§16-1-60: Violent Crimes According to SC Law

In South Carolina, certain crimes are specifically classified as "violent" per §16-1-60. This category becomes important if/when a person is convicted, as these crimes typically carry lengthier prison sentences and can affect your parole eligibility. 

Below, I have put together a chart of crimes defined as "violent" in South Carolina and some of the collateral consequences of each. Click here to view/download the (mobile friendly) PDF version. 

Violent vs. Non-Violent

1. Violent:

• Most (but not all) violent crimes mean you will have to serve 85% of your sentence and/or generally serve one third 1/3 before becoming eligible for parole. 
• Additionally, if you are sentenced on a violent offense and have a previous conviction for a violent offense, you are no longer eligible for parole per §16-1-60.  
• Violent offenders (serving 85%) may only earn a maximum of 72 days of work/education credits per year, and 3 days per month of credits for good time. 
• If you are between the ages of 17-25, it is also important to know that violent crimes are also not eligible for sentencing under the Youthful Offender Act (YOA) - with the exceptions of Burglary, 2nd degree and Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 3rd degree (if consensual and the victim was over the age of 14). 

2. Non-Violent:

• In comparison, non-violent crimes (all others not listed in §16-1-60) mean serving 65% of the sentence and parole eligibility after serving one fourth (1/4).  
• Non-violent offenders are able to earn a maximum of 180 days of work/education credits per year, and 20 days per month of good time.  
• Eligible under the Youthful Offenders Act (YOA) if 17-25 years old at the time of sentencing. 

(Note: determining parole eligibility is based on factors other than just violent and non-violent, so be sure to consult with an attorney about the facts of your particular case.)

