Virginia law outlines the procedures for bondsmen to surrender a defendant (principal) and seek discharge from liability, including timelines for petitioning the court and handling deposited funds. It specifies the court's role in approving the surrender and returning or transferring funds, as well as the process when surrender occurs to law enforcement. The law also details the treatment of the defendant after surrender and the consequences if procedures are not followed.
The bondsman must petition the court within 15 days of surrender, showing cause for the surrender and requesting the return of deposited funds.
If the court determines the surrender was unreasonable, the deposited funds are returned to the payer, and no remission is issued until 16 days after the finding.
The deposited funds are paid into the Virginia state treasury to be credited to the Literary Fund.
The defendant is treated according to Virginia law, unless the court believes conditions of release are insufficient to prevent fleeing or danger.