Journal of the Senate
of the First Session of the 111th General Assembly
of the State of South Carolina
being the Regular Session Beginning Tuesday, January 10, 1995

Page Finder Index

| Printed Page 3410, May 31 | Printed Page 3430, May 31 |

Printed Page 3420 . . . . . Wednesday, May 31, 1995

(D) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14-7-1020, in cases involving capital punishment any a person called as a juror shall must be examined by the attorney for the defense.

(E) In every a criminal action in which a defendant is charged with a crime which may be punishable by death, a person may not be disqualified, excused, or excluded from service as a juror therein by reason of his beliefs or attitudes against capital punishment unless such beliefs or attitudes would render him unable to return a verdict according to law."
SECTION 11. Section 16-3-625 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 16-3-625. Any A person seventeen years of age or older who resists the lawful efforts of a law enforcement officer to arrest him or her or any other another person with the use or threat of use of any a deadly weapon against the officer, when such and the person is in possession or claims to be in possession of a deadly weapon, shall be deemed is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall must be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten nor less than two years. No sentence imposed hereunder for a first offense shall be suspended to less than six months nor shall the persons so sentenced be eligible for parole until after service of six months. No person sentenced under this section for a second or subsequent offense shall have such the sentence suspended to less than two years nor shall such the person be eligible for parole until after service of two years.

As used in this section `deadly weapon' shall mean means a shotgun, rifle, pistol, or knife any instrument which can be used to inflict deadly force.


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This section shall in no manner does not affect or replace the common law crime of assault and battery with intent to kill nor shall does it apply if the sentencing judge, in his discretion, elects to sentence an eligible defendant under the provisions of the `Youthful Offenders Act'."

SECTION 12. Section 16-3-1180(C) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(C) The aggregate of award to and on behalf of victims may not exceed ten thousand dollars unless the Crime Victim's Advisory Board, by two-thirds vote, and the director concur that extraordinary circumstances exist. In such case, the award may not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars."

SECTION 13. Section 16-3-1260 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 16-3-1260. (1) Any A payment of benefits to, or on behalf of, a victim or intervenor, or eligible family member under this article shall create creates a debt due and owing to the State by any a person found in as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction of this State, to have who has committed such the criminal act.

(2) The circuit court, when placing on probation any a person who owes a debt to the State as a consequence of a criminal act, may set as a condition of probation the payment of the debt or a portion of the debt to the State. The court also may also set the schedule or amounts of payments subject to modification based on change of circumstances.

(3) The Department of Probation, Parole and Community Corrections Pardon Services shall also have the right to make payment of the debt or a portion of the debt to the State a condition of parole or community supervision.

(4) When a juvenile is adjudicated delinquent in a family court proceeding involving a crime upon which a claim under this article can be made, the family court, in its discretion, may order that the juvenile pay the debt to the Victim's Compensation Fund State Office of Victim Assistance, as created by this article, as an adult would have to pay had an adult committed the crime. Any assessments so ordered may be made a condition of probation as provided in Section 20-7-1330.

(5) Payments authorized or required under this section must be paid to the Victim's Compensation Fund State Office of Victim Assistance. The Director of the Victim's Compensation Fund State Office of Victim Assistance shall coordinate the development of policies and procedures for the South Carolina Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the South Carolina Office of Court Administration, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, and the South


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Carolina Board of Probation, Parole and Community Corrections Pardon Services to assure that victim restitution programs are administered in an effective manner to increase payments into the Compensation Fund State Office of Victim Assistance.

(6) Restitution payments to the Victim's Compensation Fund State Office of Victim Assistance may be made by the Department of Corrections from wages accumulated by offenders in its custody who are subject to this article, except that offenders offenders' wages shall must not be used for this purpose if such monthly wages are at or below minimums required to purchase basic necessities."

SECTION 14. The first paragraph of Section 16-3-1530(C) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 68 of 1991, is further amended to read:

"Victims and witnesses A victim or witness who wish wishes to receive notification and information shall provide the solicitor, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services their his current address and telephone number. This information, as it is contained in Department of Corrections and Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services files, is privileged and must not be disclosed directly or indirectly, except between these two departments, or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction. The solicitor's office which is prosecuting the case has the responsibility of the rights in this subsection, except items (6) and (7) which are the responsibility of the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services and the Department of Corrections."