CHARGE	CDR	STATUTE	SENTENCE	CLASS	NOTES
Murder	0116	§16-3-10	35 yrs – life	Exempt	Most serious
Attempted Murder	3410	§16-3-29	0-30 yrs	A	Most serious
Assault & Battery by Mob, 1st degree, Death Resulting	3431	§16-3-210(B)	30 yrs minimum	Exempt	Most serious
Criminal Sexual Conduct, 1st degree	0160	§16-3-652	0-30 yrs	A	Most serious; sex offender registry; sexually violent offense
Criminal Sexual Conduct, 2nd degree	0161	§16-3-653	0-20 yrs	C	Most serious; sex offender registry; sexually violent offense
Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 1st degree	N/A*	§16-3-655	*depends on victim age	N/A	Most serious; sex offender registry; sexually violent offense; child abuse registry
Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2nd degree	N/A*	§16-3-655	*depends on victim age	N/A	Most serious; sex offender registry; sexually violent offense; child abuse registry
Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 3rd degree	N/A*	§16-3-655	*depends on victim age	N/A	Most serious; sex offender registry; sexually violent offense; child abuse registry
Assault with Intent to Commit Criminal Sexual Conduct, 1st degree	0253	§16-3-656	0-30 yrs	A	Most serious; sex offender registry; sexually violent offense
Assault with Intent to Commit Criminal Sexual Conduct, 2nd degree	0254	§16-3-656	0-20 yrs	C	Most serious; sex offender registry; sexually violent offense
Assault & Battery with Intent to Kill* (*common law offense, now attempted murder)	0014	§16-3-620	N/A*	C	Crime of violence (§16-1-130(3))
Assault & Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature	3411	§16-3-600(B)	0-20 yrs	C	Serious
Kidnapping	0095	§16-3-910	0-30 yrs	A	Most serious; crime of violence (see §16-1-130(3))
Trafficking in Persons	3207	§16-3-930	0-15 yrs	D	Most serious
Voluntary Manslaughter	0217	§16-3-50	0-30 yrs	A	Most serious; crime of violence (§16-1-130(3))
Armed Robbery	0139	§16-11-330(A)	10-30 yrs	A	Most serious; crime of violence (§16-1-130(3)); mandatory min.
Attempted Armed Robbery	0026	§16-3-330(B)	0-20 yrs	C	Most serious; crime of violence (§16-1-130(3))
Carjacking	2600	§16-3-1075	0-30 yrs	A	Most serious
Drug Trafficking	N/A*	§44-53-370(e)	*depends on weight	N/A	Serious
Trafficking Cocaine Base	N/A*	§44-53-375(C)	*depends on weight	N/A	Serious
Manufacturing/Trafficking Methamphetamine	N/A*	§44-53-375	*depends on weight	N/A	Serious
Arson, 1st degree	3535	§16-11-110(A)	30 yrs minimum	E	Most serious
Arson, 2nd degree	2551	§16-11-110(B)	0-25 yrs	B	Serious
Burglary, 1st degree	0079	§16-11-311	15 yrs – life	Exempt	Most serious; crime of violence (§16-1-130(3)); mandatory min.
Burglary, 2nd degree**	0086	§16-3-312(B)	0-15 yrs	D	Serious
Engaging a Child for a Sexual Performance	0399	§16-3-810	20 yrs	C	Serious; sex offender registry; sexually violent offense
Homicide by Child Abuse	2356	§16-3-85(A)(1)	20 yrs - life	Exempt	Most serious
Aiding & Abetting Homicide by Child Abuse	2357	§16-3-85(A)(2)	20 yrs	C	Most serious
Inflicting Great Bodily Injury Upon a Child	2766	§16-3-95(A)	0-20 yrs	C	Child abuse registry
Allowing Great Bodily Injury to Be Inflicted Upon a Child	2767	§16-3-95(B)	0-5 yrs	F	Child abuse registry
Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature	3814	§16-25-65	0-20 yrs	C	Serious
Abuse/Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult, Death Resulting	2659	§44-35-85(F)	0-30 yrs	A	Most serious
Abuse/Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult, Great Bodily Injury Resulting	2658	§44-35-85(E)	0-15 yrs	D	Serious
Taking of a Hostage by an Inmate	2524	§24-13-450	5-30 yrs	A	No concurrent sentencing
Detonating a Destructive Device Upon the Capitol Grounds with Malice, Death Resulting	2744	§10-11-325(B)(1)	30+ yrs – life; death	Exempt	Serious
Spousal Sexual Battery	0412	§16-3-615(A)	0-10 yrs	E	Sex offender registry
Engaging Child for Sexual Performance	0399	§16-3-810	0-20 yrs	C	Serious; sex offender registry; sexually violent offense; child abuse registry
Producing/Directing/Promoting Sexual Performance by a Child	0413	§16-3-820	0-10 yrs	E	Sex offender registry; sexually violent offense
Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1st degree	0379	§16-15-395	3-20 yrs	C	Mandatory min.; sex offender registry; sexually violent offense; child abuse registry
Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 2nd degree	0378	§16-15-405	2-10 yrs	E	Mandatory min.; sex offender registry; sexually violent offense; child abuse registry
Promoting Prostitution of a Minor	0382	§16-15-415(A)	3-20 yrs	C	Mandatory min.; sex offender registry; sexually violent offense; child abuse registry
Participating in Prostitution of a Minor	0383	§16-15-425(C)	2-5 yrs	F	Mandatory min.; sex offender registry; sexually violent offense; child abuse registry
Aggravated Voyeurism	2867	§16-17-470(C)	0-10 yrs and/or $500-5,000 fine	E
Detonating a Destructive Device with Malice, Death Resulting	2772	§16-23-720(A)(1)	30+ yrs – life; death	Exempt	Serious; mandatory min.
Detonating a Destructive Device without Malice, Death Resulting	2773	§16-23-720(A)(2)	0-30 yrs	A	Serious
Boating Under the Influence, Death Resulting	2689	§50-21-113(A)(2)	1-25 yrs and $10-25k fine	B	Mandatory min.; property offense
Vessel Operator’s Failure to Render Assistance, Death Resulting	2701	§50-21-130(A)(3)	0-25 yrs and $10-25k fine	B
Damaging an Airport Facility or Removing Equipment, Death Resulting	0012	§55-1-30(3)	0-30 yrs	A	Most serious
Failure to Stop for Blue Lights, Death Resulting	2398	§56-5-750(C)(2)	0-25 yrs	B	Driver’s license suspended for 3 yrs after sentence
Interference with Traffic-Controlled Devices/Railroad Signs/Signals, Death Resulting	0390	§56-5-1030(B)(3)	0-30 yrs	A	Most serious; driver’s license revoked
Hit and Run, Death Resulting	2463	§56-5-1210(A)(3)	0-25 yrs and $10-25k fine	B	Driver’s license revoked
Felony DUI/DUAC, Death Resulting	0395	§56-6-2945(A)	1 -25 yrs and $10-25k fine	B	Serious; mandatory min. (sentence + fine)
Putting Destructive or Injurious Materials on a Highway with Malice, Death Resulting	2206	§57-7-20(D)	Life; death	Unclassified	Serious
Obstruction of a Railroad, Death Resulting	0384	§58-17-4090	Death	Exempt	Most serious
Accessory Before the Fact to Commit Any of the Above Offenses	0002	§16-1-40	Same sentence as offense itself	Unclassified	Same collateral consequences as underlying offense
Accessory After the Fact to Commit Any of the Above offenses	1151	§16-1-80	Same sentence as offense itself	Unclassified	Same collateral consequences as underlying offense