“Justice Reinvestment through Policy Analysis in South Carolina”
South Carolina State Senator Gerald Malloy
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South Carolina’s Traditional Approach to Criminal Justice
• South Carolina has had a “tough on crime,” not necessarily “smart on
crime,” attitude.
• South Carolina has taken a “lock ‘em up and throw away the key”
approach.
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“We build prisons for people we’re afraid of. Yet South
Carolina has filled them with people we’re just mad at.”
- Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Pat
Nolan, Vice President of Prison Fellowship
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South Carolina’s Climate for Change
•
South Carolina was experiencing a record number of violent and repeat criminal
offenses.
•
South Carolina’s court system was experiencing a record number of criminal cases.
•
South Carolina’s prison system was experiencing a record number of inmates.
•
South Carolina was experiencing a record recession, and a record low in resources.
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South Carolina’s Sentencing Reform Commission
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The South Carolina Legislature established the South Carolina Sentencing Reform
Commission.
•
The Commission partnered with the Pew Center on the States, the Crime and
Justice Institute, and Applied Research Services, in analyzing South Carolina’s
sentencing data and generating policy options to reduce recidivism, hold offenders
accountable, and maximize limited financial resources.
•
The Commission utilized “evidence-based practices.” Such practices would only
work in South Carolina after obtaining critical data and determining the actual
drivers in the criminal justice system.
•
The Commission made recommendations to the South Carolina Legislature based
on consensus of the stakeholders and the Commission members.
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“Omnibus Crime Reduction and Sentencing Reform Act of 2010”
•
Among the recommendations, the Commission recommended and the South
Carolina Legislature passed the “Omnibus Crime Reduction and Sentencing Reform
Act of 2010”.
•
The Act demonstrated that legislators could be “tough on crime” and also be
“smart on crime.”
•
The Act also demonstrated that evidence-based practices can increase public
safety and save money at the same time.
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South Carolina’s Sentencing Reform Successes
Since implementation of the “Omnibus Crime Reduction and Sentencing Reform Act of
2010”:
South Carolina’s prison population has been reduced from approximately 24,600
inmates to 23,200 inmates, and continues to decrease. This population reduction
has resulted in South Carolina’s ability to close at least one prison;
Parole and probation compliance revocations have been reduced approximately
36%, and continue to decrease. The reduction in revocations has resulted in an
approximately 39% decrease in the number of persons on parole or probation
being re-incarcerated for technical violations;
South Carolina’s violent crime rate has decreased approximately 9.8%, and
continues to decrease.
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South Carolina’s Sentencing Reform Successes
Since implementation of the “Omnibus Crime Reduction and Sentencing Reform Act of
2010”:
Total State Expenditure Savings = $4,229,456.
Marginal State Expenditure Savings = $1,067,630.
(A marginal rate is used to account for the variable costs averted such as food,
medical expenses, and fixed expenditures.)
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South Carolina’s Sentencing Reform Reinvestment
The South Carolina Sentencing Reform Oversight Committee recommended that the $1,067,630
marginal state expenditure savings be appropriated for reinvestment in sentencing
reform measures as required by the “Omnibus Crime Reduction and Sentencing Reform Act of
2010.” These measures include:
(1) implementation of evidence-based sentencing practices not previously funded;
(2) increasing the availability of risk reduction programs and interventions, including substance
abuse treatment programs, for supervised offenders; and
(3) grants to nonprofit victim services organizations to partner with the State agencies and the
courts to assist victims and increase the amount of restitution collected from offenders.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections and the South Carolina Department of Probation,
Parole and Pardon Services have begun implementing these measures in 2012.
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Sentencing Reform in South Carolina
If you are interested in learning more about sentencing reform in South
Carolina, or you would like to view documents referred to in this
presentation, go to the following website:
www.scstatehouse.gov/citizensinterestpage/SentencingReformCommission/SentencingReform.html
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