GREENWOOD, SC –If there was ever a time to beat a DUI charge in South Carolina, it might have been this summer.
Following an order by the state’s Chief Justice to clear a backlog of cases, more than 4,000 DUI cases were dismissed by prosecutors between April 21 and July 21st. That’s 37% of the total number of cases (11,091) that were disposed during that time. The following data is according to figures provided by Chief Justice Jean Toal’s office:
– Greenville County disposed of the second-highest number of cases in the state, 935. (Horry County was first with 1449) – 334 of those cases (36%) were nolle prossed (dismissed). That gives Greenville County a 59% conviction rate for DUIs during that 4-month period. Its conviction rate during the previous 4 months was 75%. By comparison, Anderson and Oconee Counties maintained their conviction rates of 68%.
– Pickens County saw its conviction rate fall from 85% to 43% during that time. ….MORE