The bill H. 3655 aims to amend several sections of the South Carolina Code of Laws concerning juvenile justice, particularly focusing on status offenses. Key changes include the elimination of the exception that allows children to be tried as adults, a reduction in the maximum time a child can be held in a juvenile detention facility, and the requirement for families to seek counseling before juvenile proceedings can be initiated for status offenses. Additionally, the bill distinguishes between status and criminal offenses, modifies court order requirements, and introduces automatic expungement of juvenile records for status offenses, with certain exceptions.

Specific amendments include changes to Section 63-19-820, which now prohibits the secure confinement of juveniles in adult jails for more than six hours and limits detention in juvenile facilities to twenty-four hours without a court order. Section 63-19-1020 mandates that families must document efforts to resolve issues through counseling before proceedings can begin. Furthermore, Section 63-19-2050 establishes automatic expungement of records for status offenses once the individual turns eighteen and completes any required sentences, provided they have no subsequent delinquency or criminal convictions. These changes reflect a shift towards a more rehabilitative approach in handling juvenile offenses.

Statutes affected:
12/12/2024: 63-19-820, 63-19-1020, 63-19-1440, 63-19-1810, 63-19-2050
02/05/2025: 63-19-820, 63-19-1020, 63-19-1440, 63-19-1810, 63-19-2050
Latest Version: 63-19-820, 63-19-1020, 63-19-1440, 63-19-1810, 63-19-2050