Types of Licensed Bail Bondsman

3 Types of Licensed Bail Bondsman​ in South Carolina

A South Carolina bail bondsman is a designated agent licensed by the South Carolina Department of Insurance whom pledges consideration to the state of South Carolina in order to ensure the successful completion of a criminal defendants appearance to all court dates required by the court of competent jurisdiction pending the resolution of a criminal accusation. The state of South Carolina designates three types of licensed bail bondsman as outlined in Chapter 38 Subsection 53 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.

The three types of licensed bondsman in the state are::

1. Professional Bondsman – “means any person who is approved and licensed under the provisions of this chapter and who pledges cash or approved securities with the clerk of court as security for bail bonds written in connection with a judicial proceeding and receives or is promised money or other things of value for the pledge” (9, 38-53-10, SC code of laws).
2. Surety Bondsman – “means any person who is approved by and licensed by the director or his designee as an insurance agent, appointed by an insurer by power of attorney to execute or countersign bail bonds for the insurer in connection with judicial proceedings, and receives or is promised money or other things of value for the execution or countersignature” (12, 38-53-10, SC code of laws).
3. Runner – “means a person employed by a bail bondsman for the purpose of assisting the bail bondsman in presenting the defendant in court when required, assisting in the apprehension and surrender of the defendant to the court, keeping the defendant under necessary surveillance, and executing bonds on behalf of the licensed bondsman when the power of attorney has been recorded. “Runner” does not include an attorney or a law enforcement officer assisting a bondsman” (10, 38-53-10, SC code of laws).

The three types of licensed bail bondsman listed are recognized as sufficient surety in the state of South Carolina. A simple explanation of the three types of licensed bail bondsman as found in the state of South Carolina can be acquired from the subsequent explanations:

1. Professional bail bondsman pledge their own resources (cash, property, etc...) to the state of South Carolina in order to conduct business.
2. A surety bondsman, the most common type of bondsman in South Carolina, conducts business in behalf of an insurance company.
3. A runner must be licensed and appointed by one licensed professional or surety bondsman whom takes responsibility for the actions of the runner.