South Carolina Law > Code of Laws > Title 24

SECTION 24-13-10.Segregation of sexes.

In all prisons and local detention facilities in the State, a separation of the sexes must be observed at all times.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-1; 1952 Code Section 55-1; 1942 Code Section 1035; 1932 Code Section 1035; Cr. P. '22 Section 125; Cr. C. '12 Section 104; 1911 (27) 169; 1912 (27) 553; 1914 (28) 515; 1917 (30) 265; 1972 (57) 2629; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 64, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote the section.

SECTION 24-13-20.Escaped convicts; sheriffs' duties to arrest; penalty.

The sheriffs of this State under the penalty provided, in this section must arrest in their respective counties, with or without a warrant, all escaped inmates from the state prisons or from the local detention facilities found in their respective counties. Upon an arrest a sheriff must notify immediately the proper authority from whose care the inmate escaped. Upon the wilful neglect or failure by a sheriff to comply with the provisions of this section, he is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined in a sum of not more than five hundred dollars nor less than one hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than six months or must be fined and imprisoned, at the discretion of the court.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-4; 1952 Code Section 55-4; 1942 Code Section 3545; 1932 Code Sections 1541, 3545; Civ. C. '22 Section 2088; Cr. C. '22 Section 488; Civ. C. '12 Section 1195; Cr. C. '12 Section 561; Civ. C. '02 Section 870; Cr. C. '02 Section 404; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 65, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote the section.

SECTION 24-13-30.Use of force to maintain internal order and discipline and to prevent escape of inmates.

A person officially charged with the safekeeping of inmates, whether the inmates are awaiting trial or have been sentenced and confined in a state correctional facility, local detention facility, or prison camp or work camp, may use necessary force to maintain internal order and discipline and to prevent the escape of an inmate lawfully in his custody without regard to whether the inmate is charged with or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-7.1; 1968 (55) 2270; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 66, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote the section.

SECTION 24-13-35.Treatment of female inmates; visits with minor dependents.

(A) Notwithstanding another provision of law, a person officially charged with safekeeping of inmates, whether the inmates are awaiting trial or have been sentenced and confined in a state correctional facility, local detention facility, or prison camp or work camp shall not restrain by leg, waist, or ankle restraints an inmate with a clinical diagnosis of pregnancy.

(B) Wrist restraints may be used during any internal escort or external transport. The wrist restraints only shall be applied in the front and in a way that the pregnant inmate may be able to protect herself and the fetus in the event of a fall. This provision also applies to inmates not in labor or suspected labor who are escorted out for Ultrasound Addiction Therapy for Pregnant Women or other routine services. The director of the facility must be notified anytime an inmate is transported externally for delivery.

(C) The following inmates must not be placed in any restraints, including wrist restraints, unless there are reasonable grounds to believe the inmate presents an immediate, serious threat of hurting herself, staff, or others, including her fetus or child, or that she presents an immediate, credible risk of escape that cannot be reasonably contained through other methods:

(1) an inmate who is in labor, which is defined as occurring at the onset of contractions;

(2) an inmate who is delivering her baby;

(3) an inmate who is identified by medical staff as in postpartum recuperation;

(4) an inmate who is transported or housed in an outside medical facility for treating labor and delivery;

(5) an inmate for induction once the intravenous line has been placed and the induction medication has been started;

(6) an inmate who is being transported from the holding room to the operating room for C-section; or

(7) an inmate during initial bonding with a newborn child, including nursing and skin-to-skin contact. If restraints are required, they should allow for the mother's safe handling of her infant.

(D) When the use of restraints during labor occurs, officers must immediately notify the director of the facility of the reasons why restraints were applied and an incident report must be completed.

(E) Upon medical discharge, wrist restraints must be applied for transport back to the facility. Leg restraints may be applied when there are reasonable grounds to believe the inmate presents an immediate, serious threat of hurting herself, staff, or others, or that she presents an immediate, credible risk of escape that cannot be reasonably contained through other methods.

(F) Waist restraints shall not be used at any time during pregnancy or postdelivery, to include transport back to the facility.

(G) If a state correctional facility, local detention facility, prison camp or work camp, or the employees of these facilities are unaware that an inmate is either pregnant or has been clinically diagnosed as pregnant, then neither the facility nor its employees are legally liable or responsible for any loss or damage suffered by the inmate under this section.

(H) Correctional facility, local detention facility, and prison or work camp employees, other than certified healthcare professionals, must not conduct invasive body cavity searches of known pregnant inmates unless there is a reasonable belief the inmate is concealing contraband.

(I) Correctional facilities, local detention facilities, and prison or work camps must ensure known pregnant inmates are provided sufficient food and dietary supplements as ordered by a physician, physician staff member, or a facility nutritionist to meet generally accepted prenatal nutritional guidelines.

(J) Correctional facilities, local detention facilities, and prison or work camps must not place a known pregnant inmate, or any female inmate who has given birth within the previous thirty days, in restrictive housing unless there is a reasonable belief the inmate will harm herself, the fetus, or another person, or pose a substantial flight risk. This subsection does not apply if protective custody is requested by a known pregnant inmate or any female inmate who has given birth within the previous thirty days.

(K) Correctional facilities, local detention facilities, and prison or work camps must not assign a known pregnant inmate to any bed that is elevated more than three feet from the facility's floor.

(L) Correctional facilities, local detention facilities, and prison or work camps must ensure that sufficient menstrual hygiene products are available at each facility for all women under their care who have an active menstrual cycle. Indigent inmates must be provided the hygiene products at no cost.

(M) Correctional facilities, local detention facilities, and prison or work camps must limit, when practical, bodily inspections of a female inmate by male officers when the female inmate is naked or only partially clothed.

(N) To the extent practicable, the Department of Corrections must authorize minor dependents to visit inmates with low or minimum-security classifications at least once per week, and authorize contact visits for these inmates with the minor dependents.

HISTORY: 2020 Act No. 136 (H.3967), Section 1, eff May 14, 2020.

SECTION 24-13-40.Computation of time served by prisoners.

The computation of the time served by prisoners under sentences imposed by the courts of this State must be calculated from the date of the imposition of the sentence. However, when (a) a prisoner shall have given notice of intention to appeal, (b) the commencement of the service of the sentence follows the revocation of probation, or (c) the court shall have designated a specific time for the commencement of the service of the sentence, the computation of the time served must be calculated from the date of the commencement of the service of the sentence. In every case in computing the time served by a prisoner, full credit against the sentence must be given for time served prior to trial and sentencing, and may be given for any time spent under monitored house arrest. Provided, however, that credit for time served prior to trial and sentencing shall not be given: (1) when the prisoner at the time he was imprisoned prior to trial was an escapee from another penal institution; (2) when the prisoner is serving a sentence for one offense and is awaiting trial and sentence for a second offense in which case he shall not receive credit for time served prior to trial in a reduction of his sentence for the second offense; (3) when the prisoner commits a subsequent crime while out on bond; or (4) has bond revoked on any charge prior to trial or plea.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-11; 1952 Code Section 55-11; 1948 (45) 1808; 1973 (58) 181; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 67, eff June 11, 2010; 2013 Act No. 34, Section 1, eff June 7, 2013; 2023 Act No. 83 (H.3532), Section 8, eff June 20, 2023.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment substituted "must be calculated from" for "shall be reckoned from" in the first and second sentences, substituted "However, when" for "But when" in the second sentence, and made other nonsubstantive changes.

The 2013 amendment added ", and may be given for any time spent under monitored house arrest" at the end of the third sentence.

2023 Act No. 83, Section 8, in the fourth sentence, inserted "; (3) when the prisoner commits a subsequent crime while out on bond; or (4) has bond revoked on any charge prior to trial or plea".

SECTION 24-13-50.Municipal and county facility manager responsible for custody of convicted persons, monthly reports.

Every municipal and county facility manager responsible for the custody of persons convicted of a criminal offense on or before the fifth day of each month must file with the Department of Corrections a written report stating the name, race, age, criminal offense, and date and length of sentence of all prisoners in their custody during the preceding month.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-13; 1966 (54) 2175; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 68, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment substituted "facility manager" for "official", and made other nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 24-13-60.Screening of offenders for possible placement on work release.

The Department of Corrections shall automatically screen all offenders committed to its agency for non-violent offenses with sentences of five years or less for possible placement on work release or supervised furlough.

HISTORY: 1981 Act No. 100, Section 20.

SECTION 24-13-65.Prisoners provided for litter control projects.

The Department of Corrections shall provide prisoners not otherwise engaged in a useful prison occupation for litter control projects proposed by counties and municipalities.

HISTORY: 1988 Act No. 530, Section 2.

SECTION 24-13-80.Prisoners to pay for certain costs; definitions; criteria for deductions from inmates' accounts; reimbursement and recovery from inmates estates.

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Detention facility" means a municipal or county jail, a local detention facility, or a state correctional facility used for the detention of persons charged with or convicted of a felony, misdemeanor, municipal offense, or violation of a court order.

