Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2003 Session > Title 17

This statutory database is current through the 2003 Regular Session of the South Carolina General Assembly. Changes to the statutes enacted by the 2004 General Assembly, which will convene in January 2004, will be incorporated as soon as possible. Some changes enacted by the 2004 General Assembly may take immediate effect. The State of South Carolina and the South Carolina Legislative Council make no warranty as to the accuracy of the data, and users rely on the data entirely at their own risk.






SECTION 17-25-10. No person shall be punished until legally convicted.

No person shall be punished for an offense unless duly and legally convicted thereof in a court having competent jurisdiction of the cause and of the person.

SECTION 17-25-20. Punishment for felony when not specially provided for.

When no special punishment is provided for a felony, it shall, at the discretion of the court, be by one or more of the following modes, to wit: Confinement in the Penitentiary or in a workhouse or penal farm, when such institutions shall exist, for a period of not less than three months nor more than ten years, with such imposition of hard labor and solitary confinement as may be directed.

SECTION 17-25-30. Sentence where no punishment is provided.

In cases of legal conviction when no punishment is provided by statute the court shall award such sentence as is conformable to the common usage and practice in this State, according to the nature of the offense, and not repugnant to the Constitution.

SECTION 17-25-45. Life sentence for person convicted for certain crimes.

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except in cases in which the death penalty is imposed, upon a conviction for a most serious offense as defined by this section, a person must be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole if that person has one or more prior convictions for:

(1) a most serious offense;

(2) a federal or out-of-state conviction for an offense that would be classified as a most serious offense under this section; or

(3) any combination of the offenses listed in items (1) and (2) above.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except in cases in which the death penalty is imposed, upon a conviction for a serious offense as defined by this section, a person must be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole if that person has two or more prior convictions for:

(1) a serious offense;

(2) a most serious offense;

(3) a federal or out-of-state offense that would be classified as a serious offense or most serious offense under this section; or

(4) any combination of the offenses listed in items (1), (2), and (3) above.

(C) As used in this section:

(1) "Most serious offense" means:

16-1-40 Accessory, for any offense enumerated in this item

16-1-80 Attempt, for any offense enumerated in this item

16-3-10 Murder

16-3-30 Killing by poison

16-3-40 Killing by stabbing or thrusting

16-3-50 Voluntary manslaughter

16-3-85(A)(1) Homicide by child abuse

16-3-85(A)(2) Aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse

16-3-210 Lynching, First degree

16-3-430 Killing in a duel

16-3-620 Assault and battery with intent to kill

16-3-652 Criminal sexual conduct, First degree

16-3-653 Criminal sexual conduct, Second degree

16-3-655 Criminal sexual conduct with minors, except where evidence is

presented at the criminal proceeding and the court, after

the conviction, makes a specific finding on the record that

the conviction obtained for this offense resulted from

consensual sexual conduct where the victim was younger than

the actor, as contained in Section 16-3-655(3)

16-3-656 Assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct, First

and Second degree

16-3-910 Kidnapping

16-3-920 Conspiracy to commit kidnapping

16-3-1075 Carjacking

16-11-110(A) Arson, First degree

16-11-311 Burglary, First degree

16-11-330(A) Armed robbery

16-11-330(B) Attempted armed robbery

16-11-540 Damaging or destroying building, vehicle, or other property by

means of explosive incendiary, death results

24-13-450 Taking of a hostage by an inmate

25-7-30 Giving information respecting national or state defense to

foreign contacts during war

25-7-40 Gathering information for an enemy

43-35-85(F) Abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in death

55-1-30(3) Unlawful removing or damaging of airport facility or equipment

when death results

56-5-1030(B)(3) Interference with traffic-control devices or railroad signs or

signals prohibited when death results from violation

58-17-4090 Obstruction of railroad, death results.

