South Carolina

South Carolina Code — Title 16, Crimes; Title 44 Controlled Substances

456 sections, each with the official text and a plain-English explanation of what it means for you.

• § 16-11-10 — "Dwelling house" defined in case of burglary, arson and other criminal offenses
• § 16-11-110 — Arson
• § 16-11-125 — Making false claim or statement in support of claim to obtain insurance benefits for fire or explosion loss
• § 16-11-130 — Burning personal property to defraud insurer
• § 16-11-140 — Burning of crops, fuel or lumber
• § 16-11-150 — Burning lands of another without consent
• § 16-11-160 — Carrying fire on lands of another without permit
• § 16-11-170 — Wilfully burning lands of another
• § 16-11-180 — Negligently allowing fire to spread to lands or property of another
• § 16-11-190 — Attempts to burn
• § 16-11-20 — Making, mending or possessing tools or other implements capable of being used in crime
• § 16-11-200 — Placing or distributing combustible materials and the like in buildings and property as constituting attempt
• § 16-11-30 — Possession of master keys and nonowner key sets
• § 16-11-310 — Definitions
• § 16-11-311 — Burglary; first degree
• § 16-11-312 — Burglary; second degree
• § 16-11-313 — Burglary; third degree
• § 16-11-325 — Common law robbery classified as felony; penalty
• § 16-11-330 — Robbery and attempted robbery while armed with deadly weapon
• § 16-11-340 — Required placards in retail establishments as to consequences of conviction of armed robbery
• § 16-11-345 — Cardboard placards
• § 16-11-350 — Train robbery by stopping train
• § 16-11-360 — Robbery after entry upon train
• § 16-11-370 — Robbery of operators of motor vehicles for hire
• § 16-11-380 — Entering bank, depository or building and loan association with intent to steal; theft or solicitation of person using automated teller machine
• § 16-11-390 — Safecracking
• § 16-11-410 — Citation of article
• § 16-11-420 — Intent and findings of General Assembly
• § 16-11-430 — Definitions
• § 16-11-440 — Presumption of reasonable fear of imminent peril when using deadly force against another unlawfully entering residence, occupied vehicle or place of business
• § 16-11-450 — Immunity from criminal prosecution and civil actions; law enforcement officer exception; costs
• § 16-11-510 — Malicious injury to animals and other personal property
• § 16-11-520 — Malicious injury to tree, house, outside fence, or fixture; trespass upon real property
• § 16-11-523 — Obtaining nonferrous metals unlawfully; disruption of communication or electrical service
• § 16-11-525 — Commissioners deemed owners of Housing Authority property for certain purposes; exemption from liability
• § 16-11-530 — Malicious injury to real property; school trustees deemed owners of school property
• § 16-11-535 — Malicious injury to place of worship
• § 16-11-560 — Burning or cutting untenanted or unfinished buildings
• § 16-11-570 — Injury or destruction of buildings or crops by tenant
• § 16-11-580 — Cutting, removing, or transporting forest products without consent of landowner; fraudulently acquiring forest products; penalties
• § 16-11-590 — Destruction of sea oat or Venus's flytrap plants
• § 16-11-600 — Notice of trespassing; purple paint
• § 16-11-610 — Entry on another's lands for various purposes without permission
• § 16-11-615 — Payment of treble damages; discharge from further penalty
• § 16-11-617 — Entry on another's land for purpose of cultivating marijuana
• § 16-11-620 — Entering premises after warning or refusing to leave on request; jurisdiction and enforcement
• § 16-11-625 — Public library trespass; warning; appeal; penalties
• § 16-11-630 — Refusing to leave certain public premises during hours when they are regularly closed
• § 16-11-640 — Unlawful entry into enclosed places
• § 16-11-650 — Removing, destroying or leaving down fences; penalties; magistrate court jurisdiction; easement holder's rights
• § 16-11-660 — Traveling outside of road on cultivated lands
• § 16-11-670 — Pleading satisfaction in prosecutions under Sections 16-11-650 and 16-11-660
• § 16-11-680 — Destruction or removal of geodetic control or property corner monuments
