(A) A criminal offender committed to incarceration anywhere in this State may be required by prison or jail officials to perform public service work or related activities while under the supervision of appropriate employees of a federal, state, county, or municipal agency, or of a regional governmental entity or special purpose district. Prison or jail officials shall make available each inmate who is assigned to the program for transportation to his place of work on all days when work is scheduled and shall receive each inmate back into confinement at the respective facility after work is concluded. This public service work is considered to be a contribution by the inmate toward the cost of his incarceration and does not entitle him to additional compensation.
(B) No offender may be allowed to participate in these public service work activities unless he first is properly classified and approved to be outside the prison or jail without armed escort.
(C) The public service work requirement in subsection (A) operates only when adequate supervision and accountability can be provided by the agency, entity, district, or organization which is responsible for the work or related activity. The types of public service work permitted to be performed include, but are not limited to, litter control, road and infrastructure repair, and emergency relief activities.
(D) The South Carolina Department of Corrections may enter into a contractual agreement with any federal, state, county, or municipal agency, or with any regional governmental entity or public service district, to provide public service work or related activities through the use of inmate labor under authorized circumstances and conditions. A county municipal, or multijurisdictional jail, detention facility, or prison camp also may provide public service work or related activities through the use of inmate labor in accordance with the Minimum Standards for Local Detention Facilities in South Carolina and with applicable statutes and ordinances.
(E) It is the policy of this State and its subdivisions to utilize criminal offenders for public service work or related activities whenever it is practical and is consistent with public safety. All eligible agencies, entities, districts, and organizations are encouraged to participate by using a labor force that can be adequately supervised and for which public service work or related activities are available.
(F) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit or otherwise to limit the use of inmate labor by the South Carolina Department of Corrections within its own facilities or on its own property, or by any local governing body within its own facilities or on its own property. Further, nothing in this section prevents the South Carolina Department of Corrections or a local detention facility from escorting and supervising any inmate for a public purpose when the department or the local detention facility provides its own security.
HISTORY: 1993 Act No. 88, Section 1; 2010 Act No. 237, Section 84, eff June 11, 2010.
Effect of Amendment
The 2010 amendment in subsection (D), inserted "county municipal, or multi-jurisdictional", "detention facility", and "prison" in the second sentence; and in the first sentence of subsection (F), substituted "local governing body" for "jail or camp", and inserted "or a local detention facility" and "or the local detention facility" in the second sentence.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 24 - Corrections, Jails, Probations, Paroles and Pardons
Chapter 13 - Prisoners Generally
Section 24-13-10. Segregation of sexes.
Section 24-13-20. Sheriffs' duties with respect to arrest of escaped convicts; penalty.
Section 24-13-35. Treatment of female inmates; visits with minor dependents.
Section 24-13-40. Computation of time served by prisoners.
Section 24-13-60. Screening of offenders for possible placement on work release.
Section 24-13-65. Prisoners to be provided for litter control projects.
Section 24-13-100. Definition of no parole offense; classification.
Section 24-13-125. Eligibility for work release; limitations; forfeiture of credits.
Section 24-13-175. Calculation of sentence imposed and time served.
Section 24-13-180. Paroled inmate rehabilitation facilities; public hearings; exemptions.
Section 24-13-210. Credit given inmates for good behavior.
Section 24-13-220. Time off for good behavior in cases of commuted or suspended sentences.
Section 24-13-235. Voluntary program.
Section 24-13-410. Unlawful escape or possessing tools or weapons therefor; penalty.
Section 24-13-420. Unlawful escape; harboring or employing escaped convicts; penalty.
Section 24-13-425. Tampering with the operation of an electronic monitoring device; penalty.
Section 24-13-430. Rioting or inciting to riot; penalty.
Section 24-13-440. Carrying or concealing weapon; penalty.
Section 24-13-450. Taking of hostages; penalty.
Section 24-13-460. Furnishing prisoners alcoholic beverages or narcotic drugs; penalty.
Section 24-13-660. Public service work performed by inmates.
Section 24-13-720. Inmates who may be placed with program; search and seizure.
Section 24-13-910. Administration of work/punishment programs; eligible offenders.
Section 24-13-915. Meaning of "local detention facility".
Section 24-13-920. Removal of inmate from program for violation of program regulations.
Section 24-13-930. Surrender of inmates' earnings; amounts deductible.
Section 24-13-950. Standards for operation of local inmate work programs.
Section 24-13-1310. Definitions.
Section 24-13-1320. Regulations; reports.
Section 24-13-1510. Short title.
Section 24-13-1520. Definitions.
Section 24-13-1540. Promulgation of regulations; approved absences from home.
Section 24-13-1550. Verification.
Section 24-13-1560. Use of electronic monitoring device.
Section 24-13-1930. Placement of certain offenders in center; report of availability of bed space.
Section 24-13-2110. Preparation of inmates for employment.
Section 24-13-2120. Coordination of agencies.
Section 24-13-2130. Memorandum of understanding to establish role of each agency.
Section 24-13-2140. Coordination by Department of Corrections.