Aiken County Lags in DUI Convictions Compared to State

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According to data from the South Carolina Commission on Prosecution Coordination, Aiken County convicts drunk drivers at a rate of around 52%, compared to the statewide average of 62%. Nearly one in five DUI charges in Aiken County were dismissed before trial last fiscal year, representing about 19% of cases, which is lower than the statewide average of 28.5% of DUI cases being dismissed.

Why it matters

South Carolina consistently ranks among the highest states in the nation for drunk driving deaths, and this data suggests Aiken County may be contributing to that issue by convicting fewer drunk drivers than the rest of the state. Advocacy groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving have been pushing for legislative reforms to address concerns around plea bargaining and dismissals of DUI cases.

The details

The nearly 10-point gap between Aiken County's DUI conviction rate and the statewide average means fewer people arrested for drunk driving in Aiken County are facing conviction. The data comes as law enforcement agencies prepare for Super Bowl Sunday, typically one of the most dangerous nights on the road for drunk driving incidents.

• The data is from the last fiscal year.
• New work requirements for SNAP benefits are creating challenges for vulnerable populations in South Carolina and beyond.
• Senate Bill 52, which passed the Senate this week, aims to address concerns around plea bargaining and enhancing accountability for DUI offenders and repeat offenders.

What’s next

Senate Bill 52 still needs to pass the House before it can become law, which would aim to address concerns around plea bargaining and enhancing accountability for DUI offenders and repeat offenders.