The South Carolina Attorney General sent a letter to prosecutors in the Palmetto State this week that contained the messages of friendship changes to avoid repeat offenders and checking a prosecutor’s immigration position.
The letter, which was a reminder of the relationship reform legislation passed last year, made it harder for criminals who commit violent crimes while on relationship, according to 15th Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson, who spoke to ABC15 on Friday.
” The letter basically said if you’re not doing these, please go through and begin doing this. Make sure they are aware. The judges are n’t professionals, and it was a very complex piece of legislation”, said Richardson.
Learn MORE: SC authorities encouraged to consider immigration position, repeat offenses for relationship choices
He continued, noting that he had previously believed in ties as a means of preventing repeat offenders.
Yet their attorney works with magistrates on bonds, serving no purpose.
Because the cost is a violent crime, the prosecutor who works in the jail reads the plaintiff’s record to the judge, according to Richardson.
However, the text went a step further by reminding attorneys that when determining a relationship, they are also supposed to take into account a defendant’s immigration status, and it precisely made reference to Laken Riley.
Riley was a 22- yr- old medical student, in Georgia, who was reportedly murdered by an improper immigrant back in February.
” In the case that he brought about the Georgia scenario, if a person is in there and gets rearrested, we’re supposed to let the national organization, i. e. Snow, know that we’ve got an illegitimate in the prison, and we have always done that. Not just us but our judge has done that”, said Richardson.
Therefore, according to Richardson, ICE might take control of the case and either approach the person in federal court or deport them. However, if it’s a violent crime, they might try to treat those different.
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” If it’s something where we have a target, therefore we try to talk with ICE and state,’ I know he’s outlawed and it’s important to you guys to find him removed from the country, but he needs to stay, and paid for what he’s done,'” said Richardson.
He added that a revolving door of violent crimes is a key factor in the bond reforms.
This is what occurs when violent individuals are released from jail. Violent people do violent acts,” Richardson said”. Therefore, I believe that our state legislature reacted with the statement,” Hey, end all of this.”
There are currently illegal immigrants in Horry and Georgetown Counties with open cases, one of which being an armed robbery, according to Richardson.
However, he could n’t provide ABC15 with more details on the case because it was recent.
