Bill allows S.C. parolee searches without warrants

February 25, 2009 by senatormcconnell

A bill allowing searches without warrants for juveniles and adults on probation or parole gained approval Tuesday with an unanimous vote.

The Senate voted 31-0 to give a second reading to a bill that lets police and probation officers bypass going to a judge for a search warrant. It needs a third Senate reading before heading to the House.

“That’s one of the things that our crime victims groups have been behind, so I’m very pleased,” said Laura Hudson, executive director of the S.C. Crime Victims’ Council.

The bill was amended to make it clear that police need a reasonable suspicion that the person was involved in a crime before searching them or their property. Bill sponsor Sen. Glenn McConnell said they also have to be the owner of the car being searched.

The Charleston Republican said that a juvenile or adult offender would have to tell anyone they’re living with that their homes are subject to search without a warrant. Failing to do that would be a parole violation.

“The compromise is OK,” Hudson said, although she said would have preferred the bill left without those changes. “I think crime victims are exasperated with probation and parolees living in their community. They’re doing all these things and nobody is feeling like they can arrest them. So I think this is going to help them.”

Greenville Online

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