(2) "Serious offense" means:

(a) any offense which is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment for thirty years or more which is not referenced in subsection (C)(1);

(b) those felonies enumerated as follows:

16-3-220 Lynching, Second degree

16-3-810 Engaging child for sexual performance

16-9-220 Acceptance of bribes by officers

16-9-290 Accepting bribes for purpose of procuring public

office

16-11-110(B) Arson, Second degree

16-11-312(B) Burglary, Second degree

16-13-210(1) Embezzlement of public funds

16-13-230(B)(3) Breach of trust with fraudulent intent

16-13-240(1) Obtaining signature or property by false pretenses

38-55-540(3) Insurance fraud

44-53-370(e) Trafficking in controlled substances

44-53-375(C) Trafficking in ice, crank, or crack cocaine

44-53-445(B)(1) Distribute, sell, manufacture, or possess with intent

& (2) to distribute controlled substances within

proximity of school

56-5-2945 Causing death by operating vehicle while under

influence of drugs or alcohol; and

(c) the offenses enumerated below:

16-1-40 Accessory before the fact for any of the offenses listed in

subitems (a) and (b)

16-1-80 Attempt to commit any of the offenses listed in subitems (a) and

( b)

43-35-85(E) Abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in great bodily

injury.

(3) "Conviction" means any conviction, guilty plea, or plea of nolo contendere.

(D) Except as provided in subsection (E), no person sentenced pursuant to this section shall be eligible for early release or discharge in any form, whether by parole, work release, release to ameliorate prison overcrowding, or any other early release program, nor shall they be eligible for earned work credits, education credits, good conduct credits, or any similar program for early release.

(E) For the purpose of this section only, a person sentenced pursuant to this section may be paroled if:

(1) the Department of Corrections requests the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services to consider the person for parole; and

(2) the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services determines that due to the person's health or age he is no longer a threat to society; and

(a) the person has served at least thirty years of the sentence imposed pursuant to this section and has reached at least sixty-five years of age; or

(b) the person has served at least twenty years of the sentence imposed pursuant to this section and has reached at least seventy years of age; or

(c) the person is afflicted with a terminal illness where life expectancy is one year or less; or

(d) the person can produce evidence comprising the most extraordinary circumstances.

(F) For the purpose of determining a prior conviction under this section only, a prior conviction shall mean the defendant has been convicted of a most serious or serious offense, as may be applicable, on a separate occasion, prior to the instant adjudication.

(G) The decision to invoke sentencing under Section 17-25-45(B) is in the discretion of the solicitor. The provisions of Section 17-25-45(A) shall be mandatory.

(H) Where the solicitor is required to seek or determines to seek sentencing of a defendant under this section, written notice must be given by the solicitor to the defendant and defendant's counsel not less than ten days before trial.

SECTION 17-25-50. Considering closely connected offenses as one offense.

In determining the number of offenses for the purpose of imposition of sentence, the court shall treat as one offense any number of offenses which have been committed at times so closely connected in point of time that they may be considered as one offense, notwithstanding under the law they constitute separate and distinct offenses.

SECTION 17-25-60. Change of sentence where former convictions were not considered at time of imposition.

If during the service of any such sentence, it is made to appear to the court that the defendant had been convicted of one or more crimes which were not taken into account at the time of the imposition of the original sentence, the court is authorized to issue a rule directed to the defendant requiring him to show cause before the court, not less than ten days from the granting of the rule, why the former sentence should not be revoked and the defendant be sentenced as required if all of the convictions had been brought to the attention of the court at the time of the imposition of the original sentence.

SECTION 17-25-70. Authority of local officials to require able-bodied convicted persons to perform labor in public interest.

Notwithstanding another provision of law, a local governing body may authorize the sheriff or other official in charge of a local correctional facility to require any able-bodied convicted person committed to the facility to perform labor in the public interest. This labor may involve public service work or related activities which conform to the provisions of Section 24-13-660. The public service work may include, but is not limited to, maintenance or repair of the drainage systems, highways, streets, bridges, grounds, and buildings and litter control and emergency relief efforts. A convicted person physically capable of performing the labor who refuses to obey a direct order to perform the labor is not entitled to good behavior credits pursuant to Section 24-13-210 or productive duty credits pursuant to Section 24-13-230. An inmate participating in a local work punishment or other public service sentence program must not be removed arbitrarily from the program and required to perform work on the public works or ways. A local governing body may enter into a contractual agreement with another governmental entity for use of inmate labor in the performance of work for a public purpose.

