South Carolina H 4776: White Knoll football Coach of the Year Nick Pelham

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4776 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 17, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4776

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA Code of Laws BY ADDING CHAPTER 
14 TO TITLE 17 SO AS TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATIONS AT 
PHOTOGRAPHIC AND LIVE LINEUPS, AND SHOW-UPS.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Title 17 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

CHAPTER 14

Eyewitness Identification

 Section 
17-14-1410. (A) As contained in 
this article:

 (1) 
"Eyewitness" means a person, including a law enforcement officer, whose 
identification by sight of another person may be relevant in a criminal 
proceeding.

 (2) 
"Filler" means a person or a photograph of a person who is not suspected of an 
offense and is included in a lineup.

 (3) 
"Independent administrator" means a lineup administrator who is not 
participating in the investigation of a criminal offense and is unaware of 
which person in the lineup is the suspect.

 (4) 
"Lineup" means a photo lineup or live lineup.

 (5) 
"Lineup administrator" means a person who conducts a lineup.

 (6) 
"Live lineup" means a procedure in which a group of people is displayed to an 
eyewitness for the purpose of determining whether the eyewitness can identify 
the perpetrator of a crime.

 (7) 
"Photographic lineup" means a procedure in which an array of photographs is 
displayed to an eyewitness for the purpose of determining if the eyewitness can 
identify the perpetrator of a crime.

 (8) 
"Show-up" means a procedure in which an eyewitness is presented with a single 
live suspect for the purpose of determining whether the eyewitness can identify 
the perpetrator of a crime.

 (B) 
Lineups conducted by state, county, and other local law enforcement officers:

 (1) 
must be conducted by an independent administrator or by an alternative method 
as provided by subsection (N);

 (2) 
must have individuals or photos presented to witnesses sequentially, with each 
individual or photo presented to the witness separately, in a previously 
determined order, and removed after it is viewed before the next individual or 
photo is presented; and

 (3) 
must ensure, before a lineup, the eyewitness is instructed that:

 (a) 
the perpetrator of the crime might or might not be presented in the lineup;

 (b) 
the lineup administrator does not know the suspect's identity;

 (c) 
the eyewitness should not feel compelled to make an identification;

 (d) 
it is as important to exclude innocent persons as it is to identify the 
perpetrator; and

 (e) 
the investigation will continue whether or not an identification is made.

The eyewitness shall 
acknowledge receipt of the instructions in writing. If the eyewitness refuses 
to sign, the lineup administrator shall note the refusal of the eyewitness to 
sign the acknowledgement and shall also sign the acknowledgement.

 (C) 
In a photographic lineup, the photograph of the suspect must be contemporary 
and, to the extent practicable, shall resemble the suspect's appearance at the 
time of the offense.

 (D) 
The lineup must be composed so that the fillers generally resemble the 
eyewitness' description of the perpetrator, while ensuring the suspect does not 
unduly stand out from the fillers. In addition:

 (1) 
all fillers selected shall resemble, as much as practicable, the eyewitness' 
description of the perpetrator in significant features, including any unique or 
unusual features;

 (2) 
at least five fillers must be included in a photographic lineup, in addition to 
the suspect;

 (3) 
at least five fillers must be included in a live lineup, in addition to the 
suspect;

 (4) 
if the eyewitness previously has viewed a photographic lineup or live lineup in 
connection with the identification of another person suspected of involvement 
in the offense, the fillers in the lineup in which the current suspect 
participates must be different from the fillers used in any prior lineups.

 (E) 
If there are multiple eyewitnesses, the suspect must be placed in a different 
position in the lineup or photo array for each eyewitness.

 (F) 
In a lineup, no writings or information concerning any previous arrest, 
indictment, or conviction of the suspect must be visible or made known to the 
eyewitness.

 (G) 
In a live lineup:

 (1) 
any identifying actions, such as speech, gestures, or other movements, must be 
performed by all lineup participants;

 (2) 
all lineup participants must be out of view of the eyewitness prior to the 
lineup; and

 (3) 
only one suspect must be included in a lineup.

 (H) 
Nothing must be said to the eyewitness regarding the suspect's position in the 
lineup or regarding anything that might influence the eyewitness' 
identification.

 (I