(2) "Inmate" means a person who is detained in a detention facility by reason of being charged with or convicted of a felony, a misdemeanor, a municipal offense, or violation of a court order.

(3) "Medical treatment" means each visit initiated by the inmate to an institutional physician, physician's extender including a physician's assistant or a nurse practitioner, dentist, optometrist, or psychiatrist for examination or treatment.

(4) "Administrator" means the county administrator, city administrator, or the chief administrative officer of a county or municipality.

(5) "Director" means the agency head of the Department of Corrections.

(B) The administrator or director, whichever is appropriate, may establish, by rules, criteria for a reasonable deduction from money credited to the account of an inmate to:

(1) repay the costs of:

(a) public property wilfully damaged or destroyed by the inmate during his incarceration;

(b) medical treatment for injuries inflicted by the inmate upon himself or others;

(c) searching for and apprehending the inmate when he escapes or attempts to escape. The costs must be limited to those extraordinary costs incurred as a consequence of the escape; or

(d) quelling a riot or other disturbance in which the inmate is unlawfully involved;

(2) defray the costs paid by a municipality or county for medical services for an inmate, which have been requested by the inmate, if the deduction does not exceed five dollars for each occurrence of treatment received by the inmate. If the balance in an inmate's account is less than ten dollars, the fee must not be charged. However, a deficiency balance must be carried forward and, upon a deposit or credit being made to the inmate's account, any outstanding balance may be deducted from the account. This deficiency balance may be carried forward after release of the inmate and may be applied to the inmate's account in the event of subsequent arrests and incarcerations. This item does not apply to medical costs incurred as a result of injuries sustained by an inmate or other medically necessary treatment for which that inmate is determined not to be responsible.

(C) All sums collected for medical treatment must be reimbursed to the inmate, upon the inmate's request, if the inmate is acquitted or otherwise exonerated of all charges for which the inmate was being held.

(D) The detention facility may initiate an action for collection of recovery of medical costs incurred pursuant to this section against an inmate upon his release or his estate if the inmate was executed or died while in the custody of the detention facility.

HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 497, Part II, Section 44A; 1995 Act No. 7, Part II, Section 44; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 69, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment, in subsection (A)(1) inserted ", a local detention facility, or a"; rewrote subsection (B)(2); and inserted ", upon the inmate's request," in subsection (C).

SECTION 24-13-100.Definition of no parole offense; classification.

For purposes of definition under South Carolina law, a "no parole offense" means a class A, B, or C felony or an offense exempt from classification as enumerated in Section 16-1-10(d), which is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment for twenty years or more.

HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 83, Section 1.

SECTION 24-13-125.Eligibility for work release; limitations; forfeiture of credits.

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except in a case in which the death penalty or a term of life imprisonment is imposed, or as provided in this subsection, an inmate convicted of a "no parole offense", as defined in Section 24-13-100, and sentenced to the custody of the Department of Corrections, including an inmate serving time in a local facility pursuant to a designated facility agreement authorized by Section 24-3-20 or Section 24-3-30, is not eligible for work release until the inmate has served not less than eighty percent of the actual term of imprisonment imposed. This percentage must be calculated without the application of earned work credits, education credits, or good conduct credits, and is to be applied to the actual term of imprisonment imposed, not including any portion of the sentence which has been suspended. A person is eligible for work release if the person is sentenced for voluntary manslaughter (Section 16-3-50), kidnapping (Section 16-3-910), carjacking (Section 16-3-1075), burglary in the second degree (Section 16-11-312(B)), armed robbery (Section 16-11-330(A)), or attempted armed robbery (Section 16-11-330(B)), the crime did not involve any criminal sexual conduct or an additional violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60, and the person is within three years of release from imprisonment. Except as provided in this subsection, nothing in this section may be construed to allow an inmate convicted of murder or an inmate prohibited from participating in work release by another provision of law to be eligible for work release.

(B) If an inmate sentenced to the custody of the Department of Corrections and confined in a facility of the department, confined in a local facility pursuant to a designated facility agreement authorized by Section 24-3-20 or Section 24-3-30, or temporarily confined, held, detained, or placed in a facility which is not under the direct control of the department, to include an inmate on a labor crew or any other assigned detail or placement, or an inmate in transport status, commits an offense or violates one of the rules of the institution during his term of imprisonment, all or part of the credit he has earned may be forfeited in the discretion of the Director of the Department of Corrections. If an inmate sentenced to a local detention facility or upon the public works of any county in this State, even when temporarily confined, held, detained, or placed in any facility which is not under the direct control of the local detention facility, to include an inmate on a labor crew or any other assigned detail or placement, or an inmate in transport status, commits an offense or violates one of the rules of the local detention facility during his term of imprisonment, all or part of the credit he has earned may be forfeited in the discretion of the local official having charge of the inmate. The decision to withhold credits is solely the responsibility of officials named in this subsection.

HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 83, Section 2; 2010 Act No. 273, Section 28, eff June 2, 2010; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 70, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The first 2010 amendment rewrote subsection (A).

The second 2010 amendment rewrote the section.

SECTION 24-13-150.Early release, discharge, and community supervision; limitations; forfeiture of credits.

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except in a case in which the death penalty or a term of life imprisonment is imposed, an inmate convicted of a "no parole offense" as defined in Section 24-13-100 and sentenced to the custody of the Department of Corrections, including an inmate serving time in a local facility pursuant to a designated facility agreement authorized by Section 24-3-20 or Section 24-3-30, is not eligible for early release, discharge, or community supervision as provided in Section 24-21-560, until the inmate has served at least eighty-five percent of the actual term of imprisonment imposed. This percentage must be calculated without the application of earned work credits, education credits, or good conduct credits, and is to be applied to the actual term of imprisonment imposed, not including any portion of the sentence which has been suspended. Nothing in this section may be construed to allow an inmate convicted of murder or an inmate prohibited from participating in work release, early release, discharge, or community supervision by another provision of law to be eligible for work release, early release, discharge, or community supervision.

(B) If an inmate sentenced to the custody of the Department of Corrections and confined in a facility of the department, confined in a local facility pursuant to a designated facility agreement authorized by Section 24-3-20 or Section 24-3-30, or temporarily confined, held, detained, or placed in a facility which is not under the direct control of the department, to include an inmate on a labor crew or any other assigned detail or placement, or an inmate in transport status, commits an offense or violates one of the rules of the institution during his term of imprisonment, all or part of the credit he has earned may be forfeited in the discretion of the Director of the Department of Corrections. If an inmate sentenced to a local detention facility or upon the public works of any county in this State, even when temporarily confined, held, detained, or placed in any facility which is not under the direct control of the local detention facility, to include an inmate on a labor crew or any other assigned detail or placement, or an inmate in transport status, commits an offense or violates one of the rules of the institution during his term of imprisonment, all or part of the credit he has earned may be forfeited in the discretion of the local official having charge of the inmate. The decision to withhold credits is solely the responsibility of officials named in this subsection.

HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 83, Section 3; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 71, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote the section.

SECTION 24-13-175.Calculation of sentence imposed and time served.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, sentences imposed and time served must be computed based upon a three hundred and sixty-five day year.

HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 83, Section 4.

SECTION 24-13-180.Paroled inmate rehabilitation facilities; public hearings; exemptions.

(A) Any public, private, or nonprofit entity whose primary purpose is in helping to rehabilitate and reintroduce into the community paroled inmates and which as part of its program provides or furnishes residential housing in the community to these parolees on either an individual or communal basis must comply with the following provisions of this section in addition to all other requirements of law:

(1) The entity, at least sixty days before locating any parolees in any type of residential facility, including manufactured homes, must publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the community giving the date, time, and location of the public hearing, and the address of where the residential facility will be located and post a conspicuous notice at the proposed location. A separate notice is required each time such a facility is to be opened.

(2) A public hearing must be conducted by the entity at least thirty days before the first residential facility opens in the community where all residents of the community must be given an opportunity to comment on the program and on the location of any or all of the proposed facilities which have been determined by the entity as of the date of the public hearing. The hearing is for informational purposes only and does not bind the decision-making authority of the entity. The entity solely is responsible for organizing and conducting the hearing. A separate public hearing is required each time a facility is to be opened if more than ninety days has transpired since the last public hearing.

(B) The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services and its staff members are exempt from the provisions of this section. Family members or other persons providing housing to a parolee, but not operating an on-going program targeting the reintegration of parolees, are exempt from the provisions of this section.

(C) This section only applies to a county, incorporated municipality, or town where there are no zoning requirements.

(D) The provisions of this section must be complied with before a facility may be opened after the effective date of this section.

HISTORY: 2016 Act No. 201 (S.338), Section 1, eff June 3, 2016.



SECTION 24-13-210.Good behavior credits.

