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H. 4417
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Altman, M.A. Pitts and Leach
Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\5702cm04.doc
Introduced in the House on January 13, 2004
Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary
Summary: Violent crimes, definitions, frequency of Parole Board hearings for certain crimes
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12/3/2003 House Prefiled 12/3/2003 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary 1/13/2004 House Introduced and read first time HJ-66 1/13/2004 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-67
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VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 16-1-60, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CRIMES THAT ARE DEFINED AS VIOLENT CRIMES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BOTH LYNCHING IN THE FIRST AND SECOND DEGREE ARE VIOLENT CRIMES; TO AMEND SECTION 24-21-620, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PAROLE BOARD'S REVIEW OF THE CASES OF CERTAIN PRISONERS WHO HAVE SERVED ONE FOURTH OF THEIR SENTENCES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PRISONER CONVICTED OF A CRIME WHOSE VICTIMS SUFFERED BODILY INJURY AS A RESULT OF THE CRIME SHALL HAVE HIS CASE REVIEWED EVERY FIVE YEARS AFTER A REQUEST FOR PAROLE IS DENIED; AND TO AMEND SECTION 24-21-645, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CONTENTS OF CERTAIN ORDERS ISSUED BY THE PAROLE BOARD THAT AUTHORIZE PAROLE AND DENY PAROLE AND THE REVIEW OF CASES IN WHICH A NEGATIVE DETERMINATION OF PAROLE IS MADE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A NEGATIVE DETERMINATION OF PAROLE FOR A PRISONER CONFINED FOR COMMISSION OF A VIOLENT CRIME MUST BE REVIEWED EVERY FIVE YEARS INSTEAD OF EVERY TWO YEARS, AND TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT ALLOWS A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN DENIED PAROLE IN THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME CONTAINED IN SECTION 16-25-90 TO HAVE HIS CASE REVIEWED EVERY TWELVE MONTHS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 16-1-60 of the 1976 Code last amended by Act 92 of 2003, is further amended to read:
"Section 16-1-60. For purposes of definition under South Carolina law, a violent crime includes the offenses of: murder (Section 16-3-10); criminal sexual conduct in the first and second degree (Sections 16-3-652 and 16-3-653); criminal sexual conduct with minors, first and second degree (Section 16-3-655); assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct, first and second degree (Section 16-3-656); assault and battery with intent to kill (Section 16-3-620); kidnapping (Section 16-3-910); voluntary manslaughter (Section 16-3-50); armed robbery (Section 16-11-330(A)); attempted armed robbery (Section 16-11-330(B)); carjacking (Section 16-3-1075); drug trafficking, as defined in Sections 44-53-370(e) and 44-53-375(C); arson in the first degree (Section 16-11-110(A)); arson in the second degree (Section 16-11-110(B)); burglary in the first degree (Section 16-11-311); burglary in the second degree (Section 16-11-312(B)); engaging a child for a sexual performance (Section 16-3-810); homicide by child abuse (Section 16-3-85(A)(1)); aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse (Section 16-3-85(A)(2)); inflicting great bodily injury upon a child (Section 16-3-95(A)); allowing great bodily injury to be inflicted upon a child (Section 16-3-95(B)); criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature (Section 16-25-65); abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in death (Section 43-35-85(F)); abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in great bodily injury (Section 43-35-85(E)); accessory before the fact to commit any of the above offenses (Section 16-1-40); lynching in the first degree (Section 16-3-210); lynching in the second degree (Section 16-3-220); strong arm robbery; attempt to commit any of the above offenses (Section 16-1-80); and taking of a hostage by an inmate (Section 24-13-450). Only those offenses specifically enumerated in this section are considered violent offenses."
SECTION 2. Section 24-21-620 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 101 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"Section 24-21-620. Within the ninety-day period preceding a prisoner having served one-fourth of his sentence, the board, either acting in a three-member panel or meeting as a full board, shall review the case, regardless of whether or not any application has been made therefor, for the purpose of determining whether or not such prisoner is entitled to any of the benefits provided for in this chapter; provided, that in cases of prisoners in confinement due to convictions for nonviolent crimes, an administrative hearing officer may be appointed by the director to review the case who must submit to the full board written findings of fact and recommendations which shall be the basis for a determination by the board. Upon an affirmative determination, the prisoner must be granted a provisional parole or parole. Upon a negative determination, the prisoner's case shall be reviewed every twelve months thereafter for the purpose of such determination. However, a prisoner convicted of a crime whose victims suffered bodily injury as a result of the crime shall have his case reviewed every five years thereafter for the purpose of such determination."
SECTION 3. Section 24-21-645 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 120 of 1997, is further amended to read:
"Section 24-21-645. The board may issue an order authorizing the parole which must be signed either by a majority of its members or by all three members meeting as a parole panel on the case ninety days prior to the effective date of the parole;. However, at least two-thirds of the members of the board must authorize and sign orders authorizing parole for persons convicted of a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60. A provisional parole order shall include the terms and conditions, if any, to be met by the prisoner during the provisional period and terms and conditions, if any, to be met upon parole. Upon satisfactory completion of the provisional period, the director or one lawfully acting for him must issue an order which, if accepted by the prisoner, shall provide for his release from custody. However, upon a negative determination of parole, prisoners in confinement for a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60 must have their cases reviewed every two five years for the purpose of a determination of parole, except that prisoners who are eligible for parole pursuant to Section 16-25-90, and who are subsequently denied parole must have their cases reviewed every twelve months for the purpose of a determination of parole. This section applies retroactively to a prisoner who has had a parole hearing pursuant to Section 16-25-90 prior to the effective date of this act."
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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