SECTION 17-25-80. Authority of Commissioner of Department of Corrections as to convicts sentenced to "hard labor".

Notwithstanding the specific language of the sentence which confines an inmate to "hard labor" in the custody of the State Department of Corrections, the Commissioner thereof may assign such inmate to the type of labor he deems appropriate and necessary for the benefit of the Department and the inmate concerned, and such assignment shall fulfill the conditions of the sentence.

SECTION 17-25-100. Suspension of sentence in misdemeanor cases

The circuit judges of this State may, in their discretion, suspend sentences imposed by them except in cases of felony upon such terms and upon such conditions as in their judgment may be fit and proper.

SECTION 17-25-110. Suspension of sentence shall run for period of time prescribed by judge.

When the sentence of any person who has been sentenced by a court of competent jurisdiction of this State shall be suspended by a judge of such court such suspension shall run for the period of time prescribed by such judge in the sentence or order of suspension and no person who has had a sentence so suspended shall be called back and required to do service under such sentence beyond and after the expiration of such period.

SECTION 17-25-120. Restitution of stolen goods.

If any person shall rob or take away any money, goods or chattels from any person, from their person or otherwise, and be found guilty thereof, such money, goods and chattels shall be restored to the party so robbed or the owner thereof and the judge before whom any such person shall be found guilty shall award, from time to time, writs of restitution for such money, goods and chattels.

SECTION 17-25-125. Sentence for crimes involving the unlawful taking or receiving of or malicious injury to property may not be suspended unless restitution made.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in every case in which a person is sentenced for a crime involving the unlawful taking or receiving of or malicious injury to another's property, and the judge sentences such person less than the maximum sentence prescribed by law, a portion of such sentence may be suspended and the defendant placed on probation if he makes restitution to the victim in an amount equal to the monetary loss sustained by the victim as determined by the judge.

If the defendant fails to make restitution in accordance with the terms prescribed by the judge, the suspension shall be revoked and the defendant shall serve the original sentence.

Nothing contained herein shall preclude a judge from prescribing other conditions of probation.

SECTION 17-25-130. Accepted plea of guilty as equivalent of jury recommendation of mercy for sentencing purposes.

In all cases where by law the punishment is affected by the jury recommending the accused to the mercy of the court, and a plea of guilty is accepted with the approval of the court, the accused shall be sentenced in like manner as if the jury in a trial had recommended him to the mercy of the court.

SECTION 17-25-135. Entry of sex offenders on Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect upon conviction of certain crimes.

(A) When a person is convicted of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to an "Offense Against the Person" as provided for in Title 16, Chapter 3, an "Offense Against Morality or Decency" as provided for in Title 16, Chapter 15, criminal domestic violence, as defined in Section 16-25-20, criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature as defined in Section 16-25-65, or the common law offense of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, and the act on which the conviction or the plea of guilty or nolo contendere is based involved sexual or physical abuse of a child, the court shall order that the person's name, any other identifying information, including, but not limited to, the person's date of birth, address, and any other identifying characteristics, and the nature of the act which led to the conviction or plea be placed in the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect established by Section 20-7-680. The clerk shall forward the information to the Department of Social Services for this purpose in accordance with guidelines adopted by the department.

(B) For purposes of this section:

(1) "Physical abuse" means inflicting physical injury upon a child or encouraging or facilitating the infliction of physical injury upon a child by any person including, but not limited to, a person responsible for the child's welfare, as defined in Section 20-7-490(5).

(2) "Sexual abuse" means:

(a) actual or attempted sexual contact with a child; or

(b) permitting, enticing, encouraging, forcing, or otherwise facilitating a child's participation in prostitution or in a live performance or photographic representation of sexual activity or sexually explicit nudity; by any person including, but not limited to, a person responsible for the child's welfare, as defined in Section 20-7-490(5).

SECTION 17-25-137. Liability of court imposing alternative sentence.

