If you are a parent of a minor who has been charged with an underage drinking and driving offense in South Carolina, you are likely very worried and frustrated. For minors, the state treats drinking and driving more harshly than it does for those who are 21 or older.
Juvenile justice probation might do more harm than good
The South Carolina juvenile justice system is based on a delicate balance of reforming children who commit delinquent acts and punishing the children for those same acts. In the past, the trend regarding the outcome of the juvenile justice cases involved incarceration. It is now changing to lean more toward probation for these children, but some people are concerned that probation is leading children right back to juvenile incarceration facilities.
Different rules for minors in questioning
South Carolina residents may be aware of a Supreme Court decision that held that police must be more careful in how they question minors. People are supposed to be informed of their Miranda rights when they are taken into custody. However, it is not always clear when a person is in custody, and for minors, it may be even less clear.
Juvenile sentencing alternatives may reduce recidivism
People in South Carolina may be interested in the results of a new study recently released by the Pew Charitable Trusts. The analysis conducted by the researchers looked at juvenile recidivism rates in states that are using community-based sentencing alternatives as opposed to long periods of detention and incarceration.
Festival results in more than 200 citations
A popular South Carolina event, the annual St. Pat's in Five Points festival, resulted in law enforcement officers issuing more than 200 citations to attendees, many for underage drinking. The citations came during the festivities on March 14 in Columbia.
Helping those accused of underage drinking and driving
Juvenile crimes in South Carolina
When juveniles have been suspected of the commission of a crime in South Carolina, law enforcement or someone else often refers them to the Department of Juvenile Justice. What happens next depends on the individual, the circumstances and the charge as cases work their way through the juvenile justice system.
