The 2026 Second Chance Index
How South Carolina ranks for second chances
South Carolina ranks 38th of 51 in the 2026 Second Chance Index, scoring 54 out of 100 for clearing a record, voting rights and where its felony line falls. That's 7.5 points below the median state (61.5).
Built from South Carolina's record-clearing, voting and felony-class records, last checked October 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
54 out of 100
- Clearing a record
- 26 / 50
- Voting rights
- 14 / 30
- Where the felony line falls
- 14 / 20
Every point South Carolina earned and missed
Each line is a field we publish about South Carolina, checked against state law and official guidance. The points are the index's; the method lists every one.
Clearing a record
26 of 50 points| What we score | South Carolina | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Some records clear automatically | Limited automatic clearing | 10/15 |
| A general route to clear a felony | None found | 0/12 |
| A general route to clear a misdemeanor | Yes | 8/8 |
| A way to clear a case with no conviction | Yes | 8/8 |
| A fee waiver on at least one route | None found | 0/4 |
| A DUI conviction can be cleared | No | 0/3 |
Voting rights
14 of 30 points| What we score | South Carolina | Points |
|---|---|---|
| When the vote comes back after a felony | After the sentence | 14/30 |
Where the felony line falls
14 of 20 points| What we score | South Carolina | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Theft becomes a felony at | More than $2,000 | 7/10 |
| Repeat DUI becomes a felony | From the 4th offense | 7/10 |
South Carolina's felony classes and theft line, with sources
Where the 46 missing points are
- 16When the vote comes back after a felony: After the sentence
- 12A general route to clear a felony: None found
- 5Some records clear automatically: Limited automatic clearing
- 4A fee waiver on at least one route: None found
- 3A DUI conviction can be cleared: No
- 3Theft becomes a felony at: More than $2,000
- 3Repeat DUI becomes a felony: From the 4th offense
The index scores what state law says, not how courts apply it. A lower score doesn't mean South Carolina offers no relief; its pages list every route.
States ranked near South Carolina
- #36Georgia55.5
- #36Mississippi55.5
- #38South Carolina54
- #39Arizona51
- #40Texas50.5
Cite this page
Second Chance Index, "How South Carolina ranks for second chances" https://secondchanceindex.com/state-rankings/south-carolina, checked October 29, 2026.