Harassment and Stalking

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-1700, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS REGARDING HARASSMENT AND STALKING OFFENSES, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "PATTERN" TO INCLUDE INCIDENCES IN WHICH ONE ACT IS COMMITTED AGAINST ONE VICTIM AND ANOTHER ACT IS COMMITTED AGAINST ANOTHER VICTIM EQUALING TWO ACTS SIMILAR IN NATURE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-1710, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR CONVICTIONS OF HARASSMENT IN THE SECOND DEGREE, BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-1720, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR CONVICTIONS OF HARASSMENT IN THE FIRST DEGREE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-1730, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR CONVICTIONS OF STALKING, ALL SO AS TO REMOVE THE TEN-YEAR RESTRICTION FOR PRIOR OFFENSES AND PROVIDE THAT PROVISIONS REGARDING RESTRAINING ORDERS APPLY NO MATTER THE VICTIM.