South Carolina Code
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-48-80 (2026)
Determination of probable cause; taking person into custody; hearing; evaluation
✓ current as of May 2026
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(A) Upon filing of a petition, the court must determine whether probable cause exists to believe that the person named in the petition is a sexually violent predator. If the court determines that probable cause exists to believe that the person is a sexually violent predator, the person must be taken into custody if he is not already confined in a secure facility.
(B) Immediately upon being taken into custody pursuant to subsection (A), the person must be provided with notice of the opportunity to appear in person at a hearing to contest probable cause as to whether the detained person is a sexually violent predator. This hearing must be held within seventy-two hours after a person is taken into custody pursuant to subsection (A). At this hearing the court must:
(1) verify the detainee's identity;
(2) receive evidence and hear arguments from the person and the Attorney General; and
(3) determine whether probable cause exists to believe that the person is a sexually violent predator.
The State may rely upon the petition and supplement the petition with additional documentary evidence or live testimony.
(C) At the probable cause hearing as provided in subsection (B), the detained person has the following rights in addition to any rights previously specified:
(1) to be represented by counsel;
(2) to present evidence on the person's behalf;
(3) to cross-examine witnesses who testify against the person; and
(4) to view and copy all petitions and reports in the court file.
(D) If the probable cause determination is made, then the court must direct that, upon completion of the criminal sentence, the person must be transferred to a local or regional detention facility pending the conclusion of the proceedings under this chapter. The court must further direct that the person be transported to an appropriate facility of the Office of Mental Health for an evaluation as to whether the person is a sexually violent predator and must order the person to comply with all reasonable testing and assessments deemed necessary by a court-appointed qualified evaluator. The court-appointed qualified evaluator must complete the evaluation within ninety days after the Office of Mental Health provides written certification to the Attorney General's Office and the person's legal counsel that it has received all medical, psychological, criminal offense, and disciplinary records and reports concerning the person but not greater than one hundred eighty days after the probable cause order is filed. The court may grant one extension upon the request of the court-appointed qualified evaluator and a showing of extraordinary circumstances. After the evaluation by the court-appointed qualified evaluator, if the person or the Attorney General seeks an independent evaluation by an independent qualified evaluator, pursuant to Section 44-48-90(C), then that evaluation must be completed within ninety days after receipt of the report by the court-appointed qualified evaluator. The court may grant an extension upon the request of the independent qualified evaluator and a showing of extraordinary circumstances. Any qualified evaluator who will be submitted as an expert at either a hearing or trial must submit a written report available to both parties.
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 321, SECTION 1; 2004 Act No. 176, SECTION 1, eff February 18, 2004; 2010 Act No. 158, SECTION 2, eff May 12, 2010; 2023 Act No. 19 (S.146), SECTION 5, eff May 16, 2023.
Code Commissioner's Note
At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
Effect of Amendment
2023 Act No. 19, SECTION 5, rewrote (D).
(B) Immediately upon being taken into custody pursuant to subsection (A), the person must be provided with notice of the opportunity to appear in person at a hearing to contest probable cause as to whether the detained person is a sexually violent predator. This hearing must be held within seventy-two hours after a person is taken into custody pursuant to subsection (A). At this hearing the court must:
(1) verify the detainee's identity;
(2) receive evidence and hear arguments from the person and the Attorney General; and
(3) determine whether probable cause exists to believe that the person is a sexually violent predator.
The State may rely upon the petition and supplement the petition with additional documentary evidence or live testimony.
(C) At the probable cause hearing as provided in subsection (B), the detained person has the following rights in addition to any rights previously specified:
(1) to be represented by counsel;
(2) to present evidence on the person's behalf;
(3) to cross-examine witnesses who testify against the person; and
(4) to view and copy all petitions and reports in the court file.