(A) An inmate convicted of an offense against this State, except a "no parole offense" as defined in Section 24-13-100, and sentenced to the custody of the Department of Corrections, including an inmate serving time in a local facility pursuant to a designated facility agreement authorized by Section 24-3-20 or Section 24-3-30, whose record of conduct shows that he has faithfully observed all the rules of the institution where he is confined and has not been subjected to punishment for misbehavior, is entitled to a deduction from the term of his sentence beginning with the day on which the service of his sentence commences to run, computed at the rate of twenty days for each month served. When two or more consecutive sentences are to be served, the aggregate of the several sentences is the basis upon which the good conduct credit is computed.

(B) An inmate convicted of a "no parole offense" against this State as defined in Section 24-13-100 and sentenced to the custody of the Department of Corrections, including an inmate serving time in a local facility pursuant to a designated facility agreement authorized by Section 24-3-20 or Section 24-3-30, whose record of conduct shows that he has faithfully observed all the rules of the institution where he is confined and has not been subjected to punishment for misbehavior, is entitled to a deduction from the term of his sentence beginning with the day on which the service of his sentence commences to run, computed at the rate of three days for each month served. However, no inmate serving a sentence for life imprisonment or a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for thirty years pursuant to Section 16-3-20 is entitled to credits under this provision. No inmate convicted of a "no parole offense" is entitled to a reduction below the minimum term of incarceration provided in Section 24-13-125 or 24-13-150. When two or more consecutive sentences are to be served, the aggregate of the several sentences is the basis upon which the good conduct credit is computed.

(C) An inmate convicted of an offense against this State and sentenced to a local detention facility, or upon the public works of any county in this State, whose record of conduct shows that he has faithfully observed all the rules of the institution where he is confined, and has not been subjected to punishment for misbehavior, is entitled to a deduction from the term of his sentence beginning with the day on which the service of his sentence commences to run, computed at the rate of one day for every two days served. When two or more consecutive sentences are to be served, the aggregate of the several sentences is the basis upon which good conduct credits must be computed.

(D) If an inmate sentenced to the custody of the Department of Corrections and confined in a facility of the department, confined in a local facility pursuant to a designated facility agreement authorized by Section 24-3-20 or Section 24-3-30, or temporarily confined, held, detained, or placed in any facility which is not under the direct control of the department, to include an inmate on a labor crew or any other assigned detail or placement, or an inmate in transport status, commits an offense or violates one of the rules of the facility during his term of imprisonment, all or part of the good conduct credit he has earned may be forfeited in the discretion of the Director of the Department of Corrections. If an inmate sentenced to a local detention facility or upon the public works of any county in this State, even when temporarily confined, held, detained, or placed in any facility that is not under the direct control of the local detention facility, to include a prisoner on a labor crew or any other assigned detail or placement, or a prisoner in transport status, commits an offense or violates one of the rules of the institution during his term of imprisonment, all or part of the good conduct credit he has earned may be forfeited in the discretion of the local official having charge of the inmate. The decision to withhold forfeited good conduct time is solely the responsibility of officials named in this subsection.

(E) Any person who has served the term of imprisonment for which he has been sentenced less deductions allowed for good conduct is considered upon release to have served the entire term for which he was sentenced unless the person is required to complete a community supervision program pursuant to Section 24-21-560. If the person is required to complete a community supervision program, he must complete his sentence as provided in Section 24-21-560 prior to discharge from the criminal justice system.

(F) No credits earned pursuant to this section may be applied in a manner which would prevent full participation in the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services' prerelease or community supervision program as provided in Section 24-21-560.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-8; 1952 Code Section 55-8; 1942 Code Section 1578; 1932 Code Section 1578; Cr. C. '22 Section 531; 1914 (28) 617; 1935 (39) 467; 1938 (40) 1833; 1955 (49) 475; 1956 (49) 1776; 1958 (50) 1910; 1959 (51) 123; 1960 (51) 1917; 1973 (58) 428; 1980 Act No. 513, Section 1; 1986 Act No. 462, Section 13; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 437; 1995 Act No. 83, Section 26; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 72, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote the section.

SECTION 24-13-220.Time off for good behavior in cases of commuted or suspended sentences.

The provisions of Section 24-13-210 shall also apply when a portion of a sentence which has been imposed is suspended. Credits earned for good conduct shall be deducted from and computed on the time the person is actually required to serve, and the suspended sentence shall begin on the date of his release from servitude as herein provided.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-9; 1952 Code Section 55-9; 1942 Code Section 1578; 1932 Code Section 1578; Cr. C. '22 Section 531; 1914 (28) 617; 1935 (39) 467; 1938 (40) 1833; 1947 (45) 105; 1995 Act No. 83, Section 27.

SECTION 24-13-230.Reduction of sentence for productive duty assignment or participation in academic, technical, or vocational training program.

(A) The Director of the Department of Corrections may allow an inmate sentenced to the custody of the department, except an inmate convicted of a "no parole offense" as defined in Section 24-13-100, who is assigned to a productive duty assignment, including an inmate who is serving time in a local facility pursuant to a designated facility agreement authorized by Section 24-3-20 or Section 24-3-30 or who is regularly enrolled and actively participating in an academic, technical, or vocational training program, a reduction from the term of his sentence of zero to one day for every two days he is employed or enrolled. A maximum annual credit for both work credit and education credit is limited to one hundred eighty days.

(B) The Director of the Department of Corrections may allow an inmate sentenced to the custody of the department serving a sentence for a "no parole offense" as defined in Section 24-13-100, who is assigned to a productive duty assignment, including an inmate who is serving time in a local facility pursuant to a designated facility agreement authorized by Section 24-3-20 or Section 24-3-30 or who is regularly enrolled and actively participating in an academic, technical, or vocational training program, a reduction from the term of his sentence of six days for every month he is employed or enrolled. However, no prisoner serving a sentence for life imprisonment or a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for thirty years pursuant to Section 16-3-20 is entitled to credits under this provision. No prisoner convicted of a "no parole offense" is entitled to a reduction below the minimum term of incarceration provided in Section 24-13-125 or 24-13-150. A maximum annual credit for both work credit and education credit is limited to seventy-two days.

(C) No credits earned pursuant to this section may be applied in a manner which would prevent full participation in the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services' prerelease or community supervision program as provided in Section 24-21-560.

(D) The amount of credit to be earned for each duty classification or enrollment must be determined by the director and published by him in a conspicuous place available to inmates at each correctional institution. If a prisoner commits an offense or violates one of the rules of the institution during his term of imprisonment, all or part of the work credit or education credit he has earned may be forfeited in the discretion of the Director of the Department of Corrections.

(E) The official in charge of a local detention facility must allow an inmate sentenced to the custody of the facility who is assigned to a mandatory productive duty assignment a reduction from the term of his sentence of zero to one day for every two days so employed. The amount of credit to be earned for each duty classification must be determined by the official in charge of the local detention facility and published by him in a conspicuous place available to inmates.

(F)(1) An individual is eligible for the educational credits provided for in this section only upon successful participation in an academic, technical, or vocational training program.

(2) The educational credit provided for in this section, is not available to any individual convicted of a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60.

(G) The South Carolina Department of Corrections may not pay any tuition for college courses.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-8.1; 1963 (53) 506; 1964 (53) 2165; 1969 (56) 273; 1974 (58) 2366; 1978 Act No. 496 Section 16; 1986 Act No. 462, Section 14; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 438; 1995 Act No. 83, Section 28; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 73, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote the section.

SECTION 24-13-235.Voluntary program.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the governing body of any county may authorize the sheriff or the chief administrative officer, or the equivalent, in charge of a local detention facility to offer a voluntary program under which any person committed to such facility may perform labor on the public works or ways. The confinement of the person must be reduced by one day for every eight hours of labor on the public works or ways performed by the person. As used in this section, "labor on the public works or ways" means manual labor to improve or maintain public facilities, including, but not limited to, streets, parks, and schools.

The governing body of the county may prescribe reasonable regulations under which this labor is to be performed and may provide that these persons wear clothing of a distinctive character while performing this work.

Nothing contained in this section may be construed to require the sheriff or another official to assign labor to a person pursuant to this section if it appears from the record that the person has refused to perform labor as assigned satisfactorily or has not satisfactorily complied with the reasonable regulations governing this assignment. A person is eligible for supervised work under this section only if the sheriff or other responsible official concludes that the person is a fit subject.

If a court sentences a defendant to a period of confinement of fifteen days or more, the court may restrict or deny the defendant's eligibility for the supervised work program.

The governing body of the county may prescribe a program administrative fee, not to exceed the pro rata cost of administration, to be paid by each person in the program, according to the person's ability to pay.

HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 96, Section 3; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 74, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment, in the first sentence, substituted "the chief administrative officer, or the equivalent," for "other official" and "a local detention facility" for "county correctional facilities", and made other nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 24-13-260.Failure of officer having charge of inmate to allow deduction in time of serving sentence; penalty.

An officer having charge of an inmate who refuses to allow a deduction in time of serving sentence is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not less than thirty days or pay a fine of not less than one hundred dollars.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-10; 1952 Code Section 55-10; 1942 Code Section 1578; 1932 Code Section 1578; Cr. C. '22 Section 531; 1914 (28) 617; 1935 (39) 467; 1938 (40) 1833; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 75, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote the section.



