The

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

Department of

Probation Probation in criminal law is a period of supervision over an offender, ordered by the court often in lieu of incarceration. In some jurisdictions, the term ''probation'' applies only to community sentences (alternatives to incarceration), such ...

Parole Parole (also known as provisional release or supervised release) is a form of early release of a prison inmate where the prisoner agrees to abide by certain behavioral conditions, including checking-in with their designated parole officers, or ...

, and

Pardon A pardon is a government decision to allow a person to be relieved of some or all of the legal consequences resulting from a criminal conviction. A pardon may be granted before or after conviction for the crime, depending on the laws of the j ...

Services (SCDPPPS) is a state agency in the state of

in the

United States of America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...

. The agency was formed in 1941 as the South Carolina Probation and Parole Board. At that time, the Board simply made recommendations to the Governor regarding parole matters. South Carolina Department of Probation Parole and Pardon Services is a cabinet level law enforcement agency of the state of South Carolina; its Director is appointed by the Governor. Probation and Parole Agents are full

state police State police, provincial police or regional police are a type of sub-national territorial police force found in nations organized as federations, typically in North America, South Asia, and Oceania. These forces typically have jurisdiction o ...

officers with statewide arrest powers, they provide in addition to their normal probation and parole supervision duties, law enforcement assistance to support local agencies, major events, and natural disasters.

Training

Agents attend the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy Basic Police Certification course as well as an Agent Basic Academy. They are armed with the .40 Glock Model 22 pistol and must qualify twice a year. Agents have been involved in shooting incidents, recently where a felon was shot and killed, when he attacked an Agent.

Field Operations

Field Operations Division is the largest division in SCDPPPS, it supervises offenders under the Department's jurisdiction through its approximately 475 Probation/Parole Agents located in the 46 county offices. Agents supervise offenders, conduct investigations, and provide law enforcement resources to assist local agencies.

Special Operations

Recently the Special Operations unit has provided law enforcement/protection to the US Presidential Debates held for both the Republican and Democratic candidates, for Myrtle Beach Bike Week, Atlantic Beach Bikefest, and

hurricane A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Dep ...

evacuations and storm shelters. Agents are tasked with the responsibility of assisting in lane reversal on the

interstate highways The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. Th ...

during evacuations and well as policing in the aftermath of the storm.

Authority

The authority Agents have is found in the SC Code of Laws; SECTION 24-21-280. Duties and powers of probation agents; authority to enforce criminal laws. "A probation agent has, in the execution of his duties, the power to issue an arrest warrant or a citation charging a violation of conditions of supervision, the powers of arrest, and, to the extent necessary, the same right to execute process given by law to sheriffs. A probation agent has the power and authority to enforce the criminal laws of the State. In the performance of his duties of probation, parole, community supervision, and investigation, he is regarded as the official representative of the court, the department, and the board."

Problems

Recent budget cuts, staggering case loads, and the lowest pay but highest requirements for South Carolina Police, has caused serious personnel and operating problems within SCDPPPS. A call for a new funding and reorganization is underway at this time.

Famous Cases

* Stephen Stanko: In 2005, Stanko killed his girlfriend and raped her daughter while serving parole. The Stanko case was featured on CBS 48 Hours Mystery on January 13, 2007. *

James Brown James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the hono ...

: In 2003, American singer James Brown received a pardon for drug and assault related crimes committed in 1988 and 1998.South Carolina pardons James Brown for past crimes (June 9, 2003). ''Jet Magazine'', 36. Retrieved January 14, 2007 from the Lexis-Nexis Academic database.

References

External links

South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy

* ttp://sc.gov/Pages/default.aspx State of South Carolina Official Web Site {{DEFAULTSORT:South Carolina Probation, Parole, And Pardon Services Agency Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services Clemency Parole Probation