South Carolina Industrial School for Boys
| South Carolina Industrial School for Boys | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Opened | 1907 |
| Closed | 2024 |
| Current Status | Closed |
| Building Style | Cottage Plan |
| Location | Florence, SC |
| Alternate Names |
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History
In 1906 the General Assembly established a segregated industrial school system for boys in the state. the Industrial School for White Boys was built in Florence in 1907. In 1946, legislation was enacted which placed these industrial school facilities under the Board of State Industrial Schools. In 1954, a Division of Placement and Aftercare was created, empowered to release incarcerated children prior to their twenty-first birthday.
During this period, state funds were used primarily for physical improvements in the institutions, with no resources for recruiting professional staff. Hence the institutions were mainly punitive with little emphasis on treatment and rehabilitation. Reforms did not come about until the late 1960s. An entirely new agency was created in 1969. The Department of Juvenile Corrections came into being with a separate Division of Placement and Aftercare. Professional staff were charged with developing and implementing community programs, resulting in a drop in institutional population.
