Felonies in South Carolina are simply designated as such by the state statute which lists the crimes considered to be felonious.
Felony Sentencing and Convictions in South Carolina
There are numerous classes of felony offenses in South Carolina which exclude murder, which is handled separately and is not classified with the classified felony offenses. Each felony class has its own penalty.
| Felony Classification | Criminal Charge | Sentencing: Jail Time and Fines |
| Class A Felony | - voluntary manslaughter
- criminal sexual conduct, 1st degree
- kidnapping
- carjacking
- arson
- robbery
- drug offenses
| No more than 30 years |
| Class B Felony | - arson
- drug offenses
- white collar crimes
- robbery
- sexual crimes
- DUI offenses causing death
| No more than 25 years |
| Class C Felony | - assault and battery with intent to kill
- theft
- drug crimes
- lynching
- poisoning
| No more than 20 years |
| Class D Felony | - burglary
- stalking
- accessory of Class A, B or C felony
| No more than 15 years |
| Class E Felony | - bribery
- DUI
- felonious driving
- threatening voters
- accessory of Class D felony
| No more than 10 years |
South Carolina Felony Records and Expungement
Generally, expungement in South Carolina is only permitted if the charges are discharged, dismissed, or if the person is found to be innocent of the charges. Therefore, this is generally not available for a felony conviction. However, there may be other ways that a charge might be expunged. For instance, in a Driving Under the Influence conviction, there may be opportunities for first-time offenders to work with court-administered programs which result in expungement. Consultation with a licensed South Carolina attorney is the only way to determine conclusively whether expungement is a possibility.
South Carolina Felony Statute of Limitations
In South Carolina, there are no statute of limitations for any felony offenses.
Help from a Lawyer in South Carolina for Felony Charges
An experienced criminal defense attorney can not only evaluate one’s case in order to determine what options one may have in the matter, but also the attorney can assist one in making important determinations in preparing one’s defense. In addition, the attorney can help to preserve any rights you may have, as well as help to obtain the most advantageous result under the circumstances.