SECTION 15. Section 16-3-1530(D)(3) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(3) A victim has the right to receive restitution for expenses or property loss incurred as the result of the crime. The judge shall order restitution at every sentencing for a crime against person or property or as a condition of probation or parole, unless the court finds a substantial and compelling reason not to order restitution. The court shall diligently, fairly, and in a timely manner enforce all orders of restitution."

SECTION 16. Section 16-3-1550(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 579 of 1988, is further amended to read:

"(B) It is the responsibility of the solicitor's Victim or Witness Assistance Unit in each judicial circuit or a representative designated by the solicitor or law enforcement agency handling the case to advise all victims of their right to submit to the court, orally or in writing at the victim's option, a victim impact statement to be considered by the judge at the sentencing or disposition hearing in general sessions court and at a


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parole hearing. The solicitor's office or law enforcement agency shall provide a copy of the written form to any victim who wishes to make a written report. In those cases which where the solicitor determines that there has been extensive or significant impact on the life of the victim, the Victim or Witness Assistance Unit shall assist the victim in completing the form. The victim shall submit this statement to the solicitor's office within appropriate time limits set by the solicitor to be filed in the court records by the solicitor's office so it may be available to the defense for a reasonable period of time prior to before sentencing. The court shall allow the defendant to have the opportunity to rebut the victim's written statement if the court decides to review any part of the statement before sentencing. If the defendant is incarcerated, the solicitor shall forward a copy of the impact statement and copies of all completed Victim/Witness Notification Requests to the Department of Corrections, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, and to the Probation, Parole and Community Corrections Pardon Services Board. Solicitors shall begin using these victim impact statements no later than January 1, 1985."

SECTION 17. Section 16-11-311 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 16-11-311. (A) A person is guilty of burglary in the first degree if the person enters a dwelling without consent and with intent to commit a crime therein in the dwelling, and either:

(1) when, in effecting entry or while in the dwelling or in immediate flight therefrom, he or another participant in the crime:

(a) is armed with a deadly weapon or explosive; or

(b) causes physical injury to any a person who is not a participant in the crime; or

(c) uses or threatens the use of a dangerous instrument; or

(d) displays what is or appears to be a knife, pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, or other firearm; or

(2) the burglary is committed by a person with a prior record of two or more convictions for burglary or housebreaking or a combination of both; or

(3) the entering or remaining occurs in the nighttime.

(B) Burglary in the first degree is a felony punishable by life imprisonment; provided, that the. For purposes of this section, `life' means until death. The court, in its discretion, may sentence the defendant to a term of not less than fifteen years, provided, that no person convicted of burglary in the first degree shall be eligible for parole except upon service of not less than one-third of the term of the sentence."


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SECTION 18. Section 17-25-45 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 17-25-45. (1)A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person who has three convictions under the laws of this State, any other state, or the United States, for a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60 except a crime for which a sentence of death has been imposed shall, upon the third conviction in this State for such crime, be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

B. For the purpose of this section only, a conviction is considered a prior conviction only if the date of the commission of the second or subsequent crime occurred subsequent to the imposition of the sentence for that prior offense.

A conviction is considered a second conviction only if the date of the commission of the second crime occurred subsequent to the imposition of the sentence for the first offense. A conviction is considered a third conviction only if the date of the commission of the third crime occurred subsequent to the imposition of the sentence for the second offense. Convictions totaling more than three must be determined in a like manner.

(2) The decision to invoke sentencing under subsection (1) shall be in the discretion of the solicitor.

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except in cases in which the death penalty is imposed, upon a conviction for a most serious offense as defined by this section, a person must be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole if that person has one or more prior convictions for:

(1) a most serious offense;

(2) a federal or out-of-state conviction for an offense that would be classified as a most serious offense under this section; or

(3) any combination of the offenses listed in items (1) and (2) above.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except in cases in which the death penalty is imposed, upon a conviction for a serious offense as defined by this section, a person must be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole if that person has two or more prior convictions for:

(1) a serious offense;

(2) a most serious offense;

(3) a federal or out-of-state offense that would be classified as a serious offense or most serious offense under this section; or

(4) any combination of the offenses listed in items (1), (2), and (3) above.

