Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
TO AMEND SECTION 23-3-440, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO NOTIFICATION OF THE SHERIFF AND SLED OF THE RELEASE OF A PERSON LISTED ON THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY, SO AS TO ADD THAT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ALSO MUST BE NOTIFIED OF THE RELEASE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 23-3-440 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 384 of 1998, is further amended to read:
"Section 23-3-440. (1) Prior to an offender's release from the Department of Corrections after completion of the term of imprisonment, or being placed on parole, the Department of Corrections or the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services, as applicable, shall notify the sheriff of the county where the offender intends to reside, any other local law enforcement agency, as appropriate, and SLED that the offender is being released and has provided an address within the jurisdiction of both the sheriff for that county and any other local law enforcement agency. The Department of Corrections shall provide verbal and written notification to the offender that he must register with the sheriff of the county in which he intends to reside within twenty-four hours of his release. Further, the Department of Corrections shall obtain descriptive information of the offender, including a current photograph prior to release.
(2) The Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services shall notify SLED and, the sheriff of the county where an offender is residing, and any other local law enforcement agency, as appropriate, when the offender is sentenced to probation or is a new resident of the State who must be supervised by the department. The Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services also shall provide verbal and written notification to the offender that he must register with the sheriff of the county in which he intends to reside. An offender who is sentenced to probation must register within ten days of sentencing. Further, the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services shall obtain descriptive information of the offender, including a current photograph that is to be updated annually prior to expiration of the probation sentence.
(3) The Department of Juvenile Justice shall notify SLED and, the sheriff of the county where an offender is residing, and any other local law enforcement agency, as appropriate, when the offender is released from a Department of Juvenile Justice facility or when the Department of Juvenile Justice is required to supervise the actions of the juvenile. The Department of Juvenile Justice must shall provide verbal and written notification to the juvenile and his parent, legal guardian, or custodian that the juvenile must register with the sheriff of the county in which the juvenile resides. The juvenile must register within twenty-four hours of his release or within ten days if he was not confined to a Department of Juvenile Justice's facility. The parents or legal guardian of a person under seventeen years of age who is required to register under this chapter must shall ensure that the person has registered.
(4) The Department of Corrections, the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services, and the Department of Juvenile Justice shall provide to SLED the initial registry information regarding the offender prior to his release from imprisonment or relief of supervision. This information shall must be collected in the event the offender fails to register with his county sheriff."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 10:23 A.M.