In South Carolina, victims have rights during the criminal justice process. It’s important to know that the Solicitor or Prosecutor does not work for the victim—they work for the State of South Carolina. This means that the victim is not in charge of the criminal case. However, a victim has the right to speak with the prosecutor about the criminal case and can choose to give a victim impact statement at many hearings, including bond hearings and guilty pleas. Victims can also choose to have their own lawyer represent their interests and can also take legal action in civil court (SC Code Section 16-3-1535).
By statute, victims have the right to a free copy of their incident report, a written list of their rights, information about victim support services, and details about possible financial help (Section 16-3-1520). Employers cannot punish victims or witnesses for following a legal order to testify in court. Judges must respect and protect victims’ rights just as they do for the defendant (Section 16-3-1550). Additionally, victims have constitutional rights, as described on this page: https://scvanlegal.org/victim-rights/victims-bill-of-rights/