(C) As used in this section:


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(1) `Most serious offense' means:

16-1-40 Accessory, for any offense enumerated in this item

16-1-80 Attempt, for any offense enumerated in this item

16-3-10 Murder
16-3-30 Killing by poison

16-3-40 Killing by stabbing or thrusting

16-3-50 Voluntary manslaughter

16-3-85(A)(1) Homicide by child abuse

16-3-85(A)(2) Aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse
16-3-210 Lynching, First degree

16-3-430 Killing in a duel

16-3-620 Assault and battery with intent to kill

16-3-652 Criminal sexual conduct, First degree

16-3-653 Criminal sexual conduct, Second degree

16-3-655 Criminal sexual conduct with minors, except where evidence is presented at the criminal proceeding and the court, after the conviction, makes a specific finding on the record that the conviction obtained for this offense resulted from consensual sexual conduct where the victim was younger than the actor, as contained in Section 16-3-655(3)

16-3-656 Assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct, First and Second degree

16-3-910 Kidnapping

16-3-920 Conspiracy to commit kidnapping
16-11-110(A) Arson, First degree

16-11-311 Burglary, First degree
16-11-330(A) Armed robbery

16-11-330(B) Attempted armed robbery

16-11-540 Damaging or destroying building, vehicle, or other property by means of explosive incendiary, death results

25-7-30 Giving information respecting national or state defense to foreign contacts during war

25-7-40 Gathering information for an enemy

55-1-30(3) Unlawful removing or damaging of airport facility or equipment when death results

56-5-1030 Interference with traffic-control devices or

(B)(3) railroad signs or signals prohibited when death results from violation

58-17-4090 Obstruction of railroad, death results.


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(2) `Serious offense' means:

(a) any offense which is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment for thirty years or more which is not referenced in subsection (C)(1);

(b) those felonies enumerated as follows:

16-3-220 Lynching, second degree

16-3-810 Engaging child for sexual performance
16-9-220 Acceptance of bribes by officers

16-9-290 Accepting bribes for purpose of procuring public office
16-11-312(B) Burglary, Second degree

16-13-210(1) Embezzlement of public funds
16-13-230 Breach of trust with fraudulent intent

(B)(3)

16-13-240(1) Obtaining signature or property by false pretenses

38-55-540(3) Insurance fraud

44-53-370(e) Trafficking in controlled substances

44-53-375(C) Trafficking in ice, crank, or crack cocaine

44-53-445 Distribute, sell, manufacture, or possess

(B)(1) & (2) with intent to distribute controlled substances within proximity of school

56-5-2945 Causing death by operating vehicle while under influence of drugs or alcohol; and

(c) the offenses enumerated below:

16-1-40 Accessory before the fact for any of the offenses listed in subitems (a) and (b)

16-1-80 Attempt to commit any of the offenses listed in subitems (a) and (b).

(3) `Conviction' means any conviction, guilty plea, or plea of nolo contendere.

(D) Except as provided in subsection (E), no person sentenced pursuant to this section shall be eligible for early release or discharge in any form, whether by parole, work release, release to ameliorate prison overcrowding, or any other early release program, nor shall they be eligible for earned work credits, education credits, good conduct credits, or any similar program for early release.

(E) For the purpose of this section only, a person sentenced pursuant to this section may be paroled if:

(1) the Department of Corrections requests the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services to consider the person for parole; and


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(2) the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services determines that due to the person's health or age he is no longer a threat to society; and

(a) the person has served at least thirty years of the sentence imposed pursuant to this section and has reached at least sixty-five years of age; or

(b) the person has served at least twenty years of the sentence imposed pursuant to this section and has reached at least seventy years of age; or

(c) the person is afflicted with a terminal illness where life expectancy is one year or less; or

(d) the person can produce evidence comprising the most extraordinary circumstances.

(F) For the purpose of determining a prior conviction under this section only, a prior conviction shall mean the defendant has been convicted of a most serious or serious offense, as may be applicable, on a separate occasion, prior to the instant adjudication.

(G) The decision to invoke sentencing under Section 17-25-45(B) shall be is in the discretion of the solicitor. The provisions of Section 17-25-45(A) shall be mandatory.

(H) Where the solicitor is required to seek or determines to seek sentencing of a defendant under this Section, written notice must be given by the solicitor to the defendant and defendant's counsel not less than ten days before trial."

SECTION 19. Section 20-7-2205 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act No. 7 of 1995, is further amended to read:

"Section 20-7-2205. A Notwithstanding Section 20-7-2170, a child who is guilty of a violation of law or other misconduct which would not be a criminal offense if committed by an adult, including a child who has been found in contempt of court for violation of a court order related to the a violation of law or other misconduct which would not be a criminal offense if committed by an adult, or a child who violates the conditions of probation for an offense, a violation of law or other misconduct which would not be a criminal offense if committed by an adult must not may be committed to the custody of a correctional institution operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice or to secure evaluation centers operated by the department for a determinate period not to exceed ninety days; however, a child committed under this section may not be confined with a child who has been determined by the department to be violent."


