Donations

Law in Action operates on a very small budget. We seek and appreciate private donations.

During the past year, the Jail Project saved county taxpayers approximately $250,000.00 in jail housing costs. The South Carolina Bar Foundation has provided consistent funding for the Jail Project, although at a lower figure than in the past due to its own budget cuts. Greenville County provided financial assistance for one year but was unable to continue its support.

The Jail Project’s primary goal is to reduce jail overcrowding at the Greenville County Detention Center. When we started the program, magistrate court defendants, whose time in jail is not monitored by the court, routinely stayed in jail waiting for a court appearance much longer than the 30 day maximum sentences they faced. The Jail Project felt that this situation was wasteful for taxpayers as well as a violation of the defendants’ constitutional rights. Through efforts by LIA investigators and with the cooperation of our circuit court judges and the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, the Jail Project is now able to gain release for these inmates no later than 24 days from their arrest dates.

In addition to reducing jail overcrowding the Jail Project’s efforts resulted in a recent circuit court order signed by all five of our 13th Judicial Circuit Court Judges mandating financial screening for detainees who want free attorneys. In the past defendants held in jail were not screened for free lawyers and had to make decisions about their cases without legal help.

Jail Project investigators are paid from $7.50 to $10.00 per hour to interview jailed defendants, conduct background checks, review case reports, interview arresting officers, contact family members, develop case plans and make bond reduction requests to magistrates. We also encourage Furman students who have an interest in a legal career after graduation to provide volunteer investigative help.

Although the Jail Project is our most “expensive” program, Law in Action also needs funds to run our mock trial and workshop educational programs.

If you would like to make a donation to Law in Action, please contact the director, Stephen J. Henry by mail (Law in Action, 406 Pettigru Street, Greenville, SC 29601), phone (232-9700) or by email (sjhlaw@charter.net).