South Carolina Lawyers Weekly

Dec 16, 2019

$600K settlement reached after man killed in prison

The family of a South Carolina prison inmate who was killed by another inmate has received $600,000 and a public apology from the South Carolina Department of Corrections after […]

Nov 13, 2019

11 indictments unsealed in Prison Empire case

A state grand jury has unsealed 11 indictments in the “Prison Empire” prosecution against people accused of providing contraband cell phones to prison inmates who are allegedly using the phones […]

Aug 2, 2019

Former South Carolina prisoner told his release was an error

When Michael Freeman was released from a South Carolina prison in December 2016, he began the slow and strenuous process of trying to pick up the pieces of his life […]

Mar 25, 2019

Official: Court orders confuse prison workers, cause errors

South Carolina prison officials say unclear court orders and ambiguous directions have left prison workers confused about how much time offenders should serve. The division director of classification and inmate […]

Dec 19, 2018

Bureau of Prisons chided over ‘disregarded’ order

A federal prisoner’s sentence must be reconsidered, again, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled, this time giving weight to a state court’s order for concurrent sentences. […]

Jul 24, 2018

Judges crack down on illicit inmate cellphones

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Judges in California and South Carolina have ordered cellphone carriers to disable nearly 200 contraband cellphones used by inmates to orchestrate crimes behind and outside prison walls, […]

Jul 11, 2018

SC prisons spent $11.5M on lawyers, claims since 2013

Eighteen lawsuits have been filed against the South Carolina Department of Corrections since an April prison riot left seven inmates dead and 22 others injured. These lawsuits are likely to […]

Jun 29, 2018

The First 48

This Sidebar reporter recently spoke to South Carolina Department of Corrections officials about how the agency is working to prepare inmates for their return to society. But despite the best […]

Jun 27, 2018

Warrant: Guard smuggled drugs 3 months after being hired

KERSHAW (AP) Authorities say a South Carolina guard was arrested for trying to smuggle marijuana into prison less than three months after she was hired. Arrest warrants say Rena Hoover […]

Jun 25, 2018

48 problem SC inmates moved to Mississippi prison

COLUMBIA (AP) South Carolina prison officials say they sent 48 inmates who have caused major problems to a private prison in Mississippi. Authorities say the inmates are from prisons across […]

May 16, 2018

Another inmate sues after South Carolina prison riot deaths

COLUMBIA (AP) Another inmate stabbed during a prison riot that left seven inmates dead is suing the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Media outlets reported 21-year-old Reakwon Latray Watson sued […]

May 14, 2018

Warrant: Prison guard stomped handcuffed SC inmate

BISHOPVILLE (AP) Authorities say a South Carolina prison guard has been charged with assault and battery after he stomped on a handcuffed inmate. An arrest warrant said Antonio Burns attacked […]