McMaster's bill would change parole

AIKEN --- South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster made an appearance at a Thursday night meeting of the Aiken County Republican Party to talk about parole changes in a bill he is working to get pushed through Columbia.

"We need more teeth in our criminal justice system," he told the crowd of about 40 GOP members. "One that criminals and would-be criminals respect and fear."

Mr. McMaster has been criss-crossing the state, speaking at local GOP meetings in an effort to drum up support for a bill that would reform the state's criminal justice system by abolishing parole for convicted felons.

The legislation, if passed, would ensure those convicted of a violent crime would serve at least 85 percent of their sentences -- or 100 percent if they misbehave while behind bars.

When a criminal goes before a judge, "they know when the judge imposes the sentence it does not mean what it says," Mr. McMaster said. "Parole is available for most crimes when 25 percent or 33 percent" of a sentence is completed.

Aiken County GOP Vice Chairman David Lobb asked the attorney general why not require a convicted felon to serve 100 percent of their sentence.

"The authorities tell us if you don't have some incentive to behave in prison, they don't behave in prison," Mr. McMaster responded.

"The 85 percent is to maintain control."

Parole boards decide whether a person has been rehabilitated, which means that no one is sure how much time a person will remain in jail, Mr. McMaster said. The result is that some families of victims have made more than 20 trips to Columbia to speak against paroling an offender.

"That is insane that we're putting those people though that year after year," he said.

Mr. McMaster said Virginia implemented a similar system a few years ago, and the result was a decrease in the state's crime rate.

The bill also proposes a middle court that would handle nonviolent offenders without sending them to prison, which would save the state thousands of dollars each year.

Mr. McMaster said middle court is an alternative sentencing method for nonviolent criminals midway between probation and prison -- a kind of enhanced probation sentence that would cost more than $3,000 per offender per year, as opposed to the more than $16,000 it costs to house a prisoner each ywear.

"It gives some a second chance who need it," he said.

Mr. McMaster introduced a similar bill to the legislature last year, but he said the new version has been improved and he believes it will pass this time around.

Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com.