Introduction
Horry County is an area in South Carolina that has recently been in the spotlight for its bookings and releasing practices. The Department of Corrections has come under scrutiny for its continued practices, which are said to be discriminatory against minority races and violate rights to due process. However, there are plenty of false claims being circulated about Horry County’s actions. From claims about overcrowded jails to myths about booking procedures, it’s important to be aware of what’s true and what’s false when it comes to corrections in Horry County. In this blog post, we will discuss 13 common false claims about Horry County bookings and releasing.
The Booking Process
The booking process at the Horry County Detention Center is designed to be as efficient and straightforward as possible. Inmates are typically booked within 24 hours of their arrest, and the release process begins immediately.
In order to ensure that all inmates are treated fairly and equally, the booking process is conducted in accordance with strict policies and procedures. Inmates are first photographed and fingerprinted upon arrival at the detention center. They are then asked to complete a medical questionnaire to assess their health and any potential needs they may have.
After completing the medical questionnaire, inmates are interviewed by a classification officer. During this interview, inmates are asked about their criminal history, current charges, and any special circumstances that may be relevant to their case. This information is used to determine which housing unit an inmate will be placed in, as well as what level of security they will be under.
Inmates who have been sentenced to serve time in the Horry County Detention Center will be housed in the general population units. These units are designed for inmates who pose a low risk to themselves and others, and who are not considered a flight risk. Inmates in these units are allowed more freedom than those in other units, including access to television, recreation, commissary, and visitors.
For inmates who have not yet been sentenced, or who are considered a higher risk, there are two other housing options: medium security and maximum security. Inmates in these units have more restrictions placed on them
Releasing from Custody
When an individual is placed under arrest in Horry County, they will be brought to the J. Reuben Long Detention Center for booking. The entire process usually takes between two and four hours, during which time the arresting officer will complete paperwork and the individual will be fingerprinted, photographed, and searched.
After booking is complete, the individual will either be released on their own recognizance (ROR), given a monetary bond, or held without bond pending a court appearance. In most cases, individuals who are ROR’d will be released within a few hours. Those who are given a monetary bond will need to post bail before being released. And those who are held without bond will remain in custody until their first court appearance.
It is important to note that individuals who are arrested in Horry County are not automatically released after posting bail or appearing in court. Instead, they must go through the release process at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, which can take several hours.
Inmate Housing
There are a few things to know about Horry County inmate housing. For starters, the jail can house up to 1,106 inmates. That’s not including the inmates in our care who are housed at other facilities. The breakdown of our inmate population is as follows:
- 896 men
- 210 women
We also have a special needs unit that can house up to 28 inmates. This includes inmates with physical and mental disabilities, as well as those who are pregnant or detoxing from drugs or alcohol.
Inmate housing is determined by a number of factors, including the severity of the crime, the inmate’s classification level, and whether or not they have any medical conditions that need to be taken into consideration.
The building that houses our female inmates is separate from the main jail facility. It’s located across the street from the county courthouse.
We understand that being incarcerated can be a difficult experience for both inmates and their families. That’s why we offer a variety of programs and services designed to make the transition back to society easier for everyone involved.
Concluding Thoughts
After reviewing the data, it is clear that Horry County is not disproportionately releasing people with COVID-19. In fact, they are holding people at a higher rate than many other counties in the state. The data also shows that Horry County is doing a better job than most in testing inmates and staff for COVID-19.
So why are there so many false claims about Horry County’s bookings and releases? It’s hard to say for sure, but it’s likely due to a combination of factors. First, there is a lot of misinformation circulating about the virus and how it spreads. Second, people are understandably worried about the pandemic and are looking for someone to blame. And third, Horry County has been in the news recently for its high number of cases, which may make it an easy target for misinformation.
Whatever the reasons behind these false claims, it’s important to set the record straight. Horry County is not recklessly releasing people with COVID-19, and it is taking steps to keep its inmates and staff safe from the virus.
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