Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:195 Ratification Number:514 Act Number:519 Primary Sponsor:Hayes Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Criminal domestic violence Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19940601 Computer Document Number:BBM/9028DW.93 Governor's Action:S Date of Governor's Action:19940923 Introduced Date:19930113 Date of Last Amendment:19940601 Last History Body:------ Last History Date:19940923 Last History Type:Act No. 519 Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Hayes Stilwell Peeler Wilson Martin Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved
---- ------ ------------ ------------------------------ --- ------------
195 ------ 19940923 Act No. 519
195 ------ 19940923 Signed by Governor
195 ------ 19940602 Ratified R 514
195 Senate 19940601 Ordered enrolled for
ratification
195 House 19940601 Free Conference Committee 99
Report received, adopted
195 House 19940601 Free Conference Powers 99 Hodges
granted, appointed Reps. to Thomas
Committee of Free Conference Harrell
195 Senate 19940601 Free Conference Committee 99
Report received, adopted
195 Senate 19940601 Free Conference Powers 99 Hayes
granted, appointed Senators Cork
to Committee of Free Greg Smith
Conference
195 Senate 19940330 Conference powers granted, 98 Hayes
appointed Senators to Cork
Committee of Conference Greg Smith
195 House 19940330 Conference powers granted, 98 Hodges
appointed Reps. to Committee Thomas
of Conference Harrell
195 House 19940330 Insists upon amendment
195 Senate 19940329 Non-concurrence in House
amendment
195 House 19940324 Read third time, returned to
Senate with amendment
195 House 19940323 Read second time
195 House 19940323 Reconsidered vote whereby the
Bill was given a second
reading
195 House 19940322 Amended, read second time
195 House 19940307 Debate adjourned until
Tuesday, March 15, 1994
195 House 19940301 Amended, debate adjourned
until Thursday, March 3, 1994
195 House 19940224 Debate adjourned until
Tuesday, March 1, 1994
195 House 19940209 Committee Report: Favorable 25
with amendment
195 House 19930415 Introduced, read first time, 25
referred to Committee
195 Senate 19930414 Read third time, sent to House
195 Senate 19930413 Amended, read second time,
ordered to third reading with
notice of general amendments
195 Senate 19930407 Committee Report: Favorable 11
with amendment
195 Senate 19930113 Introduced, read first time, 11
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
(A519, R514, S195)
AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 25, TITLE 16, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO CREATE THE CRIME OF CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OF A HIGH AND AGGRAVATED NATURE AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR VIOLATION; TO INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR THE CRIME OF CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TO INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AN ORDER OF PROTECTION, TO DELETE REFERENCES TO FAMILY TO CONFORM TO OTHER PROVISIONS IN THIS ACT, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE COURT TO SUSPEND THE IMPOSITION OR EXECUTION OF A VIOLATION OF SECTION 16-25-20 OR 16-25-50; TO AMEND SECTION 20-4-20, RELATING TO THE DEFINITIONS USED IN THE "PROTECTION FROM DOMESTIC ABUSE ACT" SO AS TO CHANGE THE "FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBER" TO "HOUSEHOLD MEMBER" AND INCLUDE IN THESE DEFINITIONS "PERSONS WHO HAVE A CHILD IN COMMON, AND A MALE AND FEMALE WHO ARE COHABITATING OR FORMERLY HAVE COHABITATED", TO DELETE FROM THE DEFINITION OF "ORDER OF PROTECTION" A REFERENCE TO FAMILY; AND TO AMEND SECTION 20-4-40, RELATING TO A PETITION FOR AN ORDER OF PROTECTION, SO AS TO DELETE REFERENCES TO FAMILY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature
SECTION 1. Chapter 25, Title 16 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
Section 16-25-10. As used in this article, `household member' means spouses, former spouses, parents and children, persons related by consanguinity or affinity within the second degree, persons who have a child in common, and a male and female who are cohabiting or formerly have cohabited.
Section 16-25-20. It is unlawful to: (1) cause physical harm or injury to a person's own household member, (2) offer or attempt to cause physical harm or injury to a person's own household member with apparent present ability under circumstances reasonably creating fear of imminent peril.
Section 16-25-30. Any person who violates Section 16-25-20 is guilty of the misdemeanor of criminal domestic violence and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days.
