Henry McMaster on Crime

	Henry McMaster on Crime

Expand operations against animal fighting with new agents

Animal fighting, especially dog fighting, is one of the cruelest criminal activities in our society. In September 2022, a SLED agent was dedicated to combating animal fighting. Shortly thereafter, the agent helped execute one of the "biggest takedowns of a dogfighting operation in South Carolina history," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. This Executive Budget expands upon this success by recommending $566,000 to hire three additional SLED agents dedicated to animal fighting. Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature , Jan 24, 2024

Keep career criminals behind bars & carry out executions

Law enforcement needs our help. They need stronger laws to keep illegal guns out of the hands of criminals and juveniles, and new laws to "close the revolving door" and keep career criminals behind bars and not out on bond. That means no bond for repeat criminals. Those who commit a crime while out on bond will receive an automatic mandatory five-year felony sentence with no early release or parole--on top of the sentence for their previous crimes.

We have no means to carry out a death sentence in South Carolina--and the murderers know it. The Department of Corrections has been unable to carry out the death penalty by lethal injection since 2011 because the companies which make the drugs will not sell them unless their identities are shielded by state law from anti-death penalty activists. I ask the General Assembly again: pass a shield law. We must give these grieving families and loved ones the justice and closure they are owed by law.

Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature , Jan 25, 2023

Shield companies providing drugs for lethal injection

The Department of Corrections has been unable to carry out the death penalty by lethal injection since 2015 because the companies which make the drugs will not sell them unless their identities are shielded by state law from anti-death penalty activists. We have no means to carry out a death sentence in South Carolina--and the murderers know it. I ask the General Assembly: fix this. Give these grieving families and loved ones the justice and closure they are owed by law. Source: 2021 State of the State Address: South Carolina legislature , Jan 13, 2021

Invest $100 million in upgrading prisons

We are all aware of the struggles facing the men and women working at our Department of Corrections: contraband, violence, gangs, staffing shortages, health care deficiencies. This must change. I ask that we invest at least $100 million dollars toward making our prisons safer and more secure, both inside and outside the fence, by replacing and repairing existing infrastructure, facilities and control systems. Source: 2020 South Carolina State of the State address , Jan 22, 2020

Don't clear record for first time drunk/disorderly offender

S.C. Senate Summary: H3601: Expanding Employment Opportunities through Expungement of Disorderly Conduct Charges: conditional discharge for first time offenders relating to public disorderly conduct.

Analysis by ACU: This bill is designed to expand employment opportunities by providing individuals convicted of drunk or disorderly conduct offenses a pathway to have the charges expunged from public record.

Veto Message : Criminal history, like all history, should not be erased. Compassion should not be forced upon unwitting prospective employers & other interested parties. I am unwilling to sign legislation that effectively sanctions an employee failing to acknowledge--or consciously omitting information about--a prior arrest for public disorderly conduct.

Legislative Outcome: Vetoed by Gov. McMaster on May/28/19; Veto Overridden in House 107-0-15, Roll Call #712 on Jun/25/19; Veto Overridden in Senate 38-2-0, Roll Call #449 June/25/19.

Source: A.C.U. on South Carolina voting record H 3601 , May 28, 2019

Jam cellphone signals inside state prisons

We also face threats from inside our prisons. Today, cell phones are so concealable and available that they have revolutionized criminal activity. With cell phones smuggled inside the prison or secretly thrown over the wall, inmates and their conspirators on the outside can practice extortion, conduct blackmail, plan and execute "hits," operate drug rings and run any number of fraud schemes. It is as though they never got caught.

Our Department of Corrections is leading the national effort to repeal the federal law which prohibits us from jamming these phone signals. Until we accomplish that, we must take every action, try every idea and implement any law which will stop these criminals. I ask for your determined assistance.

Source: 2018 State of the State speech to South Carolina legislature , Jan 24, 2018

Prosecuted sex predators, prostitution, and fraud

2005: Declared Criminal Domestic Violence SC's #1 Crime: Worked with victim's advocates to enhance the law and create special courts in 36 counties, producing thousands of convictions.
2004: Created Internet Sex Predator (ICAC) Task Force: Wrote the law banning the use of the Internet by child sex predators, trained network of 50 law enforcement agencies which have arrested hundreds of these criminals, with a 100% conviction rate.
2003: Investigated and Prosecuted HomeGold case: Wrote the law to investigate securities fraud, then convicted all six architects of the HomeGold and Carolina Investors who defrauded thousands.
2010: Challenged Craigslist over prostitution ads, resulting in the removal of those ads nationwide.
2010: Expanded State Grand Jury, to assist in convicting gang members, securities fraud, and environmental crimes.

Source: 2010 S.C. Gubernatorial campaign website HenryMcMaster.com , Jan 11, 2017

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