summary
Introduced
01/14/2025
01/14/2025
In Committee
01/14/2025
01/14/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
126th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Section 63-19-820, Relating To Out-of-home Placement, So As To Eliminate The Exception For Children To Be Tried As An Adult And To Decrease The Length Of Time That A Child May Be Held In A Juvenile Detention Facility For Committing A Status Offense Or For Violating A Related Court Order; By Amending Section 63-19-1020, Relating To Instituting Proceedings, So As To Require That The Child And His Family Seek Counseling When The Status Offense Is Of Incorrigibility; By Amending Section 63-19-1440, Relating To Commitment, So As To Distinguish Between Status And Criminal Offenses And Change The Requirements For Court Orders; By Amending Section 63-19-1810, Relating To Determination Of Release, So As To Make Conforming Changes; And By Amending Section 63-19-2050, Relating To Petition For Expungement Of Official Records, So As To Provide For The Automatic Expungement Of Official Records For Status Offenses With Exceptions And Make Conforming Changes.
AI Summary
This bill amends several sections of South Carolina's juvenile justice law to improve how status offenses (behaviors that are only considered violations when committed by minors, such as running away or being incorrigible) are handled. The bill reduces the time a child can be held in detention for status offenses, eliminating the option to try children as adults for such offenses. It now requires families to seek counseling or other support services before filing a petition for incorrigibility and restricts the ability to commit a child to juvenile detention for status offenses. The bill also introduces automatic expungement of records for status offenses once the individual turns 18 and successfully completes any required sentences, provided they haven't been subsequently convicted of a criminal offense. Additionally, the legislation changes evaluation and commitment procedures, ensuring that children are not unnecessarily placed in restrictive environments for minor infractions. The goal appears to be providing more supportive and rehabilitative approaches to dealing with young people who commit status offenses, rather than using punitive measures that could potentially harm their long-term prospects.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Referred to Committee on Judiciary (on 01/14/2025)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
Document Type | Source Location |
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State Bill Page | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=16&session=126&summary=B |
BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/16_20241211.htm |
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