(D) If the probable cause determination is made, then the court must direct that, upon completion of the criminal sentence, the person must be transferred to a local or regional detention facility pending the conclusion of the proceedings under this chapter. The court must further direct that the person be transported to an appropriate facility of the Office of Mental Health for an evaluation as to whether the person is a sexually violent predator and must order the person to comply with all reasonable testing and assessments deemed necessary by a court-appointed qualified evaluator. The court-appointed qualified evaluator must complete the evaluation within ninety days after the Office of Mental Health provides written certification to the Attorney General's Office and the person's legal counsel that it has received all medical, psychological, criminal offense, and disciplinary records and reports concerning the person but not greater than one hundred eighty days after the probable cause order is filed. The court may grant one extension upon the request of the court-appointed qualified evaluator and a showing of extraordinary circumstances. After the evaluation by the court-appointed qualified evaluator, if the person or the Attorney General seeks an independent evaluation by an independent qualified evaluator, pursuant to Section 44-48-90(C), then that evaluation must be completed within ninety days after receipt of the report by the court-appointed qualified evaluator. The court may grant an extension upon the request of the independent qualified evaluator and a showing of extraordinary circumstances. Any qualified evaluator who will be submitted as an expert at either a hearing or trial must submit a written report available to both parties.
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 321, SECTION 1; 2004 Act No. 176, SECTION 1, eff February 18, 2004; 2010 Act No. 158, SECTION 2, eff May 12, 2010; 2023 Act No. 19 (S.146), SECTION 5, eff May 16, 2023.
Code Commissioner's Note
At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
Effect of Amendment
2023 Act No. 19, SECTION 5, rewrote (D).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 26
cases (7 in the last 5 years), 2001–2026 · leading case: In Re the Treatment & Care of Luckabaugh, 568 S.E.2d 338 (S.C. 2002).
In Re the Treatment & Care of Luckabaugh, 568 S.E.2d 338 (S.C. 2002). “See S.C.Code Ann. § 44-48-80(B) (Supp.2000). Luckabaugh fails to cite any authority holding the detention of an individual awaiting a civil commitment hearing is unconstitutional.”
In Re the Care & Treatment of Miller, 713 S.E.2d 253 (S.C. 2011). “[9] Section 44-48-90 provides in relevant part: Within sixty days after the completion of a hearing held pursuant to Section 44-48-80, the court must conduct a trial to determine whether the person is a sexually violent predator .”
Care & Treatment of Beaver v. State, 642 S.E.2d 578 (S.C. 2007). “S.C.Code Ann. § 44-48-80(1) (Supp.2006). “Sexually violent offense” includes committing a lewd act upon a child under sixteen.”
Care & Treatment of Brown v. State, 643 S.E.2d 118 (S.C. Ct. App. 2007). “Section 44-48-80, for the Court to determine whether probable cause exists to believe that the respondent is a sexually violent predator as defined in S.”
Care & Treatment of Chandler v. State, 676 S.E.2d 676 (S.C. 2009). “§ 44-48-80(A). Thereafter, the person is allowed the opportunity to appear in person at a hearing to contest probable cause.”
In Re the Care & Treatment of Matthews, 550 S.E.2d 311 (S.C. 2001). “In the instant case, the Act provides: Within sixty days after the completion of a hearing held pursuant to Section 44-48-80 [probable cause], the court shall conduct a trial to determine whether the person is a *644 sexually violent predator____ The trial may be continued upon…”
White v. State, 649 S.E.2d 172 (S.C. Ct. App. 2007). “§ 44-48-80. As such, we must first resolve whether the circuit court can rely on a person’s criminal offense record.”
State v. Goode, 830 So. 2d 817 (Fla. 2002). “Florida, by way of contrast, only requires the multidisciplinary team to give its recommendation and assessment to the state attorney within seventy-two hours of the person's detention. § 394.”
In Re the Care & Treatment of Miller, 685 S.E.2d 619 (S.C. Ct. App. 2009). “A probable cause hearing pursuant to section 44-48-80 of the South Carolina Code (Supp.”
Care & Treatment of Ettel v. State, 660 S.E.2d 285 (S.C. Ct. App. 2008). “S.C.Code Ann. § 44-48-80(D) (Supp.2007). Experts are allowed to have “reasonable access to the person for the purpose of the examination, as well as access to all relevant medical, psychological, criminal offense, and disciplinary records and reports.”
Care & Treatment of Valentine v. State, 659 S.E.2d 227 (S.C. Ct. App. 2008). “S.C.Code Ann. § 44-48-80 (Supp.2006). At the hearing, the law instructs the court to: (1) verify the detainee’s identity; (2) receive evidence and hear arguments from the detainee and the Attorney General; and (3) determine whether probable cause exists to believe the detainee…”
In Re the Care & Treatment of Canupp, 671 S.E.2d 614 (S.C. Ct. App. 2008). “The circuit court determined that such probable cause existed and ordered Appellant to submit to an evaluation pursuant to S.C.Code Ann. § 44-48-80. Following the evaluation, the circuit court conducted a jury trial for a final determination of whether Appellant met the…”
— S.C. Code Ann. § 44-48-80(1) — 1 case
Care & Treatment of Beaver v. State, 642 S.E.2d 578 (S.C. 2007). “S.C.Code Ann. § 44-48-80(1) (Supp.2006). “Sexually violent offense” includes committing a lewd act upon a child under sixteen.”
