DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT

South Carolina has the unfortunate distinction of regularly leading the country in domestic violence-related deaths. To combat this problem in the Sixteenth Circuit, Solicitor Brackett’s Domestic Violence Unit works closely with all parts of the criminal justice system as well as service providers in the community to achieve impactful resolutions for troubled families. In some situations this means incarceration but other cases call for intervention and services. Our Domestic Violence prosecutors have a variety of tools at their disposal as they carefully evaluate each case. In addition to traditional outcomes like the Pre-Trial Intervention Program and plea negotiations, York County offers two domestic violence pilot programs: the Domestic Violence Diversion Program and Domestic Violence Protocols for offenders sentenced to probation. With these resources and the assistance of other participants, the Sixteenth Circuit is poised to lead the State to better outcomes in the context of domestic violence.