S*1050(Rat #0451, Act #0469 of 1996)  Joint Resolution, By McConnell, Giese, 
Lander and M.T. Rose
 A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to Article I of the Constitution of
 South Carolina, 1895, relating to the Declaration of Rights, by adding Section
 24 so as to provide for the "Victims' Bill of Rights"; and also proposing an
 amendment to Section 15, Article I of the Constitution, relating to the right
 of bail, cruel or unusual punishment, and detention of witnesses, so as to
 provide that bail may be denied to persons charged with violent offenses.

   01/23/96  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-9
   01/23/96  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-9
   04/24/96  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary SJ-13
   04/25/96  Senate Amended SJ-70
   04/25/96  Senate Read second time SJ-70
   04/25/96  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day SJ-70
   04/26/96  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-5
   04/30/96  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-17
   04/30/96  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-18
   05/15/96  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-5
   05/21/96  House  Debate adjourned HJ-69
   05/21/96  House  Read second time HJ-91
   05/21/96  House  Roll call Yeas-109  Nays-0 HJ-96
   05/22/96  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-16
   05/30/96         Ratified R 451
   05/30/96         No signature required
   05/30/96         Effective date None
   06/27/96         Copies available
   08/29/96         Act No. 469

A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, BY ADDING SECTION 24 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE "VICTIMS' BILL OF RIGHTS"; AND ALSO PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 15, ARTICLE I OF THE CONSTITUTION, RELATING TO THE RIGHT OF BAIL, CRUEL OR UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT, AND DETENTION OF WITNESSES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BAIL MAY BE DENIED TO PERSONS CHARGED WITH VIOLENT OFFENSES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Proposed constitutional amendment

SECTION 1. It is proposed that Article I of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding:

"Section 24. (A) To preserve and protect victims' rights to justice and due process regardless of race, sex, age, religion, or economic status, victims of crime have the right to:

(1) be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse, throughout the criminal and juvenile justice process, and informed of the victim's constitutional rights, provided by statute;

(2) be reasonably informed when the accused or convicted person is arrested, released from custody, or has escaped;

(3) be informed of and present at any criminal proceedings which are dispositive of the charges where the defendant has the right to be present;

(4) be reasonably informed of and be allowed to submit either a written or oral statement at all hearings affecting bond or bail;

(5) be heard at any proceeding involving a post-arrest release decision, a plea, or sentencing;

(6) be reasonably protected from the accused or persons acting on his behalf throughout the criminal justice process;

(7) confer with the prosecution, after the crime against the victim has been charged, before the trial or before any disposition and informed of the disposition;

(8) have reasonable access after the conclusion of the criminal investigation to all documents relating to the crime against the victim before trial;

(9) receive prompt and full restitution from the person or persons convicted of the criminal conduct that caused the victim's loss or injury including both adult and juvenile offenders;

(10) be informed of any proceeding when any post-conviction action is being considered, and be present at any post-conviction hearing involving a post-conviction release decision;

(11) a reasonable disposition and prompt and final conclusion of the case;

(12) have all rules governing criminal procedure and the admissibility of evidence in all criminal proceedings protect victims' rights and have these rules subject to amendment or repeal by the legislature to ensure protection of these rights.

(B) Nothing in this section creates a civil cause of action on behalf of any person against any public employee, public agency, the State, or any agency responsible for the enforcement of rights and provision of services contained in this section. The rights created in this section may be subject to a writ of mandamus, to be issued by any justice of the Supreme Court or circuit court judge to require compliance by any public employee, public agency, the State, or any agency responsible for the enforcement of the rights and provisions of these services contained in this section, and a wilful failure to comply with a writ of mandamus is punishable as contempt.

(C) For purposes of this section:

(1) A victim's exercise of any right granted by this section is not grounds for dismissing any criminal proceeding or setting aside any conviction or sentence.

(2) `Victim' means a person who suffers direct or threatened physical, psychological, or financial harm as the result of the commission or attempted commission of a crime against him. The term `victim' also includes the person's spouse, parent, child, or lawful representative of a crime victim who is deceased, who is a minor or who is incompetent or who was a homicide victim or who is physically or psychologically incapacitated.

(3) The General Assembly has the authority to enact substantive and procedural laws to define, implement, preserve, and protect the rights guaranteed to victims by this section, including the authority to extend any of these rights to juvenile proceedings.

(4) The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights for victims shall not be construed to deny or disparage others granted by the General Assembly or retained by victims."

Ballot question

SECTION 2. The proposed amendment in Section 1 must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Must Article I of the Constitution of this State, relating to the declaration of rights under the state's Constitution, be amended so as to add the `Victims' Bill of Rights' which provides that a crime victim shall have the right to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse throughout the criminal and juvenile justice process?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `No'."

Proposed constitutional amendment

SECTION 3. It is proposed that Section 15, Article I of the Constitution of this State be amended to read:

"Section 15. All persons shall be, before conviction, bailable by sufficient sureties, but bail may be denied to persons charged with capital offenses or offenses punishable by life imprisonment, or with violent offenses defined by the General Assembly, giving due weight to the evidence and to the nature and circumstances of the event. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor shall excessive fines be imposed, nor shall cruel, nor corporal, nor unusual punishment be inflicted, nor shall witnesses be unreasonably detained."

Ballot question

SECTION 4. The proposed amendment in Section 3 must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Must Section 15 of Article I of the Constitution of this State, relating to the right of bail, cruel and unusual punishment, and detention of witness, be amended so as to provide that bail may be denied to persons charged with violent offenses as defined by the General Assembly?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `No'."

Ratified the 30th day of May, 1996.