SC Rural Domestic Violence Initiative
In 2005 Attorney General Henry McMaster took the lead in responding to criminal domestic violence (CDV) in the rural communities of South Carolina. With the support of U.S. Representative James Clyburn and other state leaders, the Attorney General secured a $900,000 award from the 2005 Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant Program. This two-year federal grant provides dedicated CDV prosecution in the summary courts of Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Marlboro, Marion, and Williamsburg counties. The South Carolina Office of Research and Statistics classify these counties as “rural”, and six of the seven counties are classified as “very rural.”The SC Rural Domestic Violence Initiative is innovative because it provides a coordinated community response to domestic violence.
The Attorney General’s Office is partnered with the Pee Dee Coalition, a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to the reduction of rape, family violence, and child abuse and to the needs of its victims; and the South Carolina Baptist Convention, the largest faith-based organization in South Carolina, composed of over 2,000 churches, approximately 1,600 of which are located in rural areas. Within the Attorney General’s Office there are three dedicated CDV prosecutors and one program coordinator. The Pee Dee Coalition has appointed three court advocates and one bilingual immigrant outreach facilitator, who assist the prosecutors with cases and provide support for victims. Additionally, the bilingual outreach facilitator assists Spanish-speaking victims and coordinates efforts to reach the underserved Hispanic population. The South Carolina Baptist Convention is working to build a faith-based network, to promote domestic violence awareness. All three organizations collaborate to organize educational training throughout the seven counties for law enforcement, victim’s advocates, judges, lawyers, and faith leaders.
The SC Rural Domestic Violence Initiative, working with local magistrates and sheriff’s departments, has established centralized CDV courts in all seven counties, and there are plans to further expand prosecution to the municipalities.
Law Enforcement, Judges and Prosecutors
SC Rural Domestic Violence Initative Contact Information
Training Information
Join the Office of the Attorney General and the Criminal Justice Academy for a Free, one-day, training on Criminal Domestic Violence. Trainings are geared for Law Enforcement Officers, Judges, Attorneys and Victim Advocates. All trainings are approved for CLE, JCLE, CLEE, and Non-Social Work Hours.
- Training Calendar and Registration
- All Magistrate and Municipal Judges must attend a CDV training in 2007
Vicitm Crisis Hotlines
Office of the Attorney General
1-800-213-5652
Monday-Friday (8:30-5pm)
Or leave message after hours
Pee Dee Coalition
1-800-273-1820
24 Hours