Senate Criminal Justice Task Force Passes Bills to Limit Violent Repeat
Today the Senate Judiciary Criminal Justice System Task
Force Subcommittee sent a series of bills (S.1053, S.1055, S.1056),
introduced by Senate Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston), to the
full Judiciary committee that will stop violent repeat offenders from
receiving bail and provide a key tool in helping law enforcement monitor
individuals on parole. The subcommittee also heard testimony from
several members of law enforcement.
“The bills passed to the full Senate Judiciary Committee were
developed as part of a comprehensive approach that punishes those most
violent offenders but maintains a court that is fair, efficient and
preserves an individuals’ constitutional rights,” say Senator Gerald
Malloy (D-Darlington), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Criminal Justice
System Task Force Subcommittee.
“These bills (S.1053, S.1056) will prevent violent offenders, who are
already awaiting trial for other offenses, from receiving bail a second
time,” says Charleston Police Chief Gregory Mullen. “When these
offenders are released it causes anxiety in the court system, with law
enforcement and with the community. We hope this package overall is a
deterrent to repeat offenders and prevents them from returning to the
community and committing new crimes,” says Chief Mullen.
Two of the bills (S. 1053, S.1055) passed by the subcommittee relate to
bail. S. 1053 would allow judges to deny bail to persons who have been
charged with a violent offense while the person has been released on
bail pending trial. S. 1055 would limit a person’s right to bail if a
person has been charged with a violent offense.
“It is important that we curb the ability of people to get out of
jail on multiple bonds and go out and terrorize the community,” says
Deputy Chief Dan Johnson of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
“The Criminal Justice Task Force has made a strong statement in that
regard.”
The third bill passed by the subcommittee (S.1056) requires individuals
released on parole to agree in writing, as a condition of release, that
they will submit to warrantless searches and seizures of their persons,
residence and vehicles.
Senator Robert Ford (D-Charleston) says, “The committee is trying to
eliminate places within the law where the criminal element can run and
hide.”
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