Public Information
About the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office
The Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office is the chief prosecuting agency for Allendale, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties. Covering 3,200 square-miles of South Carolina’s renowned Lowcountry, we are the only five-county circuit in the state.
Our primary role is to prosecute all cases in General Sessions Court, certain misdemeanors in Magistrate’s Court and all criminal cases in Family Court. Each year, we prosecute approximately 5,000 cases.
Additionally, our office operates a number of prevention programs including pre-trial intervention, worthless check, alcohol education, traffic education, treatment-based courts and juvenile arbitration.
The office is led by the Solicitor, who is elected every four years. Solicitor Duffie Stone was appointed by the Governor in 2006. He was re-elected in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
Latest Press Releases
July update on Solicitor’s Office plan to reduce pandemic-fueled case backlog
Measures taken after March 2020 to stem the spread of COVID-19 included shutdowns of many court operations, including jury trials. Unfortunately, crime continued unabated. As …
Bluffton man convicted in sexual assault of 2 girls
A 65-year-old Bluffton man is headed to prison for 35 years after being found guilty of sexually abusing two young girls.
Solicitor Duffie Stone’s statement regarding investigation of Murdaugh deaths
The 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office recognizes the high degree of public interest regarding the recent deaths of Maggie Murdaugh and her son Paul. However, it …
The Solicitor's Office in other news media
A collection of news stories involving the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and Solicitor Duffie Stone.
Community News
Beaufort County Sheriff comments regarding court backlog, Solicitor’s Office budget far off mark
Trial courts around the country, including those in South Carolina, were largely shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 through April …
Solicitor attacks General Sessions Court backlog with 5-point plan
The Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office will clean up the backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in a professional manner while providing victims the speedy trials …
Solicitor Stone, on origins of Take Back the Night vigils
Our friends at Hopeful Horizons held their annual Take Back the Night event April 22. Conducted virtually because of COVID precautions, it commemorated Sexual Assault …
Important Documents
Position Papers & Court Documents
- 2020 Teaching Hospital Model and the Criminal Justice System
- 2018 SC Commission on Prosecution Coordination Officer Involved Shooting Task Force survey results
- Intelligence-led prosecution in a medium-sized office
- Project Safe
- SCCPC Domestic Violence Crimes Chart (Both sides)
- State v. Young Jr.
- Effective criminal-justice reform in SC
Domestic Violence Advisory Committee
Solicitor Duffie Stone has been chairman of the S.C. Domestic Violence Advisory Committee since its inception in 2015. This multidisciplinary body was formed to decrease the incidences of domestic violence by developing an understanding of its causes, planning and implementing changes within agencies represented on the committee to stem domestic violence; and advising the governor and General Assembly on policies and practices that will prevent domestic violence.