How to Bail Someone Out of J. Reuben Long Jail | Mama Tried

Kacie Roof — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:40:07 GMT

If someone you love was just arrested in Horry County, you're probably reading this from your phone at 2 a.m., trying to figure out what happens next. Take a breath — here's exactly how the process works at J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Conway, and how Mama Tried Bail Bonds can help you move through it quickly.

Step 1: Confirm They're Actually at J. Reuben Long

J. Reuben Long Detention Center (4150 J. Reuben Long Ave., Conway, SC 29526) is Horry County's main jail, run by the Horry County Sheriff's Office. Before you do anything else, confirm your loved one is actually booked there — not at a municipal lockup or a neighboring county's facility. You can:

Use the Horry County inmate search tool online
Call the jail's booking line at 843-915-6911

Have their full name and, if possible, date of birth ready — staff may ask to verify who you are before releasing information.

Step 2: Find Out the Charges and Bond Amount

Once booked, the jail will process the person and, depending on the charge, either set bond immediately or hold them for a bond hearing. J. Reuben Long holds bond hearings twice a day, seven days a week, including holidays — but hearings can be delayed depending on how busy the jail is.

Call the booking line or check the inmate search tool for the bond amount once it's set. If no bond has been set yet, a bondsman can't act — you'll need to wait for the hearing.

Step 3: Call a Licensed Bail Bondsman

This is where Mama Tried Bail Bonds comes in. Once bond is set, you have a few options:

Pay the full bond amount in cash directly to the jail
Use collateral like property
Work with a licensed bail bondsman, who posts the bond on your behalf for a fee

Most families choose a bondsman because it turns a bond that could be thousands of dollars into a manageable, one-time fee — by law, 10% of the bond amount or $100, whichever is greater, paid upfront.

When you call us, have ready:

The person's full name and date of birth
The booking date and facility (J. Reuben Long)
The bond amount, if known
Your relationship to the person and your contact information

Step 4: We Post the Bond

Once you've paid the premium, Mama Tried Bail Bonds posts the bond with the court, guaranteeing your loved one's appearance at future court dates. This step is what actually authorizes the jail to begin release.

Step 5: Release

After the bond is posted, the jail's release process typically takes about 30 minutes — but it can take longer depending on how many releases are being processed at once. There's no way to speed this part up once paperwork is submitted; it's a matter of the jail's internal processing time.

What to Expect After Release

The person released is now your responsibility as the indemnitor (if you signed for them) to make sure they:

Show up for every scheduled court date
Stay in compliance with any bond conditions set by the judge

Missing a court date puts the full bond amount at risk — for you and for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay bond directly to the jail instead of using a bondsman? Yes — cash, money order, or credit card is accepted directly at the jail. A bondsman is only needed if you don't have the full bond amount available.

How fast can Mama Tried Bail Bonds post a bond after I call? Once bond is set and payment is confirmed, we move as quickly as the jail's processing allows — usually the same day, often within hours.

What if I don't know the bond amount yet? Call us anyway. We can help you figure out where the person is in the process and what to expect next.

Is the bondsman fee refundable? No — the premium is the fee for the bond service, not a deposit toward bail.

Mama Tried Bail Bonds serves Horry and Georgetown Counties, South Carolina, including Conway and the J. Reuben Long Detention Center. Call 843-220-0051 any time or visit mamatriedbonding.com.

Why Mama Tried Requires 10% Upfront - And Why That Protects You

Kacie Roof — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:25:24 GMT

If you've ever called a bail bond company in Horry or Georgetown County and been surprised that the fee isn't negotiable, you're not alone. It's one of the most common questions families ask us at Mama Tried Bail Bonds: "Why do I have to pay the full 10% today? Can't we work out a payment plan?"

The short answer: it's not our choice. It's South Carolina law.

The Law Behind the 10% Minimum

Under South Carolina Code Section 38-53-175, every licensed bail bondsman in the state is required to charge and collect a minimum premium of $100 or 10% of the bond amount — whichever is greater — before the bond is executed. That premium isn't a deposit or a down payment. It's the bondsman's fee for taking on the financial risk of the full bond amount, and state law says it has to be paid in full, upfront.

That's why Mama Tried doesn't offer payment plans. It's not a policy we invented to make things harder on families during an already stressful time — it's the rule every surety agency in South Carolina operates under. Agencies that quietly offer "payment plans" on the 10% premium are taking on legal risk, and that risk has a way of trickling down to the client in the form of inconsistent practices, unclear paperwork, or worse.

Why This Protects You, the Client

When an agency follows the law to the letter, you get:

Clear, upfront pricing. You know exactly what you owe before you commit — no surprise balances later.
A properly licensed process. Full payment at execution is part of what keeps the bond legally valid and enforceable.
Protection from bait-and-switch practices. An agency willing to bend the premium rule to win your business may bend other rules too.

A Law That May Be Changing

Here's where it gets worth watching: there's currently a bill in the South Carolina House (Bill 4512) that would raise the maximum premium cap to 15% and, for the first time, formally allow payment agreements above the 10% minimum — under strict conditions, including a required minimum down payment and structured repayment terms capped at 18 months.

If it passes, it wouldn't eliminate the upfront requirement — it would create a regulated framework for financing the rest. Until that becomes law, the current rule stands: 10% (or $100, whichever is greater), paid in full, before the bond is posted.

We'll keep this page updated if those change. In the meantime, if you're navigating a bond in Horry or Georgetown County, Mama Tried Bail Bonds will always explain exactly what you owe and why — no surprises, no shortcuts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 10% fee refundable? No. It's the bondsman's fee for guaranteeing the bond, not a deposit toward the bond amount.

Can any bondsman legally offer a payment plan on the 10%? Under current law, no — the full minimum premium must be collected before the bond is executed. (This may change if Bill 4512 passes.)

Does the 10% go toward my bail amount? No. It's a separate fee for the bond service. The full bond amount is what the bondsman is guaranteeing to the court.

What if I can't afford the full 10%? Talk to us directly. While we can't offer payment plans on the premium itself, we can walk you through your options and be transparent about costs from the start.

Mama Tried Bail Bonds serves Horry and Georgetown Counties, South Carolina. Call 843-220-0051 or visit mamatriedbonding.com.

Mama Tried Bail Bonds blog

How to Bail Someone Out of J. Reuben Long Jail | Mama Tried

Step 1: Confirm They're Actually at J. Reuben Long

Step 2: Find Out the Charges and Bond Amount

Step 3: Call a Licensed Bail Bondsman

Step 4: We Post the Bond

Step 5: Release

What to Expect After Release

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Mama Tried Requires 10% Upfront - And Why That Protects You

The Law Behind the 10% Minimum

Why This Protects You, the Client

A Law That May Be Changing

Frequently Asked Questions