Notwithstanding another provision of law, a court which imposes an alternative sentence upon a defendant is not liable for any injuries sustained by the defendant while the defendant completes his sentence.



SECTION 17-25-140. Definitions.

For purposes of this article the following definitions apply:

(1) "Targeted offenders" means criminal defendants not previously convicted of a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60 and who have not yet been convicted in a pending indictment and are determined by the community penalties program staff to face an imminent and substantial threat of imprisonment, with the exception of criminal defendants charged with a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60; provided, a targeted offender shall not mean a criminal defendant who has previously participated in a community penalties program or a pretrial intervention program.

(2) "Community penalty plan" means a plan presented in writing to the solicitor and presiding judge after an adjudication of guilt which provides a detailed description of the targeted offender's proposed specific plan for sentencing in the case;

(3) "Community penalties program" means an agency or individual within the judicial circuit which shall prepare community penalty plans and arrange or contract with public or private agencies for necessary services for offenders.

SECTION 17-25-145. Implementation and operation of community penalties program; contracts for preparation of individual community penalty program plans.

The Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon and Services must implement a community penalties program in each judicial circuit of the State. The Department at its discretion may operate the program or contract with public or private agencies for necessary services. Agencies or individuals may contract to prepare individual community penalty program plans for offenders in a particular judicial circuit as prescribed by the Department.

SECTION 17-25-150. Responsibilities of program; mandatory community penalty plan provisions; limitation upon use of funds.

(A) Each community penalties program is responsible for:

(1) targeting offenders who face an imminent and substantial threat of imprisonment;

(2) preparing detailed community penalty plans for presentation to the presiding judge by the offender's attorney;

(3) contracting or arranging with public or private agencies for services described in the community penalty plan;

(4) defining objectives of the Communities Penalties Programs;

(5) outlining goals for reduction of offenders committed to prison for each county within the circuit, and a system of monitoring the number of commitments to prison;

(6) developing procedures for obtaining services from existing public or private agencies and preparation of a detailed budget for staff, contracted services, and all other costs;

(7) developing procedures for cooperation with the probation personnel who have supervisory responsibility for the offender;

(8) outlining procedures for evaluating the program's effect on numbers of prison commitments;

(9) outlining procedures for returning offenders who do not comply with their community penalty plan to court for action by the court.

(B) Every community penalty plan must include the following:

(1) notification to the victim of the offender's placement in the program;

(2) solicitation of victim response into the offender's proposed community penalty;

(3) restitution to the victim by the offender within a specified period of time and in an amount to be determined by the court;

(4) payment of such fees and costs of the program by the offender unless the court grants a waiver due to indigency. Procedures for collecting a fee from offenders must be implemented based on a sliding scale according to income and ability to pay;

(5) procedures for returning offenders who do not comply with their community penalty plan to court for action by the court.

(C) Funds provided for use under the provisions of this article may not be used for the operating cost, construction, or any other cost associated with local jail confinement.

SECTION 17-25-160. Funds for implementing program.

The funds for implementing the provisions of the Community Penalties Program established in this article must be provided by the General Assembly in the annual general appropriations act from funds available pursuant to Section 14-1-210 of the 1976 Code.



SECTION 17-25-310. Opening and enforcement of sealed sentences upon arrest.

Upon the arrest of a person for whom there is a sealed sentence the sheriff shall forthwith carry the prisoner before the clerk of the court who shall, in the presence of the prisoner and the attorney of record if there be one, open and publish such sentence and it shall at once be enforced unless stayed by appeal.

SECTION 17-25-320. Enforcement of sentence and judgment against corporations.

The sentence and judgment of the court of general sessions in a criminal case against a corporation shall be enforced in the same manner by execution against the property of the defendant as is provided by law for enforcing the judgments of the courts of common pleas in civil actions.

SECTION 17-25-322. Restitution to crime victim by person convicted of crime; hearing; determination of method, manner and amount; entry of order.

