bond restrictions

Criminal defendants with repeat violent charges will have a harder time getting out of jail as they await trial and could spend more time in prison if they are convicted of the crime while out on bond under a proposal heading to the South Carolina governor's desk. Both state legislative chambers on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a bill that would require the payment of a full cash bond to post bail for people charged with a second violent or firearm-involved offense while out on pretrial release for a first offense. A conviction on the subsequent charge will allow another penalty carrying up to five years imprisonment even if they are found not guilty of the initial crime.