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SECTION 20. Section 20-7-2170 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 20-7-2170. (A) A child after his twelfth birthday and before his seventeenth birthday, or while under the jurisdiction of the Family Court for disposition of an offense that occurred prior to before his seventeenth birthday, may be committed to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice, which shall arrange for placement in a suitable corrective environment. Children under the age of twelve years may must be committed only to the custody of the department, which shall arrange for placement in a suitable corrective environment other than institutional confinement. No A child under the age of seventeen years shall must not be committed or sentenced to any other another penal or correctional institution of this State.

(B) When a child is adjudicated delinquent, convicted of a crime, or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in a court authorized to commit to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice, such the child may be committed for an indeterminate period until he has reached his twenty-first birthday or until sooner released by the Board of Juvenile Parole under its discretional powers.

(C) Any A sentence which includes commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice for a crime which, when committed by an adult, would carry a maximum sentence of thirty years or more, shall include a further provision that the Board of Juvenile Parole may transfer such the child to the Department of Juvenile Justice, which may then may transfer the child to the Department of Corrections for confinement for a period, including time served in its custody, not to exceed thirty years. Such The transfer shall must be within the discretion of the Department of Juvenile Justice or the Board of Juvenile Parole as may be appropriate.

(D) The court, before committing a child as a delinquent or as a part of a sentence including commitments for contempt, shall first temporarily shall commit temporarily the child to the Department of Juvenile Justice for a period not to exceed forty-five days for evaluation, and the department shall make a recommendation to the court prior to before final commitment. The committing judge may waive in writing temporary commitment in cases where the child concerned has either, within the past year, either has been evaluated by a center and the evaluation is available to the court or has within the past year been temporarily or finally discharged or conditionally released or paroled from a correctional institution of the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the child's previous evaluation or other equivalent information is available to the court. All commitments to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice for


Printed Page 3429 . . . . . Wednesday, May 31, 1995

delinquency as opposed to the conviction of a specific crime may be made only for the reasons and in the manner prescribed in Sections 20-7-400, 20-7-410, 20-7-430, 20-7-460, 20-7-600, 20-7-620, 20-7-740, 20-7-750, 20-7-760, 20-7-770, 20-7-780, 20-7-1330, 20-7-1340, and 20-7-1520, with evaluations made and proceedings conducted only by the judges authorized to order commitments in this section. When a child is committed to the custody of the department under the proceedings, commitment must be for an indeterminate sentence, not extending beyond the twenty-first birthday of the child unless sooner released by the department.

(E) Any A juvenile committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice following an adjudication for a violent offense contained in Section 16-1-60 or for the offense of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, who has not been paroled or otherwise released from the custody of the department by his nineteenth seventeenth birthday shall must be transferred to the custody and authority of the Youthful Offender Division of the Department of Corrections. A juvenile who has not been paroled or released from the custody of the Department by his nineteenth birthday must be transferred to the custody and authority of the Youthful Offender Division of the Department of Corrections at age nineteen. If not sooner released sooner by the Department of Corrections, the a transferred juvenile shall must be released by his twenty-first birthday according to the provisions of his commitment;. provided, however, that notwithstanding Notwithstanding the above provision, any a juvenile committed as an adult offender by order of the Court of General Sessions shall be considered for parole or other release according to the laws pertaining to release of adult offenders.

SECTION 21. Section 22-3-550 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Section 28, Part II, Act 570 of 1994, is further amended to read:

"Section 22-3-550. Magistrates have jurisdiction of all offenses which may be subject to the penalties of a fine or forfeiture not exceeding five hundred dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding thirty days, or both. and may impose any sentence within those limits, singly or in the alternative. In addition, a magistrate may order restitution he considers appropriate.

However, a magistrate shall not have the power to sentence any person to consecutive terms of imprisonment totaling more than ninety days except for convictions resulting from violations of Chapter 11 of Title 34, pertaining to fraudulent checks or violations of Section 16-13-110, relating to shoplifting. Further a magistrate must specify an amount of restitution in damages at the time of sentencing as an alternative to any imprisonment of more than ninety days which is lawfully imposed. The provisions of


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this paragraph do not effect affect the transfer of criminal matters from the general sessions court made pursuant to Section 22-3-545."


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