NCJ Number
154701
Date Published
1995
Length
31 pages
Annotation
South Carolina has enacted legislation that focuses on the fingerprinting of children, criminal procedures, the release and expungement of criminal records, the right of public access to criminal records, and criminal justice information systems.
Abstract
Legislation on fingerprinting children contains provisions on the release of information about juveniles and requires that juvenile fingerprint records be kept separate from adult fingerprint records. Legislation on criminal procedures and the release of criminal records deals with the expungement of criminal records, the inspection and examination of criminal records, the Freedom of Information Act, disclosure exemptions, and what constitutes public information. Legislation also requires the maintenance of a statewide criminal information and communications system that includes criminal data reported by law enforcement agencies and court officials and a Criminal Records Department to maintain complete and accurate criminal history record information submitted by criminal justice agencies. Further, legislation contains provisions on the dissemination of criminal record information, access to and review of criminal record information, and data security.