— S.C. Code Ann. § 44-48-80(A) — 8 cases
In Re the Care & Treatment of Miller, 713 S.E.2d 253 (S.C. 2011). “[9] Section 44-48-90 provides in relevant part: Within sixty days after the completion of a hearing held pursuant to Section 44-48-80, the court must conduct a trial to determine whether the person is a sexually violent predator .”
Care & Treatment of Brown v. State, 643 S.E.2d 118 (S.C. Ct. App. 2007). “Section 44-48-80, for the Court to determine whether probable cause exists to believe that the respondent is a sexually violent predator as defined in S.”
Care & Treatment of Beaver v. State, 642 S.E.2d 578 (S.C. 2007). “S.C.Code Ann. § 44-48-80(1) (Supp.2006). “Sexually violent offense” includes committing a lewd act upon a child under sixteen.”
Care & Treatment of Chandler v. State, 676 S.E.2d 676 (S.C. 2009). “§ 44-48-80(A). Thereafter, the person is allowed the opportunity to appear in person at a hearing to contest probable cause.”
In Re the Care & Treatment of Miller, 685 S.E.2d 619 (S.C. Ct. App. 2009). “A probable cause hearing pursuant to section 44-48-80 of the South Carolina Code (Supp.”
— S.C. Code Ann. § 44-48-80(B) — 7 cases
In Re the Treatment & Care of Luckabaugh, 568 S.E.2d 338 (S.C. 2002). “See S.C.Code Ann. § 44-48-80(B) (Supp.2000). Luckabaugh fails to cite any authority holding the detention of an individual awaiting a civil commitment hearing is unconstitutional.”
Care & Treatment of Brown v. State, 643 S.E.2d 118 (S.C. Ct. App. 2007). “Section 44-48-80, for the Court to determine whether probable cause exists to believe that the respondent is a sexually violent predator as defined in S.”
Care & Treatment of Beaver v. State, 642 S.E.2d 578 (S.C. 2007). “S.C.Code Ann. § 44-48-80(1) (Supp.2006). “Sexually violent offense” includes committing a lewd act upon a child under sixteen.”
Care & Treatment of Chandler v. State, 676 S.E.2d 676 (S.C. 2009). “§ 44-48-80(A). Thereafter, the person is allowed the opportunity to appear in person at a hearing to contest probable cause.”
White v. State, 649 S.E.2d 172 (S.C. Ct. App. 2007). “§ 44-48-80. As such, we must first resolve whether the circuit court can rely on a person’s criminal offense record.”
— S.C. Code Ann. § 44-48-80(C) — 2 cases
Braxton v. State of South Carolina (D.S.C. 2022).
Tyler v. Wilson (D.S.C. 2024).
— S.C. Code Ann. § 44-48-80(D) — 8 cases
Care & Treatment of Beaver v. State, 642 S.E.2d 578 (S.C. 2007). “S.C.Code Ann. § 44-48-80(1) (Supp.2006). “Sexually violent offense” includes committing a lewd act upon a child under sixteen.”
Care & Treatment of Chandler v. State, 676 S.E.2d 676 (S.C. 2009). “§ 44-48-80(A). Thereafter, the person is allowed the opportunity to appear in person at a hearing to contest probable cause.”
In Re the Care & Treatment of Miller, 713 S.E.2d 253 (S.C. 2011). “[9] Section 44-48-90 provides in relevant part: Within sixty days after the completion of a hearing held pursuant to Section 44-48-80, the court must conduct a trial to determine whether the person is a sexually violent predator .”
Care & Treatment of Ettel v. State, 660 S.E.2d 285 (S.C. Ct. App. 2008). “S.C.Code Ann. § 44-48-80(D) (Supp.2007). Experts are allowed to have “reasonable access to the person for the purpose of the examination, as well as access to all relevant medical, psychological, criminal offense, and disciplinary records and reports.”
Page v. State, 615 S.E.2d 740 (S.C. 2005).
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