SECTION 24-13-410.Unlawful escape or possessing tools or weapons; penalty.

(A) It is unlawful for a person, lawfully confined in a prison or local detention facility or while in the custody of an officer or another employee, to escape, to attempt to escape, or to have in his possession tools, weapons, or other items that may be used to facilitate an escape.

(B) A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not less than one year nor more than fifteen years.

(C) The term of imprisonment is consecutive to the original sentence and to other sentences previously imposed upon the escapee by a court of this State.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-6; 1952 Code Section 55-6; 1947 (45) 193; 1957 (50) 558; 1993 Act No. 184, Section 61; 1996 Act No. 406, Section 2; 1997 Act No. 136, Section 7; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 76, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote subsection (A).

SECTION 24-13-420.Unlawful escape; harboring or employing escaped convicts; penalty.

(A) It is unlawful for a person, lawfully confined in a prison, local detention facility, or under the supervision of an officer or other employee, whether awaiting trial or serving sentence, to escape, to attempt to escape, or to have in his possession tools, weapons, or other items that may be used to facilitate an escape.

(B) A person who knowingly harbors or employs an escaped inmate is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-7; 1952 Code Section 55-7; 1942 Code Section 1982; 1932 Code Section 1980; Cr. C. '22 Section 964; Cr. C. '12 Section 979; Cr. C. '02 Section 691; G. S. 2736; R. S. 572; 1882 (18) 953; 1993 Act No. 184, Section 62; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 77, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote the section.

SECTION 24-13-425.Tampering with the operation of an electronic monitoring device; penalty.

(A) For the purposes of this section, "electronic monitoring device" includes any device ordered by a court or pursuant to any statute that is utilized to track the location of a person.

(B) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly and without authority remove, destroy, or circumvent the operation of an electronic monitoring device which is being used for the purpose of monitoring a person who is:

(1) complying with the Home Detention Act as set forth in Article 15, Title 24;

(2) wearing an electronic monitoring device as a condition of bond or pretrial release;

(3) wearing an electronic monitoring device as a condition of probation, parole, or community supervision; or

(4) wearing an electronic monitoring device as required by any other provision of law.

(C) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly and without authority request or solicit any other person to remove, destroy, or circumvent the operation of an electronic monitoring device which is being used for the purposes described in subsection (B).

(D) This section does not apply to an employee or agent of the electronic monitoring company, bonding company, or law enforcement entity who removes or replaces an active electronic monitoring device in order to perform maintenance and repair on the device, who removes and replaces a non-working device, who removes the device once the person is placed into secure custody or if the underlying charges have been dismissed, or who otherwise is acting under the authority of the court order.

(E) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of the misdemeanor offense of tampering with the operation of an electronic monitoring device and shall be imprisoned for not more than three years, or fined up to three thousand dollars, or both.

HISTORY: 2014 Act No. 186 (S.440), Section 2, eff June 2, 2014; 2023 Act No. 83 (H.3532), Section 9, eff June 20, 2023.

Effect of Amendment

2023 Act No. 83, Section 9, rewrote (A); inserted (D); and redesignated former (D) as (E).

SECTION 24-13-430.Rioting or inciting to riot; penalty.

(A) An inmate of the Department of Corrections or of a local detention facility who conspires with another inmate to incite the inmate to riot or commit any other acts of violence is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be sentenced in the discretion of the court.

(B) An inmate of the Department of Corrections or of a local detention facility who participates in a riot or any other acts of violence is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not less than five years nor more than ten years.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-7.2; 1968 (55) 2585; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 78, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote the section.

SECTION 24-13-440.Carrying or concealing weapon; penalty.

It is unlawful for an inmate of a state correctional facility or of a local detention facility to carry on his person or to have in his possession a dirk, slingshot, metal knuckles, razor, firearm, or an object, homemade or otherwise, that may be used for the infliction of personal injury upon another person, or to wilfully conceal any weapon within any Department of Corrections facility or other place of confinement.

A person violating this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than ten years. A sentence imposed under this section must be served consecutively to any other sentence the inmate is serving.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-7.3; 1968 (55) 2586; 1969 (56) 91; 1997 Act No. 136, Section 8; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 79, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment, in the first sentence, substituted "or of a local detention facility" for ", city or county jail, or public works of a county", "an object" for "any other deadly weapon", and "that may be" for "which usually is".

SECTION 24-13-450.Taking of hostages; penalty.

An inmate of a state correctional facility, a local detention facility, or a private entity that contracts with a state, county, or city to provide care and custody of inmates, including persons in safekeeper status, acting alone or in concert with others, who by threats, coercion, intimidation, or physical force takes, holds, decoys, or carries away any person as a hostage or for any other reason is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for a term of not less than five years nor more than thirty years. This sentence must not be served concurrently with any sentence being served at the time the offense is committed.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-7.4; 1972 (57) 2515; 1997 Act No. 136, Section 1; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 80, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote the section.

SECTION 24-13-460.Furnishing prisoners alcoholic beverages or narcotic drugs; penalty.

It is unlawful for a person in this State to furnish a prisoner in a local detention facility any alcoholic beverages or narcotic drugs, including prescription medications and controlled substances that have not been issued legally to the prisoner. A person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine of five hundred dollars, or imprisonment for six months, or both.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 55-12; 1952 Code Section 55-12; 1950 (46) 2463; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 81, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote the section.

SECTION 24-13-470.Throwing of body fluids on correctional facility employees and others; penalty; blood borne disease testing.

(A) An inmate, a detainee, a person taken into custody, or a person under arrest, who attempts to throw or throws body fluids including, but not limited to, urine, blood, feces, vomit, saliva, or semen on an employee of a state correctional facility or local detention facility, a state or local law enforcement officer, a visitor of a state correctional facility or local detention facility, or any other person authorized to be present in a state correctional facility or local detention facility in an official capacity is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than fifteen years. A sentence under this provision must be served consecutively to any other sentence the inmate is serving. This section shall not prohibit the prosecution of an inmate for a more serious offense if the inmate is determined to be HIV-positive or has another disease that may be transmitted through body fluids.

(B) A person accused of a crime contained in this section may be tested for a blood borne disease within seventy-two hours of the crime if a health care professional believes that exposure to the accused person's body fluid may pose a significant health risk to a victim of the crime.

(C) This section does not apply to a person who is a "patient" as defined in Section 44-23-10(3).

HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 136, Section 6; 2002 Act No. 238, Section 1; 2003 Act No. 18, Section 1; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 82, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote subsection (A) and deleted subsection (D) relating to the definition of "local correctional facility".



SECTION 24-13-640.Statewide uniform for prisoners assigned to work details outside of correctional facilities.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any state or local prisoner who is not in the highest trusty grade and who is assigned to a work detail outside the confines of any state correctional facility or local detention facility must wear a statewide uniform. The uniform must be of such a design and color as to easily be identified as a prisoner's uniform and stripes must be used in the design. The Department of Corrections Division of Prison Industries must manufacture the statewide uniform and make it available for sale to the local detention facilities. The Director of the Department of Corrections may determine, in his discretion, that the provisions of this section do not apply to certain prisoners.

HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 462, Section 38; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 440; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 83, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment, in the first sentence, substituted "state correctional facility or local detention facility must" for "correctional facility shall", and made other nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 24-13-650.Prohibition against release of offender into community in which he committed violent crime; exception.

(A) No offender committed to incarceration for a violent offense as defined in Section 16-1-60 or a "no parole offense" as defined in Section 24-13-100 may be released back into the community in which the offender committed the offense under the work release program, except in those cases wherein, where applicable, the victim of the crime for which the offender is charged or the relatives of the victim who have applied for notification under Article 15, Chapter 3, Title 16 if the victim has died, the law enforcement agency which employed the arresting officer at the time of the arrest, and the circuit solicitor all agree to recommend that the offender be allowed to participate in the work release program in the community where the offense was committed. The victim or the victim's nearest living relative, the law enforcement agency, and the solicitor, as referenced above, must affirm in writing that the offender be allowed to return to the community in which the offense was committed to participate in the work release program.

(B) An offender committed to incarceration for voluntary manslaughter (Section 16-3-50), kidnapping (Section 16-3-910), carjacking (Section 16-3-1075), burglary in the second degree (Section 16-11-312(B)), armed robbery (Section 16-11-330(A)), or attempted armed robbery (Section 16-11-330(B)), may be released under the work release program back into the community in which the offender committed the offense, if the crime did not involve any criminal sexual conduct or an additional violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60, the person is within three years of release from imprisonment, and the provisions of subsection (A) are fulfilled.

HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 462, Section 39; 1992 Act No. 471, Section 1; 1995 Act No. 83, Section 30; 2010 Act No. 273, Section 29, eff June 2, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment added the subsection identifiers and added subsection (B) relating to work release where the crime did not involve any criminal sexual conduct or an additional violent crime.

SECTION 24-13-660.Public service work performed by inmates.

