COLUMBIA — The S.C. Sentencing Reform Commission released its final report to state lawmakers Tuesday which includes recommendations the commission says will make citizens safer and save hundreds of millions in tax dollars.
The commission, led by state Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville, is made up of three state senators, three representatives, three judges and the director of the state Department of Corrections. They’ve been working on the report for a year.
The commission said its key focus was on reducing the number of repeat offenders who return to communities and commit violent crimes
Malloy, who serves as chairman of the commission, said the number of criminals who end up back in prison is rising. In 1999, 27.6 percent of inmates were back behind bars within three years. By 2003, the recidivism rate was up to 32.7 percent.
The commission recommends increased penalties for repeat offenders of “most serious” or “serious” crimes. It also adds 24 additional crimes to the list of those considered violent, including promoting or participating in prostitution with a minor and failure to stop when signaled by a law enforcement vehicle resulting in death.
“The most important issue for those here in this state is that we’re going to keep the citizens in South Carolina safe, and that’s why you have a focus on violent crimes and those that have victims,” Malloy said. “And so those crimes we are very tough on.”
To have prisons focus on keeping violent criminals locked up longer, the commission recommends effective alternatives to prison for non-violent criminals.
“We’ve gotten tough on those who commit violent crimes and leave victims in their wake and tried to find alternatives for those who can be salvaged and rehabilitated,” said Rep. Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, one of the commission members.
According to the report, 49 percent of state prison inmates are serving time for non-violent offenses, such as driving under suspension, shoplifting or forgery. If the state doesn’t make changes, the state will soon need another prison, which would cost more than $317 million to build and add more than $141 million every year to the cost of running the Department of Corrections.
The report also recommends that all prison inmates be required to undergo “reentry supervision” so they’re not just released from their cells to go back into communities with no oversight. Another recommendation is to extend probation periods if necessary to allow criminals to finish paying restitution to their victims.
The lawmakers on the commission said they hope to introduce next week a package of legislation that includes the commission’s recommendations.
Because the commission is bipartisan and its recommendations were unanimous, they’re hoping lawmakers will adopt them.
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