South Carolina has laws that protect witnesses, victims, and informants from retaliatory actions by perpetrators or persons acting on behalf of the perpetrator. These laws are meant to deter any attempts to intimidate or harass individuals who have provided evidence or testimony in the furtherance of prosecution or investigation. Types of South Carolina Retaliation Against a Witness, Victim, or Informant include: • Harassment: Harassment includes repeated attempts to contact or follow the witness, victim, or informant, or any other type of threatening or intimidating behavior. • Intimidation: Intimidation includes any type of threat or implied threat of harm or retribution against the witness, victim, or informant. • Defamation: Defamation includes making false statements about the witness, victim, or informant in an attempt to discredit them in the eyes of the public or those involved in the case. • Physical Abuse: Physical abuse is defined as any direct physical contact such as hitting, kicking, or pushing in an attempt to intimidate or threaten the witness, victim, or informant. • Economic Retaliation: Economic retaliation includes any attempts to harm the witness, victim, or informant financially or economically in an attempt to prevent them from testifying or providing information. • Retaliation in the Workplace: Retaliation in the workplace includes any attempts by the perpetrator or their associates to terminate or reduce the wages of the witness, victim, or informant in an attempt to prevent them from testifying or providing information.