S.C. Wants to House Juvenile Inmates Closer to Home

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The acting director of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice has proposed restructuring housing for inmates in order to decrease recidivism rates.

The State reports agency chief Freddie Pough outlined his proposal Wednesday at a meeting of Gov. Henry McMaster's Cabinet.

Pough wants to house inmates at three regional centers in Columbia, Union and Ridgeville, with the Broad River Road complex in Columbia serving as temporary housing during evaluation. Currently, the centers' purposes are reversed, with regional centers serving as temporary housing during evaluation, and incarceration centralized at the Broad River Road complex.

Pough says the goal is to house inmates closer to home, increasing parental involvement and community job opportunities and facilitating transition.

McMaster lauded the idea, and said he will include it in this year's executive budget.