Get Reset South Carolina Department Of Social Services ABANDONED INFANTS FORM FOR SAFE HAVENS For Use

Child neglect can be charged as either a gross misdemeanor or a felony. ... If you are charged with a felony the maximum possible penalty is up to 5 years imprisonment and up to a $10,000 fine.

This offense is one of South Carolina's main laws dealing with physical child abuse or neglect. ... This is a felony, and can carry a sentence of up to ten years imprisonment in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. In order to be convicted, the State must prove several things.

Neglect is when a parent or guardian does not provide for the basic needs of a child, though capable of doing so. Neglect can include not meeting physical, medical, educational or emotional needs.

DSS will do an investigation. DSS will also fill out some papers asking the family court to have a merits hearing, which is also called a removal hearing. At this hearing, the court will decide whether your child should stay out of your home until you make your home safe.

The Last Option: Safe Haven Program Saves Newborns From Abandonment. ... As soon as a newborn has been surrendered, they are initially checked by an EMT and then taken to a nearby hospital for more detailed examination and care. (The Safe Haven program also allows newborns to be surrendered at hospitals.)

You may file a complaint of discrimination by contacting DSS. Write DSS Office of Civil Rights, P.O. Box 1520, Columbia, S.C. 29202-1520; or call (800) 311-7220 or (803) 898-8080 or TTY: (800) 311-7219.

Abandonment DefinedAbandonment is defined in Section 63-7-20(1) as willfully deserting a child or willfully surrounding physical possession of a child without making adequate arrangements for child's needs or continuing care of the child.

To report suspected child abuse or neglect, contact the SCDSS 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 1-888-CARE4US or 1-888-227-3487. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Intake staff will assist the person making the report and assess the information provided to determine if an investigation is necessary.

If DSS investigates and decides the case is unfounded, nothing else will happen regarding that report. But DSS can keep the records for five years. What happens if DSS cannot complete the investigation? If the investigation cannot be completed, it may be reopened later.

State laws often define neglect as the failure of a parent or caregiver to provide needed food, shelter, clothing, medical care, or supervision to the degree that a child's health, safety, and well-being are threatened with harm. Some states include exceptions for determining neglect.