Title 23, Law Enforcement and Public Safety

(A) There is created an "Illegal Immigration Enforcement Unit" within the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). The purpose of the Illegal Immigration Enforcement Unit is to enforce immigration laws as authorized pursuant to federal laws and the laws of this State. (B) …

(A) The Vulnerable Adults Investigations Unit is established within the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. (B) In accordance with Article 1, Chapter 35, Title 43, the unit shall receive and coordinate the referral of all reports of alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of…

(A) As used in this section: (1) "Client" means a public safety employee or a public safety employee's immediate family. (2) "Immediate family" means the spouse, child, stepchild, parent, or stepparent. (3) "Peer-support team" means any critical incident support service provider …

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this section governs the authorizations and procedures that apply when an agency in this State is authorized by statute to request state and federal criminal history record checks to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Divisio…

The General Assembly finds that the increasing incidence of crime threatens the peace, security and general welfare of the State and its citizens. To prevent crime, to insure the maintenance of peace and good order, and to assure the greater safety of the people, it is necessary …

There is created the Governor's Committee on Criminal Justice, Crime and Delinquency. The committee must be composed of persons named by the Governor from the State at large who are representative of agencies and organizations comprising the state's criminal justice system as def…

The committee shall advise the Governor and the General Assembly on criminal justice policy matters and shall further serve as the supervisory board for the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council in accordance with the mandates of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of…

The committee shall file with the Governor by December thirty-first of each year an annual report of its activities and progress, citing its recommendations for changes and legislative initiatives relating to the improvement of the criminal justice system in South Carolina. The G…

The committee shall meet as soon as practical after appointment and at this meeting organize and adopt rules for governing its proceedings. The committee shall meet at those other times as may be designated by the chairman or the Governor. A majority of the members at any regular…

As used in this chapter: (A) "Committee" means the Governor's Committee on Criminal Justice, Crime and Delinquency. (B) "Advisory Council" means the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council. (C) "J.P.C." means the Judicial Planning Committee. (D) "Office" means the Division of Public Sa…

There is hereby created a Juvenile Justice Advisory Council. The council shall consist of not less than twenty-one and no more than thirty-three members who have training, experience, or a special knowledge concerning the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency or in the…

The advisory council shall advise the committee and the office on all matters referred to it relevant to juvenile justice; shall participate in the development of the juvenile justice component of the State's comprehensive plan; shall recommend priorities for the improvement of j…

The provisions of Section 23-4-140 for a quorum shall apply to the advisory council.

There is hereby established a Judicial Planning Committee whose membership shall be appointed by the Supreme Court in accordance with the Crime Control Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-503) so long as it is in effect. The Chief Justice or his designee shall serve as chairman of the committee…

The J.P.C. shall establish court improvement priorities, consider court improvement programs and projects and develop an annual judicial plan which shall be in accordance with the Crime Control Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-503) so long as it is in effect; shall advise the committee on al…

The Office of Criminal Justice Programs shall consult with and seek the advice of the Judicial Planning Committee in carrying out its functions under Article 9 of the chapter insofar as they affect the state court system. In addition, any grant of federal or other funds made or a…

Staff support for the J.P.C. shall be provided by the Office of Court Administration, but the cost of staff support shall be reimbursed by the Office of Criminal Justice Programs to the extent that federal funds can be made available for that purpose.

The J.P.C. shall meet at such times as may be established by the Chief Justice or his designated chairman. The rules for the purpose of governing the J.P.C. and determining a quorum shall be established by the Supreme Court.

There is hereby created the Office of Criminal Justice Programs within the Office of the Governor.

The office in conjunction with the Governor's Committee on Criminal Justice, Crime and Delinquency has the duties: (A) In cooperation with other agencies, to collect and disseminate information concerning crime and criminal justice for the purpose of assisting the General Assembl…

The office shall be administered by an executive director, who shall be appointed by, and be responsible to, the Governor, and hold office at the pleasure of the Governor. The executive director shall be in sole charge of the administration of the office.

The executive director may appoint and prescribe the duties for such deputies, assistants, other officers, employees and consultants as he may deem necessary. The executive director shall establish policies and procedures for governing the office and coordinating with local plann…

The executive director may request and receive from any department or agency of the State or any political subdivision thereof such assistance, information and data as will enable him to carry out his duties.