• § 16-11-690 — Failure to return boat, flat or tool used for mining phosphate
• § 16-11-700 — Dumping litter on private or public property prohibited; exceptions; responsibility for removal; penalties
• § 16-11-710 — Acceptance of cash bond in lieu of immediate court appearance in litter control prosecutions
• § 16-11-720 — Dumping trash in or along shoreline of Lake Greenwood; penalties
• § 16-11-725 — Rummaging through or stealing household garbage for purposes of committing identity theft; penalty; exception for officers of the law
• § 16-11-730 — Malicious injury to or interference with microwave radio or television facilities; unauthorized use of facilities
• § 16-11-740 — Wilful and malicious injury to telegraph, telephone, or electric utility system
• § 16-11-750 — Unlawful injury or interference with electric lines
• § 16-11-755 — Operation of certain motor vehicles on utility rights of way unlawful; penalties
• § 16-11-760 — Parking on private property without permission; removal of vehicles; lien for towing and storage; sale of vehicles; penalty for violation
• § 16-11-770 — Illegal graffiti vandalism; penalty; removal or restitution
• § 16-11-780 — Prohibition on entering certain lands to discover, uncover, move, remove, or attempt to remove archaeological resource; definitions; penalty; exception
• § 16-11-810 — Short title
• § 16-11-815 — Definitions
• § 16-11-820 — Use of service without authorization or payment; presumption arising from connection of device to cable or closed circuit system
• § 16-11-825 — Unauthorized connection or use of device to cable television system
• § 16-11-830 — Aiding or abetting another person in obtaining cable service without payment
• § 16-11-835 — Sale, lease, or advertising of equipment for avoidance of cable service charge
• § 16-11-840 — Unauthorized device designed to decode or descramble cable television signal
• § 16-11-845 — Use, sale, or installation of converter for unauthorized reception of intelligible signals
• § 16-11-850 — Receipt of signals from air by use of satellite dish or antenna
• § 16-11-855 — Penalties
• § 16-11-910 — Prohibitions relative to sound recordings; application of section
• § 16-11-911 — Definitions; unlawful recording of motion pictures
• § 16-11-915 — Prohibitions relative to live performances; persons considered proper witnesses; application of section
• § 16-11-920 — Penalties
• § 16-11-930 — Illegal distribution of recordings without name and address of manufacturer and designation of featured artist
• § 16-11-940 — Penalties for violations of Section 16-11-930
• § 16-11-950 — Exceptions
• § 16-13-10 — Forgery
• § 16-13-100 — Stealing crude turpentine
• § 16-13-105 — Definitions; shoplifting and similar offenses
• § 16-13-110 — Shoplifting
• § 16-13-111 — Reports of shoplifting convictions
• § 16-13-120 — Shoplifting; presumptions from concealment of unpurchased goods
• § 16-13-130 — Sections 16-13-110 and 16-13-120 cumulative
• § 16-13-131 — Product code creation to fraudulently obtain goods or merchandise for less than the actual sales price; penalties
• § 16-13-135 — Organized retail crime; penalties
• § 16-13-140 — Defense to action for delay to investigate ownership of merchandise
• § 16-13-15 — Falsifying or altering transcript or diploma; fraudulent use of falsified or altered transcript or diploma; penalty
• § 16-13-150 — Purse snatching
• § 16-13-160 — Breaking into motor vehicles or tanks, pumps and other containers where fuel or lubricants are stored
• § 16-13-165 — Unlawful actions involving counterfeit or nonfunctional airbags; penalties; definitions
• § 16-13-170 — Entering house or vessel without breaking with intent to steal; attempt to enter
• § 16-13-175 — Confiscation and forfeiture of motor vehicle used in larceny; hearing
• § 16-13-177 — Timber theft; forfeiture of property
• § 16-13-180 — Receiving stolen goods, chattels, or other property; receiving or possessing property represented by law enforcement as stolen; penalties
• § 16-13-181 — Action for damages resulting from violation of Section 16-13-180
• § 16-13-185 — Failure to pay for gasoline; penalties
