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Discover Time Served’