In 2010, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford signed a comprehensive overhaul of state sentencing and corrections policy that passed the Legislature nearly unanimously. The bill was based on approaches that research indicates will both save money and reduce crime.
The package diverts certain low-risk, nonviolent offenders from prison to community-based programs so space is available in prison for violent and dangerous criminals to serve longer sentences. In fact, the legislation reclassifies 22 previously nonviolent offenses, many of which can result in death, as violent. The package is estimated to save the $350 million, the cost of building a new prison which would otherwise be necessary.iii Key provisions of the legislation: 1) authorize the use of risk and needs assessments of offenders to better allocate community supervision resources; 2) remove barriers to inmates successfully reentering society; and 3) provide incentives for probationers and parolees to stay drug- and crime-free.