NCJ Number
222264
Editor(s)
Rob McManus
Date Published
2007
Length
202 pages
Annotation
This report provides comprehensive information on South Carolina’s criminal and juvenile justice systems and statistical information on crime rates, arrests, conviction rates, inmates, probationers, and parolees for the years 1975 to 2005.
Abstract
Select report highlights include: (1) South Carolina’s violent crime rate decreased 3.6 percent from 2004 to 2005; since 1975 the violent crime rate increased 49.5 percent; (2) the rape rate increased 1.4 percent from 2004 to 2005 and from 1975 to 2005, the rape rate increased 63.1 percent; (3) the number of cases filed in South Carolina’s Court of General Sessions increased 4.7 percent from 2004 to 2005; (4) of the criminal cases processed through the State magistrate court during 2005, 49.8 percent resulted in a guilty verdict by a bench trial; (5) total jail capacity increased 178.1 percent from 1985 to 2004, and increased 1.7 percent from 2003 to 2004; (6) South Carolina ranked eighth among the States, incarcerating 525 inmates per 100,000 residents; (7) more inmates are incarcerated for drug offenses than any other offense category; (8) drug convictions increased from 5.6 percent in 1977 to 22 percent in 2005; (9) the juvenile arrest rate for violent crimes increased 2.8 percent from 2004 to 2005 and has increased 207.6 since 1976; (10) disturbing school was the most frequently reported offense among juvenile cases referred to solicitors in 2005; and (11) from 1994 to 2007 the authorized number of positions for State criminal justice agencies increased 9 percent. This report is designed to provide basic information about criminal and juvenile justice in South Carolina. It provides simple statistical information about crime rates, arrests, conviction rates, inmates, probationers, and parolees. Most trend information is based on data for calendar years 1975-2005 or the fiscal years ending in 1975-2005. Tables and references