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Panel considers proposal to centralize juvenile fingerprints for SLED access
Summary
The committee reviewed LC309, which would allow juvenile fingerprints taken at detention to be shared centrally with SLED; members questioned effects on expungement, monitoring, and privacy protections and directed further drafting and explanation from DJJ and staff.
The Juvenile Justice Committee examined LC309, a draft that would permit juvenile fingerprints collected at detention or by local law enforcement to be provided to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and held in a centralized database.
A staff speaker explained the existing statute prohibits SLED from obtaining juvenile records and that fingerprints are currently maintained locally; the draft would align juvenile fingerprint handling with the system used in General Sessions cases. "The statute as written right now prohibits SLED from getting juvenile records," an unnamed staff speaker said, describing the policy intent to protect youth who make mistakes. The staff member added that the change would let SLED have records to monitor whether a juvenile's conduct is escalating into more serious offenses.
Director Hendrick said the change "just allows us to give all the juvenile fingerprints of youth who are detained to SLED," noting fingerprints are already taken and used by law enforcement but are not centralized. Committee members asked whether centralization would make expungement harder; staff and DJJ said the same expungement process would apply and that, while juvenile records are sealed, law enforcement exceptions already exist. Members also asked about what follow-up law enforcement action would entail once SLED identifies escalation.
Committee members directed staff to clarify expungement procedures and protections and signaled the fingerprint bill could be ready to introduce on Tuesday, subject to final drafting.
