, Lancaster, SC 29721, 803-285-1581
- Public defender
- Lancaster County Public Defender, 803-285-5585
- Judicial circuit
- 6th Judicial Circuit
- Federal court
- U.S. District Court, Rock Hill Division; clerk at 901 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201, 803-765-5816
- Bondsman licenses
- SC Department of Insurance search
- Inmate search
- Lancaster County Inmate Search
Judges set release terms case by case. Nothing here is legal advice.
Lancaster County Detention Center
Address:
1941 Pageland Highway
Lancaster, SC 29720
Phone:
803-283-2084
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lancaster County
Does Lancaster County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lancaster County?
Who can set bail in Lancaster County?
When is bail set in Lancaster County South Carolina?
Does Lancaster County have bail?
Yes, Lancaster County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lancaster County?
Lancaster County recognizes most types of bonds as listed at this site. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Who can set bail in Lancaster County?
Magistrate or Municipal judges conduct most bond hearings. Circuit Court judges must set bond on charges where the penalty is life imprisonment or death.
When is bail set in Lancaster County South Carolina?
Bail is set at the bond hearing when the judge sets the amount and conditions of a bond. This will generally occur within 24 hours from the time of arrest, not counting weekends or holidays. During this time, the solicitor learns about the crime and creates the charges.
In cases where the crime could result in life imprisonment or death sentence, the bond must be heard in the circuit court at the next term of General Sessions Court.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Lancaster County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance. Bail is not a punishment.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in Lancaster County feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR. South Carolina state law requires that all accused be ROR unless they would be a danger to public safety or a flight risk.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Lancaster County Detention Center until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
What is the difference between Bail and Bond?
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different.
The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions.
Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Lancaster County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
What are the different types of bonds in Lancaster County?
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid.
Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid.
Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over. This option is commonly used in South Carolina and avoids the use of a bondsperson.
The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Does Lancaster County have bail?
Yes, Lancaster County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lancaster County?
Lancaster County recognizes most types of bonds as listed at this site. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Who can set bail in Lancaster County?
Magistrate or Municipal judges conduct most bond hearings. Circuit Court judges must set bond on charges where the penalty is life imprisonment or death.
When is bail set in South Carolina?
Bail is set at the bond hearing when the judge sets the amount and conditions of a bond. This will generally occur within 24 hours from the time of arrest, not counting weekends or holidays. During this time, the solicitor learns about the crime and creates the charges.
In cases where the crime could result in life imprisonment or death sentence, the bond must be heard in the circuit court at the next term of General Sessions Court.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Lancaster County South Carolina?
A General Sessions judge can modify a bond set by a Magistrate or Municipal Court judge. Modifications go both ways; judges can increase or decrease the bond amount. To get a bond modification, file a Motion to Reconsider Bond with the Clerk of Court.
In Lancaster County South Carolina, who can pay bail for me?
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend or bondsperson, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of South Carolina could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
The person who is posting bail pays the bond to the Clerk of Court at the same court as the bond hearing. In turn, they would receive a release letter to take back to the jail for release of the arrested person.
Can bail be paid online in Lancaster County South Carolina?
Yes, South Carolina does offer online bail payment in most counties. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Lancaster County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Lancaster County or contact the Clerk of Court of the court that held the bond hearing during normal business hours.
What options are there to pay bail in Lancaster County South Carolina?
Most all jail and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted: Go to the Lancaster County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Lancaster County or contact the Clerk of Court.
Will I get all my bond money back in South Carolina?
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount. If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Lancaster County?
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up. A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in South Carolina?
The Lancaster County Detention Center or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company. You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.
The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.
In South Carolina, Victim Services must schedule all bond hearings, guilty pleas, and other proceedings for defendants at the County Detention Center when there is a victim of a crime involved in the case.
South Carolina law requires that all victims must be notified of all scheduled hearings for a defendant and be given the opportunity to attend those hearings.