Criminal Justice

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-600, RELATING TO ASSAULT AND BATTERY OFFENSES, SO AS TO ADD THAT ASSAULT AND BATTERY OF A HIGH AND AGGRAVATED NATURE OCCURS WHEN A PERSON INJURES A CORRECTIONS OFFICER IN THE DISCHARGE OF OR BECAUSE OF THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-17-520, RELATING TO DISTURBANCES OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, SO AS TO FURTHER DEFINE UNLAWFUL CONDUCT FOR PURPOSES OF THE OFFENSE OF DISTURBING RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, AND TO INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR A VIOLATION TO A FELONY.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 27-7-80 SO AS TO DEFINE TERMS RELATING TO REAL ESTATE FRAUD AND CREATE THE FELONY OF DEED THEFT.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-7-10, RELATING TO ILLEGAL ACTS DURING STATES OF EMERGENCY, SO AS TO INCLUDE THAT HARASSING OR THREATENING A WORKER RESTORING CRITICAL SERVICES IS A MISDEMEANOR, AND THAT ASSAULTING OR ENDANGERING A WORKER RESTORING CRITICAL SERVICES OR DESTROYING OR TAMPERING WITH AN ELECTRIC UTILITY SYSTEM IS A FELONY, AND TO DEFINE CRITICAL SERVICES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY REPEALING SECTION 16-17-560 RELATING TO THE OFFENSE OF ASSAULTING, INTIMIDATING, FIRING FROM EMPLOYMENT, OR EJECTING FROM PROPERTY CITIZENS ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR POLITICAL OPINIONS OR THE EXERCISE OF THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA PRENATAL EQUAL PROTECTION ACT" BY ADDING SECTIONS 16-3-6, 16-3-105, 16-3-106, 16-3-107, AND 16-3-108 SO AS TO DEFINE "PERSON" TO INCLUDE AN UNBORN CHILD AT ANY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT, AND TO ENSURE THAT AN UNBORN CHILD WHO IS A VICTIM OF HOMICIDE IS AFFORDED EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE HOMICIDE LAWS OF THE STATE, WITH EXCEPTIONS; BY ADDING SECTIONS 16-3-760, 16-3-761, 16-3-762, AND 16-3-763 SO AS TO DEFINE "PERSON" TO INCLUDE AN UNBORN CHILD AT ANY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT AND TO ENSURE THAT AN UNBORN CHILD WHO IS A VICTIM OF ASSAULT IS AFFORDED EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE ASSAULT LAWS OF THE STATE, WITH EXCEPTIONS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "SENTENCING ENHANCEMENTS FOR CRIMES AGAINST MINORS ACT"; BY ADDING ARTICLE 22 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 16 SO AS TO ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT FOR PERSONS CONVICTED OF CRIMES AGAINST MINORS AND TO PROHIBIT THE AVOIDANCE OR REDUCTION OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR PERSONS CONVICTED OF CRIMES AGAINST MINORS DUE TO A VERDICT OR PLEA OF NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-8-230, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE CRIMINAL GANG PREVENTION ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-8-240, RELATING TO USE OF OR THREAT OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE BY CRIMINAL GANG MEMBERS AND PENALTIES, SO AS TO REVISE THE STATUTE AND ESTABLISH UNLAWFUL CRIMINAL GANG ACTIVITY OFFENSES; BY ADDING SECTION 16-8-245 SO AS TO PROVIDE ADMISSIBILITY OF CRIMINAL GANG AND CRIMINAL GANG ACTIVITY EVIDENCE DURING A TRIAL OR PROCEEDING; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-8-250, RELATING TO PREVENTING WITNESSES OR VICTIMS FROM TESTIFYING AND PENALTIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE A MECHANISM TO ABATE A PUBLIC NUISANCE OF REAL PROPERTY USED BY A CRIMINAL GANG; BY ADDING SECTION 16-8-275 SO AS TO PROVIDE ADMISSIBILITY IN A CRIMINAL PROCEEDING OF THE ACCUSED'S COMMISSION OF CRIMINAL GANG ACTIVITY; BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 8, TITLE 16 SO AS TO ENACT THE "ANTI-RACKETEERING ACT", TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE DEFINITIONS FOR THE ANTI-RACKETEERING ACT, TO PROVIDE IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO ENGAGE IN RACKETEERING ACTIVITY, TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR ENGAGING IN RACKETEERING ACTIVITY, TO PROVIDE THAT THE CIRCUIT COURT MAY ENJOIN VIOLATIONS OF THE ANTI-RACKETEERING ACT BY ISSUING APPROPRIATE ORDERS, TO ESTABLISH JURISDICTION FOR RACKETEERING ACTIVITY, AND TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM DISCLOSURE OF INFORMANTS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 14-7-1630, RELATING TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE GRAND JURY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SO AS TO ADD THE CRIME OF RACKETEERING TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE GRAND JURY.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-29, RELATING TO THE OFFENSE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER, SO AS TO PROVIDE A MANDATORY MINIMUM TERM OF IMPRISONMENT OF FIVE YEARS FOR A VIOLATION.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-600, RELATING TO ASSAULT AND BATTERY OFFENSES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR GRADUATED PENALTIES FOR PERSONS CONVICTED A SECOND TIME OF ASSAULT AND BATTERY IN THE THIRD DEGREE IF THE PERSON HAS PRIOR CONVICTIONS FOR ANY ASSAULT AND BATTERY OFFENSES.