The bill S. 5 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding a new section, 23-3-42, which stipulates that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is prohibited from releasing information regarding unadjudicated arrests during criminal history background checks. This change is intended to protect individuals who have not been convicted of a crime from having their unadjudicated arrests disclosed, potentially impacting their employment and other opportunities.

The bill is currently in the legislative process and will take effect upon approval by the Governor. This amendment reflects a growing trend to ensure that individuals are not unfairly penalized for arrests that did not lead to convictions, thereby promoting fairness in the background check process.

Statutes affected:
12/11/2024: 23-3-42
Latest Version: 23-3-42