Getting a call that a loved one has been arrested is one of the most stressful moments a family can face. The questions come fast: Where are they? When can they get out? Why is this taking so long? Understanding how the process actually works in South Carolina — and specifically here in Horry County — can take a lot of the panic out of the situation.
Here's a walk-through of what happens between arrest and release, and why timing matters more than most people expect.
Once someone is taken into custody, they're transported to the county detention center — in Horry County, that's the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Conway. Booking includes fingerprints, a mugshot, a records check, and an inventory of personal property. The person is not required to answer questions about the alleged offense during this process.
This part usually moves quickly. What comes next is where families start to feel the wait.
South Carolina law (SCRCrimP Rule 3.1) requires that a person be brought before a magistrate "without unnecessary delay," which courts generally interpret as within 24 hours of arrest, excluding weekends and holidays in some cases. That 24-hour window is a maximum, not a promise — and it's the single biggest source of confusion for families expecting an immediate bond hearing.
Two things drive the wait:
Magistrates keep office hours, not 24-hour availability. Magistrate offices are staffed roughly like a bank: in Horry County, the office is generally open Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–6 p.m., and Saturday, Sunday, and holidays 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Get arrested at 11 p.m. on a Tuesday, and there simply may not be a magistrate available to see anyone until the next scheduled session — no matter how straightforward the case is.
Bond hearings run on set schedules, not on demand. Many counties, including Horry, hold bond hearings at fixed times each day rather than continuously. Horry County's hearings are typically scheduled around 9 a.m. and mid-afternoon (times reported around 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., depending on the magistrate's docket that day). Victim Services coordinates the actual schedule at the detention center, so times can shift — it's always worth calling ahead to confirm rather than assuming.
This is the piece that surprises people most: an arrest at the "wrong" time of day can mean waiting most of a full day, even for a minor charge, simply because the system runs on a schedule.
At the hearing, a magistrate (or in serious cases, a Circuit Court judge) reviews the charges and sets bail. South Carolina law actually favors release: under SC Code § 17-15-10, a magistrate is supposed to grant a personal recognizance (PR) bond — no money required — unless releasing the person on their word wouldn't reasonably guarantee they'll show up to court, or would pose an unreasonable danger to the community or a specific person.
If a PR bond isn't appropriate, the magistrate will set a monetary bond, generally in one of these forms:
The magistrate weighs the severity of the charge, criminal history, community ties, and flight risk in deciding which route applies and what the amount should be.
Once bond is set, someone still has to post it before release happens — and this is where the "banking hours" problem shows up again. A magistrate's office might close at 5 or 6 p.m., but detention centers don't stop processing releases, and life doesn't stop happening at 6 p.m. either. This is the exact gap a licensed bail bondsman is built to fill: posting a surety bond doesn't require the court clerk's window to be open, so a bondsman can often get someone released evenings, weekends, and holidays — well outside the hours a magistrate's office or clerk's office is staffed.
Once bond is posted, the defendant is released with a court date and any conditions the magistrate attached (no contact orders, travel restrictions, check-ins, etc.). Missing that court date typically results in the bond being revoked and a warrant issued — so this next date is the most important piece of paper someone walks out with.
Two things are worth remembering if you're navigating this for the first time:
If you're dealing with this right now, don't wait on hold trying to piece together detention center hours and magistrate schedules — call a licensed local bondsman who already knows Horry County's routine and can move as soon as bond is set.
This post is for general information only and isn't legal advice. Bond hearing times and magistrate office hours can change — always confirm current schedules directly with the detention center or magistrate's office before making plans.
Sources: