(A) A person who commits a "no parole offense" as defined in
§ 24-13-100 on or after the effective date of this section is not eligible for parole consideration, but must complete a community supervision program as set forth in
§ 24-21-560 prior to discharge from the sentence imposed by the court. For all offenders who are eligible for parole, the board shall hold regular meetings, as may be necessary to carry out its duties, but at least four times each year, and as many extra meetings as the chairman, or the Governor acting through the chairman, may order. The board may preserve order at its meetings and punish any disrespect or contempt committed in its presence. The chairman may direct the members of the board to meet as three-member panels to hear matters relating to paroles and pardons as often as necessary to carry out the board’s responsibilities. Membership on these panels shall be periodically rotated on a random basis by the chairman. At the meetings of the panels, any unanimous vote shall be considered the final decision of the board, and the panel may issue an order of parole with the same force and effect of an order issued by the full board pursuant to
§ 24-21-650. Any vote that is not unanimous shall not be considered as a decision of the board, and the matter shall be referred to the full board which shall decide it based on a vote of a majority of the membership.
(B) The board may grant parole to an offender who commits a violent crime as defined in § 16-1-60 which is not included as a "no parole offense" as defined in § 24-13-100 on or after the effective date of this section by a two-thirds majority vote of the full board. The board may grant parole to an offender convicted of an offense which is not a violent crime as defined in § 16-1-60 or a "no parole offense" as defined in § 24-13-100 by a unanimous vote of a three-member panel or by a majority vote of the full board.
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 24-21-30
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
Nothing in this subsection may be construed to allow any person who commits a "no parole offense" as defined in § 24-13-100 on or after the effective date of this section to be eligible for parole.
(C) The board shall conduct all parole hearings in cases that relate to a single victim on the same day.
(D) Upon the request of a victim, the board may allow the victim and an offender to appear simultaneously before the board for the purpose of providing testimony.
