PARENT'S RIGHTS NOW!

A review of the following articles should bring everyone up to date:

1. Solicitor dismisses charge against jail fee protester;
2. Former jail captain indicted by state grand jury;
3. Auditor’s office might get closer look;
4. Senator arrested on DUI charge;
5. Report details missing jail cash;
6. Summary of the forensic audit;
7. Sheriff: Scott was 'belligerent;' and,
8. Ex-Dorchester jail chief appears in court.

Note that the Solicitor stated that he was dismissing the case against Mr. Limehouse because "Legally and ethically I cannot, and will not, go forward with a case in which I don't believe he [Limehouse] committed the crime."*

Note also that Senator Scott was the person who sought the South Carolina AG's opinion on the legality of the "Inmate Processing Fee." And, although all the facts regarding Mr. Scott's D. U. I. arrest have not yet been revealed, Mr. Scott's opponent--an attorney--stated--"It's sad he brought this on himself, his family and our citizens...My opponent's behavior will not distract me from my positive campaign, which is about what I do, not what my opponent does."

We cannot say for certain either whether there is any political motivation behind Senator Scott's arrest or whether the charges are appropriate. However, we do know:

1. Sheriff Nash has taken no steps to either identify the arrestees who were unlawfully deprived of their money or ascertain the amounts taken;
2. Sheriff Nash has not returned monies to all those who have requested their return;
3. County Councilman Chris Murphy represented Mr. Limehouse in the criminal case and is a political ally of both Mr. Scott and a man who both opposed Sheriff Nash in the last election and is currently running for the office of Sheriff;
4. Mr. Murphy is rumored to be drafting a Class Action Lawsuit against the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office to be filed after the next election; and,
5. At least some people, would prefer just to have our money returned rather than become embroiled in a political battle that will ultimately cost the County $Millions in fees and damages.

One may wonder what this all has to do with parents' rights. So we remind everyone that we believe that limited public resources are better spent incarcerating only those parents that absolutely and unequivocally refuse to abide by their court-ordered obligations and that, where possible, fees received from inmates should be spent on rehabilitation and education rather than on items that would not withstand objective scrutiny by neutral or disinterested parties.

# posted by PARENT'S RIGHTS NOW! @ 2:38 PM