(A) A criminal offender committed to incarceration anywhere in this State may be required by prison or jail officials to perform public service work or related activities while under the supervision of appropriate employees of a federal, state, county, or municipal agency, or of a regional governmental entity or special purpose district. Prison or jail officials shall make available each inmate who is assigned to the program for transportation to his place of work on all days when work is scheduled and shall receive each inmate back into confinement at the respective facility after work is concluded. This public service work is considered to be a contribution by the inmate toward the cost of his incarceration and does not entitle him to additional compensation.

(B) No offender may be allowed to participate in these public service work activities unless he first is properly classified and approved to be outside the prison or jail without armed escort.

(C) The public service work requirement in subsection (A) operates only when adequate supervision and accountability can be provided by the agency, entity, district, or organization which is responsible for the work or related activity. The types of public service work permitted to be performed include, but are not limited to, litter control, road and infrastructure repair, and emergency relief activities.

(D) The South Carolina Department of Corrections may enter into a contractual agreement with any federal, state, county, or municipal agency, or with any regional governmental entity or public service district, to provide public service work or related activities through the use of inmate labor under authorized circumstances and conditions. A county municipal, or multijurisdictional jail, detention facility, or prison camp also may provide public service work or related activities through the use of inmate labor in accordance with the Minimum Standards for Local Detention Facilities in South Carolina and with applicable statutes and ordinances.

(E) It is the policy of this State and its subdivisions to utilize criminal offenders for public service work or related activities whenever it is practical and is consistent with public safety. All eligible agencies, entities, districts, and organizations are encouraged to participate by using a labor force that can be adequately supervised and for which public service work or related activities are available.

(F) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit or otherwise to limit the use of inmate labor by the South Carolina Department of Corrections within its own facilities or on its own property, or by any local governing body within its own facilities or on its own property. Further, nothing in this section prevents the South Carolina Department of Corrections or a local detention facility from escorting and supervising any inmate for a public purpose when the department or the local detention facility provides its own security.

HISTORY: 1993 Act No. 88, Section 1; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 84, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment in subsection (D), inserted "county municipal, or multi-jurisdictional", "detention facility", and "prison" in the second sentence; and in the first sentence of subsection (F), substituted "local governing body" for "jail or camp", and inserted "or a local detention facility" and "or the local detention facility" in the second sentence.



SECTION 24-13-710.Supervised furlough program; search and seizure; fee; guidelines; eligibility criteria.

The Department of Corrections and the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services shall jointly develop the policies, procedures, guidelines, and cooperative agreement for the implementation of a supervised furlough program which permits carefully screened and selected inmates who have served the mandatory minimum sentence as required by law or have not committed a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60, a "no parole offense" as defined in Section 24-13-100, the crime of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree as defined in Section 16-3-654, or the crime of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the third degree as defined in Section 16-3-655(C) to be released on furlough prior to parole eligibility and under the supervision of state probation and parole agents with the privilege of residing in an approved residence and continuing treatment, training, or employment in the community until parole eligibility or expiration of sentence, whichever is earlier.

Before an inmate may be released on supervised furlough, the inmate must agree in writing to be subject to search or seizure, without a search warrant, with or without cause, of the inmate's person, any vehicle the inmate owns or is driving, and any of the inmate's possessions by:

(1) any probation agent employed by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services; or

(2) any other law enforcement officer.

An inmate must not be granted supervised furlough if he fails to comply with this provision. However, an inmate who was convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a Class C misdemeanor or an unclassified misdemeanor that carries a term of imprisonment of not more than one year may not be required to agree to be subject to search or seizure, without a warrant, with or without cause, of the inmate's person, any vehicle the inmate owns or is driving, or any of the inmate's possessions.

The department and the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services shall assess a fee sufficient to cover the cost of the participant's supervision and any other financial obligations incurred because of his participation in the supervised furlough program as provided by this article. The two departments shall jointly develop and approve written guidelines for the program to include, but not be limited to, the selection criteria and process, requirements for supervision, conditions for participation, and removal.

The conditions for participation must include the requirement that the offender must permit the search or seizure, without a search warrant, with or without cause, of the offender's person, any vehicle the offender owns or is driving, and any of the offender's possessions by:

(1) any probation agent employed by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services; or

(2) any other law enforcement officer.

However, the conditions for participation for an offender who was convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a Class C misdemeanor or an unclassified misdemeanor that carries a term of imprisonment of not more than one year may not include the requirement that the offender agree to be subject to search or seizure, without a search warrant, with or without cause, of the offender's person, any vehicle the offender owns or is driving, or any of the offender's possessions.

By enacting this provision, the General Assembly intends to provide law enforcement with a means of reducing recidivism and does not authorize law enforcement officers to conduct searches for the sole purpose of harassment. Immediately before each search or seizure conducted pursuant to this section, the law enforcement officer seeking to conduct the search or seizure must verify with the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services or by any other means available to the officer that the individual upon whom the search or seizure will be conducted is currently on supervised furlough. A law enforcement officer conducting a search or seizure without a warrant pursuant to this section shall report to the law enforcement agency that employs him all of these searches or seizures, which shall include the name, address, age, gender, and race or ethnicity of the person that is the subject of the search or seizure. The law enforcement agency shall submit this information at the end of each month to the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services for review of abuse. A finding of abuse of the use of searches or seizures without a search warrant must be reported by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services to the State Law Enforcement Division for investigation. If the law enforcement officer fails to report each search or seizure pursuant to this section, he is subject to discipline pursuant to the employing agency's policies and procedures.

The cooperative agreement between the two departments shall specify the responsibilities and authority for implementing and operating the program. Inmates approved and placed on the program must be under the supervision of agents of the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services who are responsible for ensuring the inmate's compliance with the rules, regulations, and conditions of the program as well as monitoring the inmate's employment and participation in any of the prescribed and authorized community-based correctional programs such as vocational rehabilitation, technical education, and alcohol/drug treatment. Eligibility criteria for the program include, but are not limited to, all of the following requirements:

(1) maintain a clear disciplinary record for at least six months prior to consideration for placement on the program;

(2) demonstrate to Department of Corrections' officials a general desire to become a law-abiding member of society;

(3) satisfy any other reasonable requirements imposed upon him by the Department of Corrections;

(4) have an identifiable need for and willingness to participate in authorized community-based programs and rehabilitative services;

(5) have been committed to the State Department of Corrections with a total sentence of five years or less as the first or second adult commitment for a criminal offense for which the inmate received a sentence of one year or more. The Department of Corrections shall notify victims pursuant to Article 15, Chapter 3, Title 16 as well as the sheriff's office of the place to be released before releasing inmates through any supervised furlough program. These requirements do not apply to the crimes referred to in this section.

HISTORY: 1981 Act No. 100 Section 16; 1981 Act No. 178 Part II, Section 37; 1983 Act No. 96 Section 1; 1986 Act No. 462, Section 36; 1987 Act No. 40 Section 1; 1988 Act No. 480, Section 17; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 441, eff July 1, 1993; 1995 Act No. 83, Section 31; 2010 Act No. 151, Section 6, eff April 28, 2010; 2012 Act No. 255, Section 9, eff June 18, 2012.

Editor's Note

2010 Act No. 151, Sections 2 and 16, provide:

"SECTION 2. It is the intent of the General Assembly of South Carolina to provide law enforcement officers with the statutory authority to reduce recidivism rates of probationers and parolees, apprehend criminals, and protect potential victims from criminal enterprises."

"SECTION 16. In any instance in which a law enforcement officer has failed to make the reports necessary to the State Law Enforcement Division for warrantless searches, then in the absence of a written policy by the employing agency enforcing the reporting requirements, the otherwise applicable state-imposed, one-day suspension without pay applies."

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote the section.

The 2012 amendment substituted "criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the third degree as defined in Section 16-3-655(C)" for "committing or attempting a lewd act upon a child under the age of fourteen as defined in Section 16-15-140".

SECTION 24-13-720.Inmates who may be placed with program; search and seizure.

Unless sentenced to life imprisonment, an inmate under the jurisdiction or control of the Department of Corrections who has not been convicted of a violent crime under the provisions of Section 16-1-60 or a "no parole offense" as defined in Section 24-13-100 may, within six months of the expiration of his sentence, be placed with the program provided for in Section 24-13-710 and is subject to every rule, regulation, and condition of the program. Before an inmate may be released on supervised furlough, the inmate must agree in writing to be subject to search or seizure, without a search warrant, with or without cause, of the inmate's person, any vehicle the inmate owns or is driving, and any of the inmate's possessions by:

(1) any probation agent employed by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services; or

(2) any other law enforcement officer.

An inmate may not be released on supervised furlough by the department if he fails to comply with this provision. However, an inmate who was convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a Class C misdemeanor or an unclassified misdemeanor that carries a term of imprisonment of not more than one year may not be required to agree to be subject to search or seizure, without a search warrant, with or without cause, of the inmate's person, any vehicle the inmate owns or is driving, or any of the inmate's possessions.

