Q: Can a victim's family, after trial, and a guilty verdict, petition a court for a time/sentence reduction for an inmate?
My Brother was convicted of murder in 1995. Since then, the victim's family has written the judge and solicitors office to have his sentence reduced or pardoned. Can or do the victim's family have this authority since the solicitor is their attorney? Letter of forgiveness was sent in to the court afew months ago from the victim's family. Do my brother have any chance of a sentence reduction, especially when the clerk of court sent a copy of the letter back to the victim's family staying that he must send a copy to the South Carolina Dept. Of Probation, Pardon, and Parole..
A: As a former state prosecutor I have never heard of a sentence reduction based on the request of the victim through the court system. Your best bet would be for the victim to contact the department of probation parol and pardons to request a pardon from the governor.
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