South Carolina Attorney Lawyer

COLUMBIA, SC - Gewaltfreie culprits escape prison by a court system by substituting the hands of the Attorney General Henry McMaster as a better way for the restoration of man and the state saves money.

Too often, McMaster said, people in prison for offences committed by gambling on the other are in possession tempered by criminals spend their time behind bars. But a combination of counselling, medical treatment, school, work and restitution - with different requirements for each of the authors problems - could change their lives, “he says.

“Some people just need a second chance,” the condition of the main public prosecutor said a panel of the house last week. “It is very expensive to keep people in jail, and the money could be better spent on something else.”

The group has postponed the vote on the idea. More people were placed as witnesses this week.

Under the proposal, judges could recommend so-called average Tribunal of the conviction for drug trafficking and other non-violent crimes. McMaster, a Republican, said he believes it will cause, the prisons are filled with more violent offenders, the need to be present.

The separate court, the judge volunteers, instead of stewing other courts around the state. But every two circuits of 16 state judicial authorities have already other jurisdictions, but everybody is different, and some are available only for the young, “said McMaster.

It is not known how many people would benefit from the alternative tribunal, like many others, the new program would cost a lot, and how it could save the state over the long term. Up to 50 people per year in each of the jurisdictions of other countries. But the Court should, at least in the middle of a program in each district and to extend the law of the drug-related crime there.

McMaster explained that the new system would cost several million dollars per year to manage, especially for consultants. But, he said, that the “chicken feed” compared with the money in prison costs - at least $ 12000 per person per year.

During the past year, the state has more than $ 14000 per inmate by the department of corrections.

Many governments and national studies show that other courts to reduce the likelihood that offenders of charge cycles.

“Drug courts reduce recidivism, the reduction of drug consumption and save huge sums country,” said Fox Carson, Director of Operations of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.

He said that many of the programs throughout the nation on crime than other drugs. Research shows his popularity has increased. The first drug court in Miami began in the year 1989. Five years later, there were only 12 There are more than 2000 today, with some in each country, “said Fox.

Fill the courts of the state of South Carolina would be “at the head,” he said.

Thus, under the proposal of South Carolina, offenders can be found in the program once they have been tried and convicted, and they may not be a record of violence. The victim or the criminal prosecution authorities would have agreed with the manner in which judges from handling the case.

McMaster agreed with the risk that under the program and its duration would be a strong incentive for the participants to be done, including in the 12 - up to 18 months.

More than 48 percent of South Carolina’s nearly 24000 inmates in prison for having committed non-violent crimes, and not a previous conviction for crimes of violence, after a correction of the state of division.

State prisons director Jon Ozmint welcomes the idea of an alternative as a court of smart and long overdue. South Carolina’s prison population increased from 300 to 400 passengers in the year 1603 with the holding of detainees in the prisons of quality in the last month, according to the agency.

“The new alternative rates could help us without delay construction of new prisons or prevent a federal court from ordering Releases imperative if we are too safe to use overcrowded,” said Ozmint.

But Ozmint against another part of the bill led McMaster’s - no-parole proposal from the Advocate General has advocated for years would require that most prisoners serve at least 85 percent of the basic rate.

During the year 1995, the legislature floor away many opportunities for crimes of violence, that the maximum custodial sentences of 20 years or more. McMaster also wants to most other crimes, including a number of crimes, so that “rates mean what they say.”

“In addition, the judges do not know what it means a whole,” said McMaster. “It breeds disrespect and distrust.”

Ozmint says the truth condemning any new idea to overload prisons and costing taxpayers millions more to build, but also an incentive to take them on board their behavior accordingly.

According to the law, in 1995, is required to serve the offenders 85 percent of his sentences, sentences the hands of judges in the case nondrug decreased by five to 54 months, depending on the crime, according to corrections. But the actual time spent behind bars prisoners has increased from three to 64 months.

Still, McMaster wishes, the legislature, so that the two proposals this year. Ozmint said, the solution must be court approved and then studied to determine the impact on prison overcrowding.

“We have no ability to predict the number of prosecutors and judges, the average option jurisdiction,” said Ozmint