• § 16-13-210 — Embezzlement of public funds
• § 16-13-220 — Embezzlement of public funds; presumption on proof of failure to account for receipts
• § 16-13-230 — Breach of trust with fraudulent intent
• § 16-13-240 — Obtaining signature or property by false pretenses
• § 16-13-250 — Effect when obtaining signature or property by false pretenses amounts to larceny
• § 16-13-260 — Obtaining property under false tokens or letters
• § 16-13-290 — Securing property by fraudulent impersonation of officer
• § 16-13-30 — Petit larceny; grand larceny
• § 16-13-300 — Fraudulent removal or secreting of personal property attached or levied on
• § 16-13-310 — Taking official records without authority
• § 16-13-320 — Swindling
• § 16-13-330 — Stealing or damaging works of literature or objects of art
• § 16-13-331 — Unauthorized removal or concealment of library property prohibited; penalty
• § 16-13-332 — Library personnel exempt from liability for arrest of persons suspected of concealment or removal of library property
• § 16-13-340 — Failure to return books, newspapers, magazines and the like borrowed from library and other institutions
• § 16-13-35 — Presumed value of credit card subject to larceny
• § 16-13-350 — Posting copies of Sections 16-13-330 to 16-13-370
• § 16-13-360 — Disposition of fines collected under Sections 16-13-330 and 16-13-340
• § 16-13-370 — Cumulative effect of Sections 16-13-330 to 16-13-360
• § 16-13-380 — Theft of electric current
• § 16-13-385 — Altering, tampering with or bypassing electric, gas or water meters; penalties
• § 16-13-390 — Cheating producers of electricity
• § 16-13-40 — Stealing of bonds and the like
• § 16-13-400 — Avoiding or attempting to avoid payment of telecommunications services
• § 16-13-410 — Making or possessing device, plans or instructions which can be used to violate Section 16-13-400
• § 16-13-420 — Failure to return leased or rented property; fraudulent appropriation of leased or rented property
• § 16-13-430 — Fraudulent acquisition or use of food stamps
• § 16-13-437 — False statement or representation as to income to public housing agency to obtain or retain public housing or with respect to determining rent; misdemeanor; penalties; restitution
• § 16-13-440 — Fraudulent refunds from businesses; use of false or fictitious driver's licenses or identification cards; penalties
• § 16-13-450 — Unlawful issuance, sale, or offer to sell identification card or document purporting to contain age or date of birth
• § 16-13-451 — Unlawful submission of documentation required under Section 16-13-450
• § 16-13-452 — Law enforcement or intelligence activities not subject to Sections 16-13-450 and 16-13-451
• § 16-13-460 — Church to separate and use money only for cemetery maintenance when so designated; penalties
• § 16-13-470 — Defrauding drug and alcohol screening tests; penalty
• § 16-13-480 — Providing false identifications for use by unlawful aliens; penalty
• § 16-13-50 — Stealing livestock; confiscation of motor vehicle or other chattel
• § 16-13-500 — Citation of article
• § 16-13-510 — Financial identity fraud or identity fraud; penalty
• § 16-13-512 — Printing credit and debit card numbers on sales receipts; exceptions; penalties
• § 16-13-520 — Venue
• § 16-13-525 — Financial identity fraud enabling unlawfully present alien to live or work in United States; penalties
• § 16-13-530 — Exceptions from application of article
• § 16-13-60 — Stealing dogs
• § 16-13-65 — Aquaculture operations; stealing or damaging products or facilities
• § 16-13-66 — Penalties for violating Section 16-13-65
• § 16-13-70 — Stealing of vessels and equipment; payment of damages
• § 16-13-80 — Larceny of bicycles
• § 16-3-10 — "Murder" defined
• § 16-3-1010 — Failing to remove doors from abandoned airtight containers
• § 16-3-1020 — Maintaining open and unprotected abandoned wells
• § 16-3-1040 — Threatening life, person or family of public official or public employee; punishment
• § 16-3-1045 — Use or employment of person under eighteen to commit certain crimes
• § 16-3-1050 — Failure to report, perpetrating or interfering with an investigation of abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult; penalties
