This bill would make several positive changes to South Carolina’s system of juvenile justice. It would:
- End the practice of placing juveniles in “secure confinement” in adult jails for more than six hours
- Require parents or guardians to participate in family counseling or other therapy services before the Department of Juvenile Justice can accept a referral for incorrigibility
- Prevent children from being detained in DJJ facilities for status offenses such as truancy or incorrigibility, which are only illegal because of their age
- Automatically expunge status offenses from a person’s criminal record once they reach age 18
We support this bill because: The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice frequently fails to provide adequate care to the children in its facilities. Too many children, especially Black children, are held in DJJ facilities for nonviolent offenses like truancy or delinquency, contributing to the well-documented pattern of overcrowding. By moving away from practices of confinement and giving children a chance at a clean slate before they enter adulthood, DJJ can begin to live up to its mission of rehabilitation.
