Community Safety is Legislative Priority
Senator Shane Martin and Rep Eddie Tallon pushing for notification regarding inmates
Spartanburg, SC – Legislation was filed today in both the Senate and House by State Senator Shane Martin and Statehouse Representative Eddie Tallon regarding inmate rehabilitation and reintroduction projects which impact communities.
The legislation, if signed into law will require any public, private, or nonprofit entity which is engaged in helping to rehabilitate and reintroduce paroled inmates to notify the community it will impact at least 30 days prior to the introduction of parolees into the neighborhoods. Notification will have to come in the form of a newspaper or general circulation, giving the address of where the residential facility will be located. In addition, public hearings will also be required at least 60 days before the first residential facility opens in a community.
Martin stated, “I believe everyone deserves a second chance and I applaud those willing to assist with rehabilitation, but even more important than that is the safety and wellbeing of our communities. People deserve to be notified if one of these rehabilitation projects intends to move into their backyard.”
Tallon stated, “This really shouldn’t even have to be a law, as it should just be a common courtesy to reach out to people when you’re going to have an impact on their lives. The work these folks are doing with the inmates is a great thing, but, I agree, people deserve to be notified if one of these rehabilitation projects intends to move into their backyard.”
Both Martin and Tallon agree this is just about doing what is best for our South Carolina Communities and they are glad to be able to work together on this project.
For more information on Senator Shane Martin, visit his website at: www.SenatorMartin.com
For more information on Representative Eddie Tallon, visit his website at: www.EddieTallon.com
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Hope it is not too late
Shane,
keep up the good work in assisting communities with advanced notice on issues such as having sex offenders moving into homes within reach of our children. I agree there is a need for assisting with rehabilitation for former inmates but we need to be careful in the placement of such facilities and limit the number of such “homes” within a given geographical area. No more in Roebuck, please!