SECOND LOOK NETWORK
South Carolina Second Look Network
The South Carolina Second Look Network was created to build a movement—starting from inside prison walls—to shift the paradigm on how we think about incarceration. This network will be led by man and women who are behind the fences and will amplify their voices into spaces where the audience has the ability to make change. We are dedicated to educating, organizing, and advocating for Second Look legislation and any other cause that recognizes the power of redemption, promotes justice through mercy, and increases pathways to freedom. Together, we strive to transform lives, influence policy, and build a safer and more compassionate South Carolina.
Second Look Legislation is a national trend in criminal justice. The Sentencing Project has created a national Second-Look Network to push for second-look legislation in every state. As of today, 12 states, plus the District of Columbia and the federal system, have enacted some form of judicial review for lengthy sentences. Among these, 11 states and D.C. permit court-initiated review, while 5 states allow prosecutors to trigger reviews. Notable examples include California, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington, where prosecutors can seek resentencing after the individual has served a significant term.
Second-look legislation allows courts to review and potentially reduce long prison sentences (25 years or more) after a person has served a significant portion(10-20 years) of their time. It recognizes that people can change and seeks to correct overly harsh sentences, especially for those sentenced when young or under outdated laws. These laws provide a chance for rehabilitation to be considered, offering hope for release to individuals who have demonstrated growth, remorse, and a commitment to positive change.
What is Second-Look Legislation?
South Carolina is one of many states that does not yet have a Second Look law, leaving no formal pathway for courts to review long or extreme sentences — even for people who have grown, changed, and proven their rehabilitation. Thousands of individuals in our state are serving decades or life sentences for crimes committed when they were young or under circumstances that today might be viewed differently. Without Second Look legislation, these individuals are denied the opportunity to demonstrate their transformation in a courtroom.
South Carolina has long been known as a tough-on-crime state, where harsh sentencing laws were designed to deter crime but have instead contributed to mass incarceration and generational harm. We recognize that to bring Second Look legislation to South Carolina, we must do the hard work of changing the narrative — showing that accountability and mercy can go hand in hand, and that offering second chances makes communities stronger and safer. The South Carolina Second Look Network is committed to leading that change through education, advocacy, and action.
Why Second Look Matters for South Carolina
Our Plan for Second Look Legislation Advocacy
1 Build a network of incarcerated men and women who are committed to educating and advocating for Second Look legislation.
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• We will identify a point person at each prison who will serve as the lead contact. This person will distribute educational materials, help inform the population, and collect stories of personal change and growth.
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• Within each prison, we aim to have advocates in every dorm who understand Second Look legislation and can teach others how to share their stories and engage their families in the movement.
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• Everyone on the inside who has supportive family members will encourage their families to learn about Second Look legislation and contact us via email so they can be added to our supporter list.
2 Build external support from people willing to advocate for Second Look legislation and vote for politicians who support it.
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• We will work to shift the narrative in South Carolina, where politicians have historically relied on tough-on-crime rhetoric. Our supporters will promote a new message: South Carolina can forgive, and our sons and daughters can change.
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• Supporters will educate others—through social media, in their families, and within their communities—about the importance of Second Chances.
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• Supporters will reach out to community leaders, legislators, and law enforcement by email, phone calls, and in-person meetings to share these ideas and push for change.
3 Draft and advocate for a bill that embodies the principles of second chances, forgiveness, and true justice.
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• Once we have built a strong base of inside and outside supporters, we will collectively draft a bill that reflects these shared values.
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• We will seek the backing of state senators and legislators to sponsor and introduce the bill to the South Carolina Senate floor.
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• All supporters will be called upon to show up at hearings, send emails, make phone calls, and take other actions to demonstrate broad public support for the bill.