COLUMBIA, SC-A S.C. House panel will decide whether to hire 20 additional probation and parole officers who will specifically handle domestic violence cases in targeted counties.
The ratio of agents to cases is “in pretty good shape” compared to other states, according to Jerry Adger, director of the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. However, with South Carolina still near the top of the nation in domestic violence-related homicides, Adger would like additional manpower to focus only on domestic violence cases in certain counties. He requested $1,139,174 to fund 20 new officers, including the cost of salaries, vehicles and benefits. “We have over a thousand folks right now on our caseload that have domestic violence charges,” Adger told a House law enforcement and criminal justice subcommittee Wednesday. Rep. Phillip Lowe, R-Florence, asked Adger about reallocating current officers to focus on domestic violence instead of hiring new ones, a thought Adger said they’ve considered if the request isn’t approved. “We want this to be more like intensive supervision,” he said. “In order for it to be intensive, you don't want to have a ratio of one to 100 or 175.” Chief Mark Keel said his top priority for the State Law Enforcement Division, “as always,” is the recurring rank change money to maintain the agency’s internal rank structure. Keel’s second priority is funding to keep SLED’s vehicles on a five-year replacement plan, which costs $3.1 million per year, he said. The agency last year received $1.9 million, and Keel asked for the remainder of that balance in this year’s budget.