South Carolina Code 17-28-40. Form and contents of application
(B) The application must be verified by the applicant and filed under the original indictment number or petition with the clerk of court of the general sessions court or family court in which the conviction or adjudication took place. Facts within the personal knowledge of the applicant and the authenticity of all documents and exhibits included in or attached to the application must be sworn to affirmatively as true and correct.
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 17-28-40
- Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
- Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(C) The application must, under penalty of perjury:
(1) identify the proceedings in which the applicant was convicted or adjudicated;
(2) give the date of the entry of the judgment and sentence and identify the applicant’s current place of incarceration;
(3) identify all previous or ongoing proceedings, together with the grounds therein asserted, taken by the applicant to secure relief from his conviction or adjudication;
(4) make a reasonable attempt to identify the physical evidence or biological material that should be tested and the specific type of DNA testing that is sought;
(5) explain why the identity of the applicant was or should have been a significant issue during the original court proceedings, notwithstanding the fact that the applicant may have pled guilty or nolo contendere or made or is alleged to have made an incriminating statement or admission as to identity;
(6) explain why the physical evidence or biological material sought to be tested was not previously subjected to DNA testing, or if the physical evidence or biological material sought to be tested was previously subjected to DNA testing, provide the results of the testing and explain how the requested DNA test would provide a substantially more probative result;
(7) explain why if the DNA testing produces exculpatory results, the testing will constitute new evidence that will probably change the result of the applicant’s conviction or adjudication if a new trial is granted and is not merely cumulative or impeaching; and
(8) provide that the application is made to demonstrate innocence and not solely to delay the execution of a sentence or the administration of justice.