The conditions for participation must include the requirement that the inmate must permit the search or seizure, without a search warrant, with or without cause, of the inmate's person, any vehicle the inmate owns or is driving, and any of the inmate's possessions by:

(1) any probation agent employed by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services; or

(2) any other law enforcement officer.

However, the conditions for participation for an inmate who was convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a Class C misdemeanor or an unclassified misdemeanor that carries a term of imprisonment of not more than one year may not include the requirement that the inmate agree to be subject to search or seizure, without a search warrant, with or without cause, of the inmate's person, any vehicle the inmate owns or is driving, or any of the inmate's possessions.

By enacting this provision, the General Assembly intends to provide law enforcement with a means of reducing recidivism and does not authorize law enforcement officers to conduct searches for the sole purpose of harassment. Immediately before each search or seizure conducted pursuant to this section, the law enforcement officer seeking to conduct the search or seizure must verify with the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services or by any other means available to the officer that the individual upon whom the search or seizure will be conducted is currently on supervised furlough. A law enforcement officer conducting a search or seizure without a warrant pursuant to this section shall report to the law enforcement agency that employs him all of these searches or seizures, which shall include the name, address, age, gender, and race or ethnicity of the person that is the subject of the search or seizure. The law enforcement agency shall submit this information at the end of each month to the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services for review of abuse. A finding of abuse of the use of searches or seizures without a search warrant must be reported by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services to the State Law Enforcement Division for investigation. If the law enforcement officer fails to report each search or seizure pursuant to this section, he is subject to discipline pursuant to the employing agency's policies and procedures.

No inmate otherwise eligible under the provisions of this section for placement with the program may be so placed unless he has qualified under the selection criteria and process authorized by the provisions of Section 24-13-710. He also must have maintained a clear disciplinary record for at least six months prior to eligibility for placement with the program.

HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 96, Section 2; 1993 Act No. 154, Section 1; 1995 Act No. 83, Section 32; 2010 Act No. 151, Section 7, eff April 28, 2010.

Editor's Note

2010 Act No. 151, Sections 2 and 16, provide:

"SECTION 2. It is the intent of the General Assembly of South Carolina to provide law enforcement officers with the statutory authority to reduce recidivism rates of probationers and parolees, apprehend criminals, and protect potential victims from criminal enterprises."

"SECTION 16. In any instance in which a law enforcement officer has failed to make the reports necessary to the State Law Enforcement Division for warrantless searches, then in the absence of a written policy by the employing agency enforcing the reporting requirements, the otherwise applicable state-imposed, one-day suspension without pay applies."

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment inserted the text after the first sentence and before the last undesignated paragraph.

SECTION 24-13-730.Implementation of new programs and program changes subject to appropriations by General Assembly.

Any new program established under Sections 14-1-210, 14-1-220, 14-1-230, 16-1-60, 16-1-70, 16-3-20, 16-3-26, 16-3-28, 16-23-490, 17-25-45, 17-25-70, 17-25-90, 17-25-140, 17-25-145, 17-25-150, 17-25-160, 63-3-620, 24-3-40, 24-3-1120, 24-3-1130, 24-3-1140, 24-3-1160, 14-3-1170, 24-3-1190, 24-3-2020, 24-3-2030, 24-3-2060, 24-13-210, 24-13-230, 24-13-610, 24-13-640, 24-13-650, 24-13-710, 24-13-910, 24-13-915, 24-13-920, 24-13-930, 24-13-940, 24-13-950, 24-21-13, 24-21-430, 24-21-475, 24-21-480, 24-21-485, 24-21-610, 24-21-640, 24-21-645, 24-21-650, 24-23-115, and 42-1-505 or any change in any existing program may only be implemented to the extent that appropriations for such programs have been authorized by the General Assembly.

HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 462, Section 41.



SECTION 24-13-910.Administration of work programs; eligible offenders.

Beginning January 1, 1988, local governing bodies may establish regulations consistent with regulations of the Department of Corrections, and administer a program under which a person convicted of an offense against this State or other local jurisdiction and confined in a local detention facility, or punished for contempt of court in violation of Section 63-3-620 and confined in a local detention facility may, upon sentencing, and while continuing to be confined in the facility at all times other than when the prisoner is either seeking employment, working, attending his education, or traveling to or from the work or education location, be allowed to seek work and to work at paid employment in the community, be assigned to public works employment, or continue his education. Each governing body shall designate the sheriff, the chief administrative officer, or the equivalent, as the official in charge. A person sentenced under these provisions is eligible for programs under this article except that a person punished for a violation of Section 63-3-620 is eligible for these programs only upon a finding by the sentencing judge that he is eligible.

HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 462, Section 7; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 85, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment substituted "a local detention facility," for "local correctional facilities" and "detention facility" for "correctional facility" in the first sentence, and in the second sentence, substituted "the chief administrative officer, or the equivalent," for ", or another official".

SECTION 24-13-915.Meaning of "local detention facility".

Wherever in the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as amended, a reference is made to a local detention facility, it means a county, municipal, or multijurisdictional detention facility.

HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 462, Section 7; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 86, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment rewrote the section.

SECTION 24-13-920.Removal of inmate from program for violation of program regulations.

If the inmate participating in the work/punishment program violates the regulations of the program relating to conduct or employment, as established by the local governing body, pursuant to Section 24-13-950, the inmate may be removed from the program on the direction of the official designated in charge by the local governing body.

HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 462, Section 7.

SECTION 24-13-930.Surrender of inmates' earnings; amounts deductible.

The earnings of each inmate participating in the work/punishment program, less payroll deductions required by law, must be collected by or surrendered to the official administering the program or his authorized representative. From these earnings, the official may deduct in the following order:

(a) any amount the inmate may be legally obligated to pay, or that the inmate desires to pay, for the support of the inmate's dependents;

(b) any amount the inmate may be legally obligated to pay in restitution to the victim of his offense;

(c) not less than five dollars nor more than ten dollars per workday to offset the cost to the local facility providing food, lodging, supervision, clothing, and care to the inmate. Any remaining amount of the inmate's earnings must be credited to the inmate's earnings account to be disbursed to the inmate upon release or to be disposed of according to applicable regulations of the local correctional facility.

HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 462, Section 7.

SECTION 24-13-940.Contracts for service of sentences in custody of department or of other local detention facilities.

The official administering the work/punishment program may contract with the South Carolina Department of Corrections or with other governmental bodies to allow inmates committed to serve sentences in the custody of the department or in other local detention facilities to participate in the program and be confined in the local detention facility of the receiving official.

HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 462, Section 7; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 442; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 87, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment substituted "detention facilities" for "correctional facilities" and "detention facility" for "correctional institution".

SECTION 24-13-950.Standards for operation of local inmate work programs.

The Department of Corrections shall, by January 1, 1987, develop standards for the operation of local inmate work programs. These standards must be included in the minimum standards for local detention facilities in South Carolina, established pursuant to Section 24-9-20, and the Department of Corrections shall monitor and enforce the standards established. The standards must be established to govern three types of local programs:

(1) voluntary work programs established pursuant to Section 24-13-235; and

(2) local work/punishment programs established pursuant to this article. The work/punishment standards shall include, but are not limited to, provisions insuring that rates of pay and general conditions of employment are not less than those provided to workers in the general public performing work of a similar nature in the same community, and provisions establishing reasonable criteria for the selection, humane treatment, and dismissal of inmates in local work/punishment programs; and

(3) local public work programs pursuant to Section 17-25-70.

HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 462, Section 7.



SECTION 24-13-1310.Definitions.

As used in this article:

(1) "Eligible inmate" means a person committed to the South Carolina Department of Corrections:

(a) who has not reached the age of thirty years at the time of admission to the department;

(b) who is eligible for release on parole in two years or less;

(c) who has not been convicted of a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60 or a "no parole offense" as defined in Section 24-13-100;

(d) who has not been incarcerated previously in a state correctional facility or has not served a sentence previously in a shock incarceration program;

(e) who physically is able to participate in the program.

(2) "Shock incarceration program" means a program pursuant to which eligible inmates are ordered by the court to participate in the program and serve ninety days in an incarceration facility, which provides rigorous physical activity, intensive regimentation, and discipline and rehabilitation therapy and programming.

(3) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Corrections.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 608, Section 1; 1992 Act No. 520, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 443; 1995 Act No. 83, Section 33.

SECTION 24-13-1320.Regulations; reports.

(A) The director of the department, guided by consideration for the safety of the community and the welfare of the inmate, shall promulgate regulations, according to procedures set forth in the Administrative Procedures Act, for the shock incarceration program. The regulations must reflect the purpose of the program and include, but are not limited to, selection criteria, inmate discipline, programming and supervision, and program structure and administration.

(B) A program may be established only at an institution classified by the director as a shock incarceration facility.

(C) The department shall undertake studies and prepare reports periodically on the impact of a program and on whether the programmatic objectives are met

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 608, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 444; 1995 Act No. 83, Section 34.

SECTION 24-13-1330.Court ordered participation; department evaluation and notification; inmate's agreement to terms; effect of completion.

