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South Carolina Office of the Governor Henry McMaster

Domestic Violence Task Force

South Carolina is ranked second highest in the nation for the rate of women murdered by men, having previously ranked in the top ten for the past twelve years. To counter the culture of domestic violence in South Carolina, the Domestic Violence Task Force to comprehensively address the cultural issues surrounding domestic violence in the State of South Carolina, including social, economic, and geographic issues as well as professional standards and best practices within government and non-government organizations.

All meetings of the Task Force are open to the public, and all reports issued by the Task Force will be made available to the public. Citizens are encouraged to get involved and participate where possible.

Information about the Task Force

The Domestic Violence Task Force was established in 2015 to comprehensively address the cultural issues surrounding domestic violence in the State of South Carolina, including social, economic, and geographic issues as well as professional standards and best practices within government and non-government organizations.

Membership:

The Task Force is chaired by the Governor and consists of representatives from over 40 government and non-government organizations at the state and local levels.

Organization:

The Task Force is divided into three divisions to study and make recommendations to improve three areas affecting domestic violence:

(1) The Criminal Justice Division, chaired by Director Bryan Stirling of the Department of Corrections;

(2) The Victim and Offender Services Division, chaired by Katie Morgan from the Department of Social Services; and

(3) The Community Awareness, Education, and Outreach Division, chaired by Director Richele Taylor of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Interim Reports:

The Task Force is conducting its work in four phases, subject to any change:

Phase I: Data and Information Collection – Interim Report due in May 2015;

Phase II: Identifying Problems and Creating Solutions – Interim Report due in August 2015;

Final Report:

The Task Force will issue its Final Report no later than December 31, 2015.