• § 16-3-1060 — Receipt of compensation for relinquishing custody of child for adoption; penalty
• § 16-3-1072 — Reporting medical treatment for gunshot wound; immunity; physician-patient privilege abrogated; penalties
• § 16-3-1075 — Felony of carjacking; penalties
• § 16-3-1080 — Committing or attempting to commit a violent crime while wearing body armor a felony
• § 16-3-1083 — Death or injury of child in utero due to commission of violent crime
• § 16-3-1085 — Violent offender prohibited from purchasing, owning, or using body armor; exceptions
• § 16-3-1090 — Assisted suicide; penalties; injunctive relief
• § 16-3-1095 — Creation of Department of Crime Victim Assistance Grants; solicitation and administration of grants and awards
• § 16-3-1110 — Definitions
• § 16-3-1120 — Director of Crime Victim Services Division; powers and duties
• § 16-3-1130 — Claims; assignment to field representative; investigation and reports
• § 16-3-1140 — Application for review of decision; appeals; subpoenas; report on review
• § 16-3-1150 — Emergency awards
• § 16-3-1160 — South Carolina Crime Victim Advisory Board; appointments; terms of office; vacancies in office; meetings; subsistence, mileage, and per diem
• § 16-3-1170 — Basis for award
• § 16-3-1180 — Amount of award; apportionment among multiple claimants; rejection of application for award
• § 16-3-1190 — Reduction of award
• § 16-3-1200 — Conduct of victim or intervenor contributing to infliction of injury; reduction of award; rejection of claim
• § 16-3-1210 — Persons eligible for award
• § 16-3-1220 — Persons ineligible for award
• § 16-3-1230 — Claim filed on behalf of minor or incompetent; time limitations
• § 16-3-1240 — Disclosure of records as to claims; confidentiality; applicability of Freedom of Information Act
• § 16-3-1250 — Subrogation of State to right of action accruing to claimant, victim, or intervenor
• § 16-3-1260 — Reimbursement of State by convicted person for payment by Office of the Attorney General, South Carolina Crime Victim Services Division
• § 16-3-1270 — Restitution by offender; lien against offender; filing of lien
• § 16-3-1280 — False claim; penalties
• § 16-3-1290 — Victim Compensation Fund; payment of claims, expenses and administrative costs
• § 16-3-1300 — Payment of award; exemption from garnishment, execution, or attachment
• § 16-3-1310 — Payment of award to victim or intervenor confined in correctional facility
• § 16-3-1320 — Payment of award as not constituting ordinary income for tax purposes
• § 16-3-1330 — Insufficient funds for payment of claims
• § 16-3-1340 — Attorney for claimant; fees; attorney for Department of Crime Victim Compensation; soliciting employment to pursue claim or award; penalties
• § 16-3-1350 — Medicolegal examinations for victims of criminal sexual conduct or child sexual abuse
• § 16-3-1360 — Debt collection activities prohibited until award is made or denied; suspension of statute of limitations; definition
• § 16-3-1400 — Omitted
• § 16-3-1410 — Department of Crime Victim Services Training, Provider Certification, and Statistical Analysis; public crime victim assistance programs
• § 16-3-1420 — Definitions
• § 16-3-1430 — Victim assistance services; membership of Victim Services Coordinating Council
• § 16-3-1505 — Legislative intent
• § 16-3-1510 — Definitions
• § 16-3-1515 — Victim or witness to supply certain information; requirements for restitution; victims wishing to be present in court to notify prosecuting agency or summary court judge; victim impact statement
• § 16-3-1520 — Victim entitled to copy of initial incident report; assistance in applying for victim's compensation benefits; information on progress of case
• § 16-3-1525 — Arrest or detention of person accused of committing offense; notification to victims; protection of witnesses; notification of bond proceedings; juvenile detention hearings
• § 16-3-1530 — Notification of victim of release, escape or transfer of accused
• § 16-3-1535 — Summary court's duty to notify victim of victim's rights; form for victim impact statement