The members of the committee, the advisory council and the J.P.C. shall receive no salary but shall be allowed the usual mileage, subsistence and per diem as authorized by law for commissions, committees and boards.

For the purposes of this title, the following words, phrases, and terms are defined as follows: (1) "Department" means the Department of Public Safety. (2) "Director" means the chief administrative officer of the Department of Public Safety.

(A) There is created a South Carolina Highway Patrol Division and a South Carolina State Police Division within the Department of Public Safety. The South Carolina Highway Patrol Division shall have such troopers, officers, agents and employees as the department may deem necessar…

In order to carry out the provisions of Section 23-6-100 in an orderly and economical manner it is intended that all serviceable uniforms be continued in use until such time as the director considers it necessary for them to be replaced. These provisions shall also apply to the e…

Every officer and trooper commissioned pursuant to this chapter shall file a bond, or be covered by a surety bond, with the department in the amount of not less than two thousand dollars, subscribed by a duly licensed surety company, which shall be conditioned on the faithful per…

Any violation of Section 23-6-100 may be enjoined by the court of common pleas upon petition of the director after due notice to the person violating the provisions of Section 23-6-100 and after a hearing on the petition.

The patrol of the highways of the State and the enforcement of the laws of the State relative to highway traffic, traffic safety, and motor vehicles shall be the primary responsibility of the troopers and officers of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. The troopers and officers of…

A commissioned officer or a uniformed officer of the department may, upon reasonable belief that any vehicle is being operated in violation of any provision of statutory law, require the driver thereof to stop and exhibit the registration card issued for the vehicle, the individu…

When any person is apprehended by a officer upon a charge of violating any laws of the State relative to highway traffic, motor vehicles or commercial motor carriers such person shall immediately be served with an official summons. The person charged may deposit bail with the arr…

No officer or trooper may be promoted to a higher rank until such time as the council adopts a promotion policy for commissioned personnel and officers as provided for in Section 23-6-520.

The Department of Public Safety is directed to keep permanent records of all Highway Patrolmen who are killed in the line of duty or die in any other manner while actively employed as well as records of those who are retired.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, enforcement by the State Transport Police Division, of Articles 3 and 5, Chapter 23 of Title 58, shall be funded from the motor carrier registration fees collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles that previously were collected by t…

The department may charge a witness fee of one hundred thirty dollars per hour, up to one thousand dollars per day for each trooper trained in Advanced Accident Investigation testifying in civil matters which do not involve the State as a party in interest. The fee shall be charg…

All monies collected in the Department of Public Safety Building Fund, as established in Section 56-3-840 that exceed the annual bond payment and the amount needed for building repair must be utilized by the department to support the Highway Patrol.

The Department may pay the cost of physical examinations for department personnel who are required to receive physical examinations prior to or after receiving a law enforcement commission.

The department may collect, expend, retain, and carry forward all funds received from other state or federal agencies as reimbursement for expenditures incurred when personnel and equipment are mobilized and expenses incurred due to an emergency.

The department may provide meals to employees of the department who are not permitted to leave assigned duty stations and are required to work during deployment, emergency simulation exercises, and when the Governor declares a state of emergency.

(A) The Department of Public Safety is established as an administrative agency of state government which is comprised of a South Carolina Highway Patrol Division, a South Carolina State Police Division, and a Division of Training and Continuing Education. (B) The functions, power…

For purposes of this article: (1) "Former law enforcement officer" means: (a) an officer who was previously commissioned by the Governor and who during his law enforcement career worked for the department; (b) an officer who was commissioned by the Governor, and whose agency, off…

(A) The director is authorized to establish programs for the commissioning of former law enforcement officers of the department. An individual commissioned pursuant to this section shall receive a Department of Public Safety Special Constable commission. (B) The powers and duties…

(A) Constables may not receive compensation including, but not limited to, salary for services rendered absent specific statutory authorization. (B) Any uniforms and equipment issued by the department shall remain the property of the department, but may, in the discretion of the …

Identification cards registering a special constable must be issued by the Department of Public Safety for all individuals commissioned pursuant to this article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, constables who have received the required training shall be authorized by the director to carry pistols on and about their persons unless otherwise restricted by the director in writing. However, the director, after hearing and for caus…