Bill > H3146

This bill proposes to add a new section to South Carolina law that allows defendants convicted of violent crimes to seek to limit public access to certain personal information during their sentencing hearing. Specifically, defendants may request that the court seal public records related to their arrest, filed charges, case file, and criminal history, including fingerprints and photographs. The court must carefully consider both the public's interest in accessing criminal records and the potential harm to the defendant's privacy, and must issue written findings explaining its decision. If the motion is granted, the court will order the defendant's public records sealed and made unavailable to the public. The law applies to sentencing hearings for violent crimes as defined in Section 16-1-60, with some specific exceptions. The court will have discretion in deciding whether to grant the request and must specify the effective date of its order. The bill will take effect upon the Governor's approval.