PARENT'S RIGHTS NOW!

So we weren't dreaming after all--the State of South Carolina is using Court Costs and fines as a revenue generating mechanism. Chief Justice Jean Toal appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week and opposed the enactment of two bills. As discussed in the Post and Courier, one bill would have allowed prosecutors to create diversion programs allowing first time offenders to get four-point driving offenses erased from their records in exchange for community service. "The diversion program is a good idea, Toal said, "although it could cost courts a chunk of the fine money that largely supports them."

We guess that there is little hope in enlisting Justice Toal's help in making suggested reforms in Family Court such as making the "fines" levied in contempt cases bear some logical relationship to the Court Costs--or better yet--asking the Legislature to provide the necessary operational funds.