Juvenile Probation and Parole

Within the Executive Branch of state government, The Department of Juvenile Justice’s Community Services Division administers prevention, intake, investigation, probation and aftercare supervision, restitution, and community-based support services through local field offices.

In 2000, a law was passed that allows the agency to commission an aftercare counselor who has successfully completed law enforcement training and is certified by the Department of Public Safety to carry a firearm. In South Carolina, officers supervise a combined caseload to include both juvenile probationers and parolees. Under the commission, the counselor may take a child conditionally released from the custody of the department and subject to the jurisdiction of the Board of Juvenile Parole into custody upon the issuance of a warrant for violating conditions of their release. As a certified officer, they would also be able to carry a firearm. No probation counselors as of 2006 have been commissioned and authorized to carry weapons or to effectuate an arrest of a juvenile.

There are no private companies that provide juvenile probation or aftercare services.

Adult Probation and Parole

The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, a cabinet level agency within the Executive Branch of state government, supervises criminal offenders placed on probation by the courts or paroled by the State Board of Paroles and Pardons.

The Field Service Division of the department supervises all adult felons and misdemeanants sentenced by circuit courts. Misdemeanants sentenced by magistrate courts are not supervised. The Field Services Division supervises all offenders serving parole.

It is mandatory for adult probation and parole officers to carry a firearm when serving warrants or performing home visits. They are classified as Class One police officers, which became effective in 2000. They do have the power to arrest. The agency was formed in 1941 and it is believed that the firearm policy has been in effect since then.

Firearm education and training are provided by the Criminal Justice Academy under the Department of Public Safety. Psychological testing is done prior to the hiring of all officers. All officers must proficiently complete the training prior to being allowed to carry the firearm. They receive continuing education and must re-qualify annually. The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services staff do certification and continuing education.

Officers carry a .40 caliber, which is provided by the state.

There are no private companies providing adult probation or parole supervision.

For updates or corrections to the information on this page, please contact: Diane Kincaid