Criminal justice
DJJ’s school district aims to give SC youth offenders more opportunities, officials say
COLUMBIA — Usually when Yolanda Simmons gets a call from her son TJ Simmons’ school, it’s bad news. So, when she got a call from the superintendent of the state Department of Juvenile Justice school district TJ was attending, her first thought was, “Oh my God, what did he do?” she told a crowd of […]
Legislators elect 3rd female SC Supreme Court justice in state history
COLUMBIA — Legislators unanimously elected Court of Appeals Judge Letitia Verdin to the South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday. The addition of Verdin, 53, of Greenville County, means the Palmetto State will no longer be the nation’s only all-male high court. She becomes the third female justice in state history — following former Chief Justice […]
SC law could soon exempt sex trafficking victims from prosecution on minor offenses
COLUMBIA — Victims of sex trafficking could not be charged for the nonviolent crimes they’re forced into doing to survive under legislation nearing final approval in the South Carolina Legislature. The bill with bipartisan sponsors would also mandate the offering of counseling and other state services to trafficked minors rescued from their nightmarish situation. “Basically, […]
Appeals Judge Letitia Verdin on deck to be SC’s next Supreme Court justice
COLUMBIA — Court of Appeals Judge Letitia Verdin is set to be the next justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court after her remaining competition withdrew Thursday. With her expected election next Wednesday, the Palmetto State will no longer have the nation’s only all-male high court. It will join 18 other states with an all-white […]
SC stands to have all white Supreme Court as race narrows to 2 candidates
COLUMBIA — South Carolina is expected to have an all-white Supreme Court after the lone Black finalist withdrew Tuesday, but it’s unlikely to remain all male. Circuit Court Judge Jocelyn Newman, of Columbia, submitted a letter exiting the race just eight days before the state General Assembly is scheduled to hold an election for the […]
Crime victims may get fewer services as federal aid drops. States weigh how to help.
Groups that assist crime victims across the United States are bracing for significant financial pain after the amount available from a major federal victim services fund plunged $700 million this year. Congress recently lowered spending to $1.2 billion from the fund, which provides grants to nonprofit and local programs across the country. This latest round […]
SC DJJ warns of overcrowding as Richland County looks to close juvenile jail
COLUMBIA — State juvenile justice officials are worried about worsening overcrowding in their facilities as Richland County considers closing the juvenile wing of its jail. During a meeting Tuesday, a panel of three Richland County Council members voted unanimously to start sending youth offenders to a state-run detention center instead of the local jail, which […]
McMaster vetoes bill dropping gun charge that’s no longer a crime
COLUMBIA — Gov. Henry McMaster vetoed three bills Tuesday that drop or expunge criminal charges, including a charge that’s no longer a crime. When lawmakers in March made it legal for adults to carry handguns without a permit, they left people who had already been arrested with unlawful carry in limbo. The law did, however, allow […]
Tougher DUI law meant to curb drunk driving in SC takes effect Sunday
COLUMBIA — Emma Longstreet of Lexington was killed nearly 12 1/2 years ago in a car accident involving a drunk driver while riding with her family on the way to Sunday church. She would have been 19-years-old this month. A state law that may have prevented the then 6-year-old’s death is now being expanded. Signed […]
SC Supreme Court suspends legislator’s law license amid malpractice lawsuit
COLUMBIA — The South Carolina Supreme Court temporarily suspended the law license of a state legislator accused of legal malpractice. The state’s high court, which handles all disciplinary proceedings for lawyers practicing in the Palmetto State, issued an interim suspension against Rep. Marvin Pendarvis Friday. The suspension remains in place until further notice. Pendarvis declined […]
Bill pending signature would erase SC gun charge that’s no longer a crime
COLUMBIA — When South Carolina lawmakers made it legal in March to carry handguns without a permit, they left people charged with illegal possession in limbo: Gun owners could still face conviction for a crime that’s no longer a crime. The law, which immediately took effect with Gov. Henry McMaster’s signature March 7, allowed past […]
Survivors of domestic and sexual violence can break their leases early in some states
New Hampshire state Rep. Ellen Read remembers how trapped she felt as an 18-year-old in her native Tennessee, enduring the physical and emotional toll of an abusive relationship. The abuse Read suffered — which included being held captive in an apartment for days and hit by her abuser’s car — lasted years after she left […]