The bill H. 3730 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws to facilitate the expungement of certain nonviolent offenses and drug treatment court offenses. It introduces a new section, 17-22-915, which allows individuals convicted of a first offense for a nonviolent crime to apply for expungement after ten years, provided they have no pending charges or additional convictions. Additionally, those who complete a drug treatment court program for a first offense can apply for expungement three years after completion under similar conditions. The bill stipulates that expungement can only occur once per individual, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division must maintain a nonpublic record of the expunged offense.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing sections of the law, specifically Section 17-22-910, to include references to the new expungement provisions in Section 17-22-915, and Section 17-22-940, which outlines the expungement process. The amendments ensure that the eligibility verification for expungement applications includes those under the new provisions. The bill is set to take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
01/15/2025: 17-22-915, 17-22-910, 17-22-940
Latest Version: 17-22-915, 17-22-910, 17-22-940