Data Trends: South Carolina Criminal Justice Reform

Pew-Charitable-TrustsThis fact sheet from The Pew Charitable Trusts highlights data on sentencing and corrections reforms—passed by a substantial legislative majority in 2010—in the South Carolina criminal justice system. The data shows how the reforms reduced penalties for less serious drug and property offenses, expanded release options, strengthened community supervision, and established legislative oversight and accountability. Six years later, six prisons had closed, $491 million had been saved, and the crime rate continued to fall.