Prison recommended for state's violent offenders, alternative routes for others South Carolina prison beds should be reserved for the most violent offenders, the state's Sentencing Reform Commission recommended Tuesday. Certain nonviolent offenders, such as drug users, should be given alternative sentences, including probation and community service, and geriatric and terminally ill inmates should be released to make room for murderers, drug traffickers and rapists, according to the … [Read more...]

South Carolina legislators have tweaked a bill allowing officers to conduct warrantless searches by requiring them to first verify the person is on probation or parole. The House Judiciary Committee approved the measure on Tuesday that allows officers to bypass going to a judge for a warrant before searching people on probation or parole. They can search the person, the vehicle the person owns or is driving, and any possessions, such as a purse. Democratic Rep. Todd Rutherford of Columbia said … [Read more...]

Twenty-four crimes could become classified as violent if a legislative commission gets its way. In exchange, punishments for a number of drug-related crimes would be reduced. "Unless it rises to levels of distribution, we're giving people some breaks as far as long-term sentences," said Laura Hudson, executive director of the S.C. Crime Victims Council who testified during the commission's hearings. … [Read more...]