(A) When a defendant is convicted of a crime which has resulted in pecuniary damages or loss to a victim, the court must hold a hearing to determine the amount of restitution due the victim or victims of the defendant's criminal acts. The restitution hearings must be held unless the defendant in open court agrees to the amount due, and in addition to any other sentence which it may impose, the court shall order the defendant make restitution or compensate the victim for any pecuniary damages. The defendant, the victim or victims, or their representatives or the victim's legal representative as well as the Attorney General and the solicitor have the right to be present and be heard upon the issue of restitution at any of these hearings.

(B) In determining the manner, method, or amount of restitution to be ordered, the court may take into consideration the following:

(1) the financial resources of the defendant and the victim and the burden that the manner or method of restitution will impose upon the victim or the defendant;

(2) the ability of the defendant to pay restitution on an installment basis or on other conditions to be fixed by the court;

(3) the anticipated rehabilitative effect on the defendant regarding the manner of restitution or the method of payment;

(4) any burden or hardship upon the victim as a direct or indirect result of the defendant's criminal acts;

(5) the mental, physical, and financial well-being of the victim.

(C) At the restitution hearings, the defendant, the victim, the Attorney General, the solicitor, or other interested party may object to the imposition, amount or distribution of restitution, or the manner or method of them, and the court shall allow all of these objections to be heard and preserved as a matter of record. The court shall enter its order upon the record stating its findings and the underlying facts and circumstances of them. The restitution order shall specify a monthly payment schedule that will result in full payment for both restitution and collection fees by the end of eighty percent of the offender's supervision period. In the absence of a monthly payment schedule, the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services shall impose a payment schedule of equal monthly payments that will result in full restitution and collections fee being paid by the end of eighty percent of an offender's supervision period. The department, through its agents, must initiate legal process to bring every probationer, whose restitution is six months in arrears, back to court, regardless of wilful failure to pay. The judge shall make an order addressing the probationer's failure to pay.

(D) All restitution funds, excluding the twenty percent collection fee, collected before or after the effective date of this section that remain unclaimed by a crime victim for more than eighteen months from the day of last payment received must be transferred to the South Carolina Victims' Compensation Fund, notwithstanding the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act of 1981.

(E) An offender may not be granted a pardon until the restitution and collection fees required by the restitution order have been paid in full.

SECTION 17-25-323. Continuing jurisdiction over court-ordered payments; default by person on probation or parole; enforcement as of civil judgment and lien; entry in records.

(A) The trial court retains jurisdiction of the case for the purpose of modifying the manner in which court-ordered payments are made until paid in full, or until the defendant's active sentence and probation or parole expires.

(B) When a defendant has been placed on probation by the court or parole by the Board of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services, and ordered to make restitution, and the defendant is in default in the payment of them or of any installment or of any criminal fines, surcharges, assessments, costs, and fees ordered, the court, before the defendant completes his period of probation or parole, on motion of the victim or the victim's legal representative, the Attorney General, the solicitor, or a probation and parole agent, or upon its own motion, must hold a hearing to require the defendant to show cause why his default should not be treated as a civil judgment and a judgment lien attached. The court must enter (1) judgment in favor of the State for the unpaid balance, if any, of any fines, costs, fees, surcharges, or assessments imposed; and (2) judgment in favor of each person entitled to restitution for the unpaid balance if any restitution ordered plus reasonable attorney's fees and cost ordered by the court.

(C) The judgments may be enforced as a civil judgment.

(D) A judgment issued pursuant to this section has the force and effect of a final judgment and may be enforced by the judgment creditor in the same manner as any other civil judgment with enforcement to take place in court of common pleas.

(E) The clerk of court must enter a judgment issued pursuant to this section in the civil judgment records of the court. A judgment issued pursuant to this section is not effective until entry is made in the civil judgment records of the court as required under this subsection.

(F) Upon full satisfaction of a judgment entered under this section, the judgment creditor must record the satisfaction on the margin of the copy of the judgment on file in the civil judgment records of the court.

SECTION 17-25-324. Restitution to secondary victims and third-party payees; reports.

