Bill would make it easier for solicitor to prosecute domestic violence

BY ERINN MCGUIRE
BLUFFTON TODAY

In the past six months, three women in the area have been shot and killed. All of their deaths were domestic violence-related, according to Duffie Stone, the 14th Judicial Circuit Solicitor.

It's Stone's hope that a bill passed Thursday in the legislature will help put an end to such violence by targeting abusers the first time they're charged with a misdemeanor offense.

Bill 4831 allows solicitors in judicial circuits with five or more counties — like ours — to prosecute first-time misdemeanor criminal domestic violence offenders in general session's court. The bill is headed for Gov. Mark Sanford's desk for signature.

While it might be the first time law enforcement is called for help, it's rare it's the first instance of abuse, he said.

"I don't believe there are any first-offense domestic violence situations," Stone said. "No one's going to beat their spouse once."

Population-wise, in 2004, the circuit — which includes Allendale, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties — ranked eighth among the 16 judicial circuits — but fourth in the number of domestic violence victims.

Stone said putting the cases in general sessions court would centralize them in a few courts, allowing solicitors to keep better track of the cases.

He said that in summary courts, there are no lawyers to try the cases, no victims' advocates; police officers prosecute the cases. Second offenses go to general sessions courts, he said.

"Why are we waiting until it's technically called a second offense?" he asked. "Really, it's not. Really, it's probably the 15th or 16th."

Statistics show domestic violence is prevalent in South Carolina. In 2003, the Violence Policy Center ranked South Carolina first in the nation in the rate of women killed by men. In the center's 2005 report, South Carolina moved down to sixth place.

If signed off on, the bill will also allow Stone to hire six additional victim's advocates for the judicial circuit. Now, there's one staffer tasked with overseeing about 1,000 cases, about half of all the circuit's pending cases, Stone said.

"No one person can handle that many cases and be effective," he said.

Three of the new victims' advocates will be assigned to Beaufort County, the busiest in the judicial circuit.

Efforts to help children in these cases are already under way, Stone said.

"We know that this is a learned behavior," he said. "This will allow us to teach them that this isn't the norm, that this isn't how it's supposed to be. We won't see the benefits for years to come, but there will be benefits."

Columbia-based reporter Kirsten Singleton contributed to this story.