(A) A court may order that an "eligible inmate" be sentenced to the "Shock Incarceration Program". If an "eligible inmate" is sentenced to the "Shock Incarceration Program" he must be transferred to the custody of the department for evaluation.

(B) The department must evaluate the inmate to determine whether the inmate is physically, psychologically, and emotionally able to participate in this program.

(C) The director shall notify the court within fifteen working days if the inmate is physically, psychologically, or emotionally unsuitable for participation in the "Shock Incarceration Program". An unsuitable inmate must be returned to court for sentencing to another term as provided by law.

(D) An applicant may not participate in a program unless he agrees to be bound by all of its terms and conditions and indicates this agreement by signing the following:

"I accept the foregoing program and agree to be bound by its terms and conditions. I understand that my participation in the program is a privilege that may be revoked at the sole discretion of the director. I understand that I shall complete the entire program successfully to obtain a certificate of earned eligibility upon the completion of the program, and if I do not complete the program successfully, for any reason, I will be transferred to a nonshock incarceration correctional facility to continue service of my sentence."

Before an inmate may be released on parole, the inmate must agree in writing to be subject to search or seizure, without a search warrant, with or without cause, of the inmate's person, any vehicle the inmate owns or is driving, and any of the inmate's possessions by:

(1) any probation agent employed by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services; or

(2) any other law enforcement officer.

A shock incarceration inmate may not be granted parole release by the department if he fails to comply with this provision. However, a shock incarceration inmate who was convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a Class C misdemeanor or an unclassified misdemeanor that carries a term of imprisonment of not more than one year may not include the requirement that the offender agree to be subject to search or seizure, without a search warrant, with or without cause, of the shock incarceration inmate's person, any vehicle the shock incarceration inmate owns or is driving, or any of the shock incarceration inmate's possessions.

Immediately before each search or seizure pursuant to this section, the law enforcement officer seeking to conduct the search or seizure must verify with the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services or by any other means available to the officer that the individual upon whom the search or seizure will be conducted is currently on parole. A law enforcement officer conducting a search or seizure without a warrant pursuant to this section shall report to the law enforcement agency that employs him all of these searches or seizures, which shall include the name, address, age, gender, and race or ethnicity of the person that is the subject of the search or seizure. The law enforcement agency shall submit this information at the end of each month to the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services for review of abuse. A finding of abuse of the use of searches or seizures without a search warrant must be reported by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services to the State Law Enforcement Division for investigation. If the law enforcement officer fails to report each search or seizure pursuant to this section, he is subject to discipline pursuant to the employing agency's policies and procedures.

(E) An inmate who has completed a shock incarceration program successfully is eligible to receive a certificate of earned eligibility and must be granted parole release if the inmate has executed the agreements described in subsection (D) of this section. The conditions of parole must include the requirement that the parolee must permit the search or seizure, without a search warrant, with or without cause, of the parolee's person, any vehicle the parolee owns or is driving, and any of the parolee's possessions by:

(1) any probation agent employed by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services; or

(2) any other law enforcement officer.

However, the conditions of parole of a parolee who was convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a Class C misdemeanor or an unclassified misdemeanor that carries a term of imprisonment of not more than one year may not include the requirement that the parolee agree to be subject to search or seizure, without a search warrant, with or without cause, of the parolee's person, any vehicle the parolee owns or is driving, or any of the parolee's possessions.

By enacting this provision, the General Assembly intends to provide law enforcement with a means of reducing recidivism and does not authorize law enforcement officers to conduct searches for the sole purpose of harassment. Immediately before each search or seizure pursuant to this section, the law enforcement officer seeking to conduct the search or seizure must verify with the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services or by any other means available to the officer that the individual upon whom the search or seizure will be conducted is currently on parole. A law enforcement officer conducting a search or seizure without a warrant pursuant to this section shall report to the law enforcement agency that employs him all of these searches or seizures, which shall include the name, address, age, gender, and race or ethnicity of the person that is the subject of the search or seizure. The law enforcement agency shall submit this information at the end of each month to the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services for review of abuse. A finding of abuse of the use of searches or seizures without a search warrant must be reported by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services to the State Law Enforcement Division for investigation. If the law enforcement officer fails to report each search or seizure pursuant to this section, he is subject to discipline pursuant to the employing agency's policies and procedures.

(F) Participation in a shock incarceration program is a privilege. Nothing contained in this article confers upon an inmate the right to participate or continue to participate in a program.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 608, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 445; 1995 Act No. 83, Section 35; 2010 Act No. 151, Section 8, eff April 28, 2010.

Editor's Note

2010 Act No. 151, Sections 2 and 16, provide:

"SECTION 2. It is the intent of the General Assembly of South Carolina to provide law enforcement officers with the statutory authority to reduce recidivism rates of probationers and parolees, apprehend criminals, and protect potential victims from criminal enterprises."

"SECTION 16. In any instance in which a law enforcement officer has failed to make the reports necessary to the State Law Enforcement Division for warrantless searches, then in the absence of a written policy by the employing agency enforcing the reporting requirements, the otherwise applicable state-imposed, one-day suspension without pay applies."

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment, in subsection (D), added the text following the quoted terms and conditions, and in subsection (E), added the text following "granted parole release" in the first sentence.



SECTION 24-13-1510.Short title.

This article is known and may be cited as the "Home Detention Act".

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 594, Section 1.

SECTION 24-13-1520.Definitions.

As used in this article:

(1) "Department" means, in the case of a juvenile offender, the Department of Juvenile Justice and, in the case of an adult offender, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the Department of Corrections, and any other law enforcement agency created by law.

(2) "Court" means a circuit, family, magistrate's, or municipal court having criminal or juvenile jurisdiction to sentence an individual to incarceration for a violation of law, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the Board of Juvenile Parole, and the Department of Corrections.

(3) "Approved electronic monitoring device" means a device approved by the department which is primarily intended to record and transmit information as to the defendant's presence or nonpresence in the home.

An approved electronic monitoring device may record or transmit: oral or wire communications or an auditory sound; visual images; or information regarding the offender's activities while inside the offender's home. These devices are subject to the required consent as set forth in Section 24-13-1550.

An approved electronic monitoring device may be used to record a conversation between the participant and the monitoring device, or the participant and the person supervising the participant, solely for the purpose of identification and not for the purpose of eavesdropping or conducting any other illegally intrusive monitoring.

(4) "Home detention" means the confinement of a person convicted or charged with a crime to his place of residence under the terms and conditions established by the department.

(5) "Participant" means an inmate/offender placed into an electronic monitoring program or into some other suitable program which provides supervision and/or monitoring in the community.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 594, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 447; 1994 Act No. 508, Sections 1, 2.

SECTION 24-13-1530.Home detention programs as alternative to incarceration and certain programs; local programs.

(A) Notwithstanding another provision of law which requires mandatory incarceration, electronic and nonelectronic home detention programs may be used as an alternative to incarceration for low risk, nonviolent adult and juvenile offenders as selected by the court if there is a home detention program available in the jurisdiction. Applications by offenders for home detention may be made to the court as an alternative to the following correctional programs:

(1) pretrial or preadjudicatory detention;

(2) probation (intensive supervision);

(3) community corrections (diversion);

(4) parole (early release);

(5) work release;

(6) institutional furlough;

(7) jail diversion; or

(8) shock incarceration.

(B) Local governments also may establish by ordinance the same alternative to incarceration for persons who are awaiting trial and for offenders whose sentences do not place them in the custody of the Department of Corrections. Counties and municipalities may develop home detention programs according to the Minimum Standards for Local Detention Facilities in South Carolina which are established pursuant to Section 24-9-20 and enforced pursuant to Section 24-9-30.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 594, Section 1; 1994 Act No. 508, Section 3; 1995 Act No. 7, Part II, Section 57.

SECTION 24-13-1540.Promulgation of regulations; approved absences from home.

If a department desires to implement a home detention program, it must promulgate regulations that prescribe reasonable guidelines under which a home detention program may operate. These regulations must require that the participant remain within the interior premises or within the property boundaries of his residence at all times during the hours designated by the department. Approved absences from the home for a participant may include:

(1) hours in employment approved by the department or traveling to or from approved employment;

(2) time seeking employment approved for the participant by the department;

(3) medical, psychiatric, mental health treatment, counseling, or other treatment programs approved for the participant by the department;

(4) attendance at an educational institution or a program approved for the participant by the department;

(5) attendance at a regularly scheduled religious service at a place of worship approved by the department; or

(6) participation in a community work punishment or community service program approved by the department.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 594, Section 1; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 88, eff June 11, 2010.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment, in item (5) inserted "approved by the department"; in item (6) substituted "punishment" for "release"; and made other nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 24-13-1550.Verification.

The participant shall admit a person or agent designated by the department into his residence at any time for purposes of verifying the participant's compliance with the conditions of his detention.

The participant shall make the necessary arrangements to allow for a person designated by the department to visit the participant's place of education or employment at any time, upon approval of the educational institution or employer, for the purpose of verifying the participant's compliance with the conditions of his detention.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 594, Section 1.

SECTION 24-13-1560.Use of electronic monitoring device.

The participant shall use an approved electronic monitoring device if instructed by the department at all times to verify his compliance with the conditions of his detention and shall maintain a monitoring device in his home or on his person.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 594, Section 1; 1994 Act No. 508, Section 4; 1995 Act No. 7, Part II, Section 58.

SECTION 24-13-1570.Change in residence or schedule; notice that violation of detention is a crime; revocation; input of victim regarding eligibility for home detention.

(A) The participant shall obtain approval from the department before he changes his residence or the schedule described in Section 24-13-1540.

(B) Notice must be given to the participant by the department that violation of the order for home detention subjects the participant to prosecution for the crime of escape as a misdemeanor, that commission of another crime revokes the order for home detention, and that if there is a violation or commission, the court shall sentence him to imprisonment.

(C) The participant shall abide by other conditions set by the department.

(D) The victim of the participant's crime, or his immediate family, must be provided the opportunity of oral or written input and comment to the department or court, or both, regarding the participant's home detention sentence.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 594, Section 1.

SECTION 24-13-1580.Necessity of written consent to electronic home detention; other residents' knowledge.

Before entering an order for commitment for electronic home detention, the court shall inform the participant and other persons residing in the home of the nature and extent of the approved electronic monitoring devices by:

(1) securing the written consent of the participant in the program to comply with the regulations of the program as stipulated in Section 24-13-1540 and the requirements of this article;

(2) securing, upon request of the department, the written consent of other adult persons residing in the home of the participant at the time an order or commitment for electronic home detention is entered and acknowledgment that they understand the nature and extent of approved electronic monitoring devices; and

(3) insuring that the approved electronic devices are minimally intrusive upon the privacy of the participant and other persons residing in the home while remaining in compliance with Sections 24-13-1550 and 24-13-1560.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 594, Section 1.

SECTION 24-13-1590.Article not applicable to certain controlled substance offenders; probation and parole authority not diminished.

Nothing in this article:

(1) applies to a person, regardless of age, who violates, or is awaiting trial on charges of violating, the illicit narcotic drugs and controlled substances laws of this State which are classified as Class A, B, or C felonies or which are classified as an exempt offense by Section 16-1-10(D) and provide for a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years or more; or

(2) diminishes the lawful authority of the courts of this State, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services to regulate or impose conditions for probation, parole, or community supervision.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 594, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 448; 1994 Act No. 508, Section 5; 1995 Act No. 83, Section 36.



SECTION 24-13-1910.Centers for alcohol and drug rehabilitation established; construction, operation, and responsibility for centers.

There is established one or more centers for alcohol and drug rehabilitation under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections to treat and rehabilitate alcohol and drug offenders. The Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services has primary responsibility for the addictions treatment of the offenders, and the Department of Corrections has primary responsibility for the maintenance and security of the offenders. The Department of Corrections may construct one or more centers upon the necessary appropriation of funds by the General Assembly. The centers established or constructed as authorized by this section shall provide at least seven hundred fifty beds. The centers established under this section must be fully operational by January 1, 1997.

HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 7, Part II, Section 45.

SECTION 24-13-1920.Alcohol and drug abuse intervention, prevention, and treatment services; funding.

The Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services shall establish a program to provide alcohol and drug abuse intervention, prevention, and treatment services for offenders sentenced to a center for alcohol and drug rehabilitation established pursuant to Section 24-13-1910. The Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services shall provide staff and support necessary to administer the program. Funds for this program must be appropriated annually by the General Assembly.

HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 7, Part II, Section 45.

SECTION 24-13-1930.Placement of certain offenders in center; bed space availability report.

A judge may suspend a sentence for a defendant convicted of a drug or alcohol offense for which imprisonment of more than ninety days may be imposed or as a revocation of probation and may place the offender in a center for alcohol and drug rehabilitation. The Department of Corrections, on the first day of each month, shall present to the general sessions court a report detailing the availability of bed space in the center for alcohol and drug rehabilitation.

HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 7, Part II, Section 45.

SECTION 24-13-1940.Operation of centers; rules and regulations; funding and lease of building.

For the Department of Corrections to establish and maintain a center for alcohol and drug rehabilitation, its director shall coordinate with the Department of Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Services to:

(1) develop policies and procedures for the operation of the center for alcohol and drug rehabilitation;

(2) fund other management options advantageous to the State including, but not limited to, contracting with public or nonpublic entities for the management of a center for alcohol and drug rehabilitation;

(3) lease buildings;

(4) develop standards for alcohol and drug abuse counseling for offenders sentenced to a center for alcohol and drug rehabilitation;

(5) develop standards for disciplinary rules to be imposed on residents of a center for alcohol and drug rehabilitation.

HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 7, Part II, Section 45.

SECTION 24-13-1950.Probation after release; revocation of suspended sentence; gender not grounds for ineligibility for program.

Upon release from a center for alcohol and drug rehabilitation, the offender must be placed on probation for a term as ordered by the court. Failure to comply with program requirements may result in a request to the court to revoke the suspended sentence. No person is ineligible for this program by reason of gender.

HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 7, Part II, Section 45.



Editor's Note

2001 Act No. 96, Section 3, provides as follows:

"This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor; however, the implementation of this act is contingent upon the appropriation of necessary funds to carry out the provisions of this act."

SECTION 24-13-2110.Preparation of inmates for employment.

To aid incarcerated individuals with reentry into their home communities of this State, the South Carolina Department of Corrections shall assist inmates in preparing for meaningful employment upon release from confinement. The South Carolina Department of Corrections shall coordinate efforts in this matter with the Department of Employment and Workforce, Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Alston Wilkes Society, and other private sector entities.

HISTORY: 2001 Act No. 96, Section 1.

Editor's Note

See Editor's Note following Article heading.

SECTION 24-13-2120.Coordination of agencies.

The Department of Corrections, Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Department of Employment and Workforce, and the Alston Wilkes Society shall adopt a memorandum of understanding that establishes the respective responsibilities of each agency. Each agency shall adopt policies and procedures as may be necessary to implement the memorandum of understanding.

HISTORY: 2001 Act No. 96, Section 1.

Editor's Note

See Editor's Note following Article heading.

SECTION 24-13-2130.Memorandum of understanding to establish role of each agency.

(A) The memorandum of understanding between the South Carolina Department of Corrections, Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Employment and Workforce, Alston Wilkes Society, and other private sector entities shall establish the role of each agency in:

(1) ascertaining an inmate's opportunities for employment after release from confinement and providing him with vocational and academic education and life skills assessments based on evidence-based practices and criminal risk factors analysis as may be appropriate;

(2) developing skills enhancement programs for inmates, as appropriate;

(3) coordinating job referrals and related services to inmates prior to release from incarceration;

(4) encouraging participation by inmates in the services offered;

(5) developing and maintaining a statewide network of employment referrals for inmates at the time of their release from incarceration and aiding inmates in the securing of employment;

(6) identifying and facilitating other transitional services within both governmental and private sectors;

(7) surveying employment trends within the State and making proposals to the Department of Corrections regarding potential vocational training activities.

(B) Further, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services are directed to work with the Department of Motor Vehicles to develop and implement a plan for providing inmates who are being released from a correctional facility with a valid photo identification card. To the extent that funds are available from an individual inmate's account, the Department of Corrections shall transfer five dollars to the Department of Motor Vehicles to cover the cost of issuing the photo identification card. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall use existing resources and technology to produce the photo identification card.

HISTORY: 2001 Act No. 96, Section 1; 2010 Act No. 273, Section 57, eff January 1, 2011.

Editor's Note

See Editor's Note following Article heading.

Effect of Amendment

The 2010 amendment added the subsection identifiers, in subsection (A)(1) inserted "based on evidence-based practices and criminal risk factors analysis", and added subsection (B) relating to identification cards.

SECTION 24-13-2140.Coordination by Department of Corrections.

The Department of Corrections shall coordinate the efforts of the affected state agencies through the Program Services Administration. The Department of Corrections shall:

(1) develop such policies and standards as may be necessary for the provision of assessment, training, and referral services;

(2) obtain information from appropriate agencies and organizations affiliated with the services to determine actions that should be undertaken to create or modify these services;

(3) disseminate information about the services throughout the State;

(4) provide information and assistance to other agencies, as may be appropriate or necessary, to carry out the provisions of this chapter;

(5) provide inmates of the Department of Corrections information concerning postrelease job training and employment referral services and information concerning services that may be available from the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, the Department of Mental Health, and the Department of Veterans' Affairs;

(6) prepare an annual report that will be submitted to the directors of each agency that is a party to a memorandum of understanding as provided for in Section 24-13-2120;

(7) negotiate with Alston Wilkes Society and private sector entities concerning the delivery of assistance or services to inmates who are transitioning from incarceration to reentering their communities.

HISTORY: 2001 Act No. 96, Section 1.

Editor's Note

See Editor's Note following Article heading.