Criminal Domestic Violence (CDV) victims got another slap in the face from the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday. The committee slashed funds for Attorney General Henry McMaster's proposal for a dedicated Criminal Domestic Violence prosecutor for each of South Carolina's magistrate courts.

Greenville Republican Sen. David Thomas proposed cutting the House budget version from $2.2 million to $550,000 for a pilot project in four un-named judicial circuits.

In February, the South Carolina Solicitors Association had worked out a compromise with the AG Office on his original proposal to split $2.2 million state funds for domestic violence prosecution among 46 counties.

Solicitors wanted the money divided among the state's 16 judicial circuits, with $137,500 allocated to each circuit.

The committee approved the measure and the pilot project has already been completed. It is called the AG's pro-bono prosecutor program.

The Fourth Judicial Circuit, representing Chesterfield, Darlington, Marlboro, and Dillon counties was not chosen for the pilot programs.

Fourth Circuit Solicitor Jay Hodge called it a terrible blow for victims of domestic violence. Saying he and the people who have worked so hard to get this assistance for victims will continue to press legislators to pass the proposal.

Noting that people in the Fourth District are “not used to people down in Greenville knowing we are here,” Hodge added, “What's really disappointing is we were not selected as one of the pilot districts. The need here is greater than most counties.”

Gale Baker may be reached at galebaker@thecherawchronicle.com