(A) A state agency shall inform the Department of Children's Advocacy within twenty-four hours of a critical incident. (B) The State Child Advocate may perform an independent investigation of a critical incident, or the State Child Advocate may review a completed critical incident investigation performed by a state agency. If the State Child Advocate conducts his own investigation, then he shall investigate: (1) the factual circumstances surrounding the critical incident; (2) whether an agency's activities or services provided to a child and his family were adequate, appropriate, and in accordance with agency policies and state and federal law; and (3) whether the agency's policies, regulations, training, or delivery of services or state law can be improved. (C) As part of an investigation, the State Child Advocate may: (1) administer oaths; (2) examine witnesses under oath; (3) issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum; and (4) examine the records, reports, audits, reviews, papers, books, recommendations, contracts, correspondence, or any other documents maintained by an agency. (D) The State Child Advocate may apply to a circuit court for an order holding an individual in ers, books, recommendations, contracts, correspondence, or any other documents maintained by an agency. (D) The State Child Advocate may apply to a circuit court for an order holding an individual in contempt of court if the individual refuses to give sworn testimony under a subpoena issued by the State Child Advocate or otherwise disobeys a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued by the State Child Advocate. (E) In addition to the reporting requirements in subsection (A), if the State Child Advocate has reasonable cause to believe that a crime has occurred or is occurring, then he shall immediately report the matter to the appropriate state or federal law enforcement agencies and prosecuting authorities with jurisdiction over the matter. HISTORY: 2018 Act No. 160 (S.805), Section 1, eff July 1, 2019.
South Carolina Legal Code