(A) Secondary victims and third-party payees, excluding the offender's insurer, may receive restitution as determined by the court. The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services shall ensure that a primary victim receives his portion of a restitution order before any of the offender's payments are credited to a secondary victim or a third party payee, or both.

(B) The department shall report to the Governor's Office, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and the Chairman of the Senate Corrections and Penology Committee by the first day of the 1997 Legislative Session detailed recommendations for collection and distribution of restitution and issues relating to indigent offenders and use of civil remedies.

SECTION 17-25-325. Enforcement and execution of judgment in criminal case; findings supported by evidence.

The sentence and judgment of the court of general sessions in a criminal case against an individual may be enforced in the same manner by execution against the property of the defendant as is provided by law for enforcing the judgments of the courts of common pleas in civil actions. Before a general sessions court may enter a judgment against a defendant's property as authorized by this section, the judge must make findings of fact as to the amount of the judgment to be entered against the defendant. These findings must be supported by the preponderance of the relevant evidence as is offered by the parties.

SECTION 17-25-326. Alteration, modification or rescission of order; petition upon good cause; preponderance of evidence.

Any court order issued pursuant to the provisions of this article may be altered, modified, or rescinded upon the filing of a petition by the defendant, Attorney General, solicitor, or the victim for good and sufficient cause shown by a preponderance of the evidence.

SECTION 17-25-330. Execution on forfeited recognizance or for fine.

When any recognizance shall be adjudged forfeited under the provisions of Section 17-15-170 or when any fine shall be imposed by or recovered for the use of the State in any court or before a magistrate, if the party incurring such fine or forfeiture shall fail to pay it down, with the costs of prosecution, then a writ in the nature of an execution shall issue, by virtue of which the sheriff or his deputy shall sell in the same manner as property is sold under execution in civil cases so much of such offender's estate, real or personal, as may be necessary to satisfy the fine or forfeiture, the cost of prosecution and the reasonable charges of taking, keeping and selling such property, returning the overplus, if any, to the offender, together with a bill of the fine or forfeiture, with costs and charges, if he requires it.

SECTION 17-25-340. When offender may be committed to jail; privilege of insolvent debtors.

If the sheriff or his deputy return on oath that such offender refused to pay or has not any property or not sufficient whereon to levy, then a writ of capias ad satisfaciendum shall issue whereby he shall be committed to the common jail, until the forfeiture, costs and charges shall be satisfied. Such offender shall be entitled, however, to the privilege of insolvent debtors.

SECTION 17-25-350. Schedule for payment of fine by indigent; consequences of failure to comply.

In any offense carrying a fine or imprisonment, the judge or magistrate hearing the case shall, upon a decision of guilty of the accused being determined and it being established that he is indigent at that time, set up a reasonable payment schedule for the payment of such fine, taking into consideration the income, dependents and necessities of life of the individual. Such payments shall be made to the magistrate or clerk of court as the case may be until such fine is paid in full. Failure to comply with the payment schedule shall constitute contempt of court; however, imprisonment for contempt may not exceed the amount of time of the original sentence, and where part of the fine has been paid the imprisonment cannot exceed the remaining pro rata portion of the sentence.

No person found to be indigent shall be imprisoned because of inability to pay the fine in full at the time of conviction.

Entitlement to free counsel shall not be determinative as to defendant's indigency.

SECTION 17-25-360. Fines in the alternative shall be apportioned when part of sentence has been served.

In all cases in this State when a sentence has been imposed by any judge, magistrate, mayor or intendant of any city or town in the alternative, by fine or imprisonment, and the person upon whom the sentence has been imposed shall enter upon the service of the sentence and thereafter such person or anyone in his behalf shall desire or offer to pay the fine imposed by the sentence, the clerk of the court in the county in which the sentence was imposed or the judge, magistrate, mayor or intendant who imposed the sentence shall apportion the fine imposed therein, so that the person or anyone in his behalf shall be allowed to pay such part of the fine as shall be in proportion to the balance of the time to be served under the sentence. Upon the payment of such proportionate part of the fine, the clerk, judge, magistrate, mayor or intendant shall release and discharge the person in behalf of whom the fine is so paid from further custody.

