South Carolina has a largely
centralized juvenile justice system, separate and apart from the adult system.
The uniform statewide Family Court system was established by statute in 1976.The
Family Courts generally have exclusive jurisdiction over minors under the age of
seventeen alleged to have violated any state law or municipal ordinance.
However, most traffic, fish, and game law violations are still triable in the
magistrate or municipal courts. Serious criminal charges may be transferred to
the Circuit Court under certain circumstances.
A
case or action in the Family Court is initiated with the filing of a summons and
complaint. Each juvenile delinquency case involves only one charge or "status
offense." A "status offense" is a violation of the law by a minor, which
would not be criminal if committed by an adult, e.g. truancy or runaway. In Fiscal Year
2003/2004, nearly 27,000 juvenile cases were referred to the Solicitors’ Offices
statewide. In Charleston and Berkeley counties, our staff handled 3,962 cases, or nearly
forteen percent of the entire state caseload. In addition, this office handled more
violent and serious offenses committed by juveniles than any other Solicitor’s
Office.
