Pretrial Intervention Program eligibility, the official text

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A216, R199, H4720)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTIONS 17-22-50 AND 17-22-60, BOTH RELATING TO PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY, BOTH SO AS TO PROVIDE A PERSON MAY PARTICIPATE IN A PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM IF TWENTY YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE DATE OF SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM BY THE PERSON, RATHER THAN LIMITING ELIGIBILITY OF PARTICIPATION TO ONLY ONCE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Pretrial intervention, eligibility

SECTION 1. Section 17-22-50 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

Section 17-22-50. (A) A person must not be considered for intervention if the person is charged with:

(1) blackmail;

(2) driving under the influence or driving with an unlawful alcohol concentration;

(3) a traffic-related offense which is punishable only by fine or loss of points;

(4) a fish, game, wildlife, or commercial fishery-related offense which is punishable by a loss of eighteen points as provided in Section 50-9-1120;

(5) a crime of violence as defined in Section 16-1-60; or

(6) an offense contained in Chapter 25 of Title 16 if the offender has been convicted previously of a violation of that chapter or a similar offense in another jurisdiction.

(B) However, this section does not apply if the solicitor determines the elements of the crime do not fit the charge.

(C) A person may participate in a pretrial intervention program pursuant to the provisions of this article, or any other provision of law related to the eligibility of pretrial intervention participation, more than once when twenty years have passed from the date of successful completion of a previous pretrial intervention program.

Pretrial intervention, eligibility

SECTION 2. Section 17-22-60 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

Section 17-22-60. Intervention is appropriate only when:

(1) there is substantial likelihood that justice will be served if the offender is placed in an intervention program;

(2) it is determined that the needs of the offender and the State can better be met outside the traditional criminal justice process;

(3) it is apparent that the offender poses no threat to the community;

(4) it appears that the offender is unlikely to be involved in further criminal activity;

(5) the offender, in those cases where it is required, is likely to respond quickly to rehabilitative treatment;

(6) the offender has no significant history of prior delinquency or criminal activity; and

(7) at least twenty years have passed from the date of successful completion of a previous pretrial intervention program by the offender, if applicable.

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 14th day of May, 2026.

Approved the 19th day of May, 2026.

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