SECTION 17-25-370. Execution of death sentence upon affirmance of judgment or dismissal or abandonment of appeal.

In all criminal cases in which the sentence of death is imposed and which are appealed to the Supreme Court or in which notice of intention to appeal is given, when the judgment below has been affirmed or the appeal dismissed or abandoned, the clerk of the Supreme Court, when the remittitur is sent down or the appeal is dismissed or abandoned, shall notify the Commissioner of the prison system or his duly appointed officer in charge of the State Penitentiary of the final disposition of such appeal and, on the fourth Friday after the receipt of such notice the sentence appealed from shall be duly carried out as provided by law in such cases, unless stayed by order of the Supreme Court or respite or commutation of the Governor.

SECTION 17-25-380. Number of copies and form of notice under Section 17-25-370.

Two copies of the notice shall be served or sent by registered mail to the Director of the Department of Corrections or his duly appointed officer in charge of the applicable correctional facility. The notice, when the sentence has been affirmed, shall read substantially as follows: "This is to notify you that the sentence of death imposed in the case of State vs. __________ from which an appeal has been taken has been affirmed and finally disposed of by the Supreme Court and the remittitur has been sent down to the clerk of the Court of General Sessions of __________ County. It is, therefore, required of you by Section 17-25-370 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina to execute the judgment and sentence of death imposed on said defendant or defendants (if more than one) on the fourth Friday after the service upon you or receipt of this notice".

When the appeal has been dismissed or abandoned the notice shall be substantially the same as when the sentence has been affirmed except that the first sentence shall read as follows: "This is to notify you that the appeal from the sentence of death imposed in the case of State vs. __________ has been dismissed (or abandoned) and the notice has been sent down to the clerk of the Court of General Sessions of __________ County".

SECTION 17-25-390. Acknowledgment of receipt of notice.

The receipt of the notice shall be acknowledged in writing by the recipient. The acknowledgment shall be filed by the clerk of the Supreme Court and, in case of service, the return of service shall be filed.

SECTION 17-25-400. Service of notice on prisoner.

The Commissioner of the prison system or his duly appointed officer shall immediately serve one of the copies of the notice upon the defendant personally.



SECTION 17-25-500. Title of act.

This article may be known as the "South Carolina Notoriety for Profit Act".

SECTION 17-25-510. Definitions.

As used in this article:

(1) "Office" means State Office of Victim Assistance in the office of the Governor.

(2) "Convicted" includes any conviction by entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, conviction after trial, a finding of guilty but mentally ill, or a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity.

(3) "Eligible person" means:

(a) a victim of the particular crime in question who has suffered direct or threatened physical, psychological, or financial harm as a result of the commission of the particular crime;

(b) a victim's spouse;

(c) a victim's parent;

(d) a victim's child;

(e) a spouse, parent, child, or lawful representative of a victim who is:

(i) deceased;

(ii) a minor;

(iii) incompetent; or

(iv) physically or psychologically incapacitated; or

(f) a person dependent for principal support on the deceased victim of the crime.

"Eligible person" does not include the offender criminally responsible for the crime in question or a person aiding or abetting the offender criminally responsible.

(4) "Offender" means the person convicted of the particular crime in question.

(5) "Profit from a crime" includes any of the following:

(a) property obtained through or income generated from the commission of a crime for which the offender was convicted;

(b) property obtained or income generated from the sale, conversion, or exchange of proceeds of a crime for which the offender was convicted, including gain realized by the sale, conversion, or exchange; or

(c) property which the offender obtained or income generated as a result of having committed the crime for which the offender was convicted, including assets obtained through the unique knowledge obtained during the commission of or in preparation for the commission of the crime, as well as any property obtained by or income generated from the sale, conversion, or exchange of that property and any gain realized by that sale, conversion, or exchange.

SECTION 17-25-520. Notice of payment of profit from crime; notification of victims.

If an offender, or his representative or agent, knowingly contracts for or agrees to be paid any profit from a crime, he must give written notice to the office of the payment or the obligation to pay and a copy of the contract between the offender and contracting party as soon as practical after discovering that the payment or intended payment is a profit from a crime. The office, upon receiving notice of the contract, agreement to pay, or payment of profits from a crime, shall request from all agencies with the duty to notify crime victims pursuant to Article 15, Chapter 3 of Title 16, the name and last known address of any eligible person who is a victim of the offender of the crime in question. It is the duty of the office to notify all known eligible persons at their last known address of the existence of profits.

SECTION 17-25-530. Civil action to recover profits; limitations; action by Office of Victim Assistance to recover payments and expenses.

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule of civil procedure, an eligible person has the right to bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover money damages from an offender or the legal representative of that offender within three years of the discovery of the existence of any profits from the crime. Damages awarded in this action are recoverable only up to the value of the profits from the crime.

(B) If an action is filed under this article after the expiration of all other applicable statutes of limitation, any other eligible person must file an action for damages as a result of the crime within three years of:

(1) the actual discovery of the existence of the profits from the crime; or

(2) actual notice received from or notice published by the office of the discovery of the existence of profits, whichever is later.

(C) If profits from a crime remain after the payment of all claims made under this article, the office has the right to bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction against an offender or the legal representative of that offender within two years of the discovery of the existence of any profits to recover payments made by the office pursuant to Article 13, Chapter 3 of Title 16 and expenses incurred by the office pursuant to Article 13, 14, or 15 of Chapter 3 of Title 16 or Section 24 of Article 1 of the South Carolina Constitution with regard to the crime or the offender in question.

SECTION 17-25-540. Notification of Office of Victim Assistance of commencement of action; duties of Office upon receipt of notification.

(A) Upon filing an action pursuant to Section 17-25-530, the eligible person shall give notice to the office by delivering or mailing a copy of the complaint. The eligible person may, prior to filing the action, notify the office of his intent to file an action in order to allow the office to apply for other appropriate remedies which are authorized prior to the commencement of an action.

(B) The office may act on behalf of all eligible persons and may apply for any remedies available to an eligible person bringing an action under Section 17-25-530. These remedies include the right of attachment, injunction, receivership, and notice of pendency. On the motion for a particular remedy, the moving party shall state whether any other remedy has been sought in the same action against the same offender. The court may require the moving party to elect its remedy.

(C) Upon receipt of a copy of the complaint, the office shall:

(1) use certified mail, return receipt requested, to notify all other known eligible persons whose addresses are known of the alleged existence of profits from a crime;

(2) publish, at least once a year for three years from the date it is initially notified by an eligible person under this section, a legal notice in newspapers of general circulation in the county where the crime was committed and in contiguous counties advising any eligible persons of the alleged existence of profits from a crime. The office may provide additional notice in its discretion; and

(3) avoid the wasting of the assets identified in the complaint as the newly discovered profits from a crime in any manner consistent with subsection (B).

SECTION 17-25-550. Failure of offender or agent to notify Office of contract or monies; civil penalty; action to recover; disposition of proceeds.

(A) An offender or his representative or agent who wilfully fails to submit to the office a copy of the contract described in Section 17-25-520 or who fails to pay to the office the monies or other consideration, as required by this article, is subject to a civil penalty of not less than ten thousand dollars but not more than an amount equal to three times the contract amount for each offense.

(B) If two or more individuals are subject to the penalties provided in this section, the individuals are jointly and severally liable for the payment of the penalty imposed.

(C) The office may bring an action to recover a civil penalty assessed under this section in a court of competent jurisdiction within six years after the cause of action accrues.

(D) Civil penalties imposed pursuant to this section must be paid to the office and used for the compensation of victims of crime.

SECTION 17-25-560. Obligation to report knowledge of profit from crime.

All state agencies, solicitors, and law enforcement agencies with knowledge of profit from a crime which an offender has obtained or generated shall report this information to the office promptly.

SECTION 17-25-570. Action by offender to defeat purpose of article null and void.

Any action taken by an offender, whether by execution of a power of attorney, creation of corporate entities, or otherwise, to defeat the purpose of this article is null and void as against the public policy of this State.