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Pre-Trial Intervention
Program Information
PTI Application
WHO CAN APPLY?
If you have recently
been arrested for the first time for a nonviolent crime, you may come to PTI directly
through a referral from the Magistrate, Municipal, or General Sessions Court. You may also
be referred by an attorney, government agency, or another individual for consideration in
the program.
PTI for an individual
is appropriate where:
A person is 17
years old or older (16 and under, in special cases).
There is no
evidence of significant prior arrests or criminal history.
The individual
poses no detectable threat to society.
The Offender is
unlikely to be involved in further criminal activity.
The person is
either employed in some capacity, disabled, or is in school.
The person is
likely to respond quickly to rehabilitative treatment.
Justice to the
offender and the state will be better served by placing the offender in an intervention
program instead of the traditional criminal justice process.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
General Sessions: After a referral has
been made to PTI and the Office of the Solicitor has approved your case, you will be
notified by mail of the date and time of your orientation meeting, or you may call PTI to
inquire as to the next available scheduled meeting.
Magistrates or
Municipal Court: If your case has been
referred by a Magistrate or Municipal Court, you must apply in person within 10
day of your court appearance. Applications are only taken on Thursdays between the hours of 9:00am and 4:00pm.
You must bring:
PTI Application
At the first meeting, the details of the
program requirements will be presented and the appropriate forms for PTI signed. We must
be furnished at this time with complete information on any matter regarding the pending
charge against you and any prior history of criminal activity. In addition, an individual
assessment session will be scheduled for approximately 1-2 weeks later. At the assessment
meeting, a plan for completing the program requirements will be outlined for you. Goals
will be set for your participation, which may include referrals for vocational guidance,
substance abuse counseling, community service, or other agencies as determined by the
counselor. If a victim is involved, a consent form (and restitution form if applicable)
will be sent to him/her to be signed and returned. A recommendation request will also be
issued to the arresting officer. These forms must be received recommending your PTI
participation. A negative recommendation may result in your inability to participate in
the program. The Solicitor may accept or reject your case at this point. If rejected, you
will be notified in writing, and your case will be returned to court.
If you are accepted and you complete the program requirements, the court which handled
your case is notified and the charges against you are dismissed. At the time, you are
eligible under the S.C. Code of Laws, Section 17-22-150 to clear your arrest record of the
dismissed charges. The PTI program will prepare, in accordance with the Code, an
Expungement Order for the subsequent destruction of your arrest record on the charge(s)
involved with your participation in PTI. You will be given detailed instructions as to
where to take/mail the Expungement Order for the subsequent destruction of your arrest
record. Should you choose not to complete the requirements of the program, or if you
failed to cooperate, your case is returned to the appropriate court for full and swift
prosecution.
The Pre-Trial
Intervention Program has worked closely with the courts and law enforcement to establish a
program that works for the good of all involved. . . the accused, the victim, and the
taxpayers. It can provide you with the opportunity to earn a clear record, avoid a
possible jail sentence, and help you take steps to improve your life.
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