Myrtle Beach Legal Blog

How is the Coronavirus outbreak affecting inmates at prisons and detention centers in SC?

It's something many people have not considered unless you have a family member locked up in a crowded jail with no opportunity to "social distance," no hand sanitizer, and no face masks...

If someone is arrested for a non-violent crime, should they be punished first with the terror of a potentially lethal virus working its way towards them through a crowded jail, and then with the possibility of death or a protracted, painful illness that may involve intubation and weeks of suffering?

If you are someone who would say, "It doesn't matter - you do the crime, you do the time. Should've thought about that before you bought those drugs," have you considered the effect of a mass influx of sick inmates to the local ER, some of whom will require ventilators to survive, and who in many cases will be entering hospitals in small, rural communities with limited resources?

What is SC doing right now to prevent a catastrophe in our local jails and prisons? What should we be doing?

One of the most difficult aspects of divorce for many people is the effect that it may have on the children. Can children's books about divorce help to explain the situation to young ones and help them to process their feelings?

How do you talk to children about divorce? For some people, the prospect of causing harm to their children may be enough to stay together. For others, when it is clear that a divorce is necessary, it is important to understand that the divorce will affect the children, for better or worse, and that they will need to talk about what is happening so they can understand and process their feelings.

Below, I'll discuss some of the top children's books about divorce and some research-based tips for how to talk to children about divorce.

Does workers' compensation in SC cover injuries while on break?

If all on-the-job injuries are covered by workers' compensation insurance, shouldn't that also apply to injuries sustained while taking an ordinary break during work hours? What if you slip and fall while taking a break?

If you are on break and your clothing is accidentally set on fire by your cigarette lighter, is that covered by workers' compensation? What if you are on the clock, taking a fifteen-minute break, and your pistol accidentally discharges while you are showing it to a coworker?

In most cases, accidents that happen while on break will be covered under what is called "the personal comfort doctrine." Some injuries while on break may not be covered, however, if they have no "logical causal correlation" to your employment.

If you are found guilty or plead guilty to a crime in SC, is home detention a possibility?

If a person is convicted of a crime, but they have no prior record and their circumstances make it clear they are not likely to re-offend, what purpose does it serve to send them to prison? If home detention provides intensive, constant supervision, the community is protected, and there are treatment options available in the home, does the court have to send a person to prison?

In some cases, home detention is a possibility in SC for low-risk offenders. But what if there is a mandatory prison sentence? Also, does it matter if the offense is classified as violent?