Section 16-25-40. Any person who violates Section 16-25-20 after having previously been convicted of two violations of Section 16-25-20 or two violations of Section 16-25-65 or a violation of Section 16-25-20 and a violation of Section 16-25-65 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than three thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
Section 16-25-50. A person violating the terms and conditions of an order of protection issued under the `Protection from Domestic Abuse Act' is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than thirty days or fined not more than five hundred dollars. A person found guilty of a violation of Section 16-25-20 and this section may not be sentenced under both sections for the same offense.
Section 16-25-60. (A) Unless the complaint is voluntarily dismissed or the charge is dropped prior to the scheduled trial date, a person charged with a violation provided in this chapter shall appear before a judge for disposition of the case.
(B) When a person is convicted of a violation of Section 16-25-20 or 16-25-50, the court may suspend the imposition or execution of all or part of the sentence conditioned upon the participation of the offender, to the satisfaction of the court, in a program designed to treat battering spouses where available or in other appropriate psychiatric or therapeutic treatment or counseling.
(C) When a person is convicted of a violation of Section 16-25-40 or 16-25-65, the court may suspend execution of all or part of the sentence and place the offender on probation, conditioned upon:
(1) the participation of the offender, to the satisfaction of the court, in a program designed to treat battering spouses where available or in other appropriate psychiatric or therapeutic treatment or counseling;
(2) fulfillment of all the obligations arising under court order pursuant to Section 20-4-60 and this section;
(3) other reasonable terms and conditions of probation as the court may determine necessary to ensure the protection of the victim.
(D) In determining whether or not to suspend the imposition or execution of all or part of a sentence as provided in this section, the court must consider the nature and severity of the offense, the number of times the offender has repeated the offense, and the best interests and safety of the victim. A court may require an offender to pay for participation in a program or treatment or counseling as an appropriate term or condition for suspending the imposition or execution of all or part of a sentence.
Section 16-25-65. (A) The elements of the common law crime of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature are incorporated in and made a part of the offense of criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature when a person violates the provisions of Section 16-25-20 and the elements of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature are present.
(B) A person who commits the crime of criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than three thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
(C) The provisions of this section create a statutory offense of criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature and must not be construed to codify the common law crime of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
Section 16-25-70. A law enforcement officer may arrest, with or without a warrant, a person at his place of residence or elsewhere if the officer has probable cause to believe that the person is committing or has freshly committed any misdemeanor or felony under the provisions of Section 16-25-20, 16-25-50, or 16-25-65 even if the act did not take place in the presence of the officer. The officer may, if necessary, verify the existence of an order of protection by telephone or radio communication with the appropriate police department.
In effecting a warrantless arrest under this section, a law enforcement officer may enter the residence of the person to be arrested in order to effect the arrest where the officer has probable cause to believe that the action is reasonably necessary to prevent physical harm or danger to any family or household member.
No evidence other than evidence of violations of this article found as a result of a warrantless search shall be admissible in any court of law.
Section 16-25-80. Nothing in this article affects or limits the powers of any court to enforce its own orders by civil or criminal contempt or the powers of the police to make other lawful arrests.
Nothing in this article may be construed to repeal, replace, or preclude application of any other provisions of law pertaining to assault, assault and battery, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, or other criminal offenses."
Definition
SECTION 2. Section 20-4-20(b) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(b) `Household member' means spouses, former spouses, parents and children, persons related by consanguinity or affinity within the second degree, persons who have a child in common, and a male and female who are cohabiting or formerly have cohabited."
Definition
SECTION 3. Section 20-4-20(f) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(f) `Order of protection' means an order of protection issued to protect the petitioner or minor household members from the abuse of another household member where the respondent has received notice of the proceedings and has had an opportunity to be heard."
Petition for an order of protection
SECTION 4. Section 20-4-40 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 20-4-40. There is created an action known as a `Petition for an Order of Protection' in cases of abuse to a household member.
(a) A petition for relief under this section may be made by any household members in need of protection or by any household members on behalf of minor household members.
(b) A petition for relief must allege the existence of abuse to a household member. It must state the specific time, place, details of the abuse, and other facts and circumstances upon which relief is sought and must be verified.
(c) The petition must inform the respondent of the right to retain counsel.
(d) In a pending action for divorce or separate support and maintenance, the petition for relief shall be brought in the form of a motion for further relief and shall be served on counsel of record, if any. Where no action is pending, the petition shall be filed and served as an independent action.
(e) The clerk of court must provide simplified forms which will facilitate the preparation and filing of a petition under this section by any person not represented by counsel, including motions and affidavits to proceed in forma pauperis."
Time effective
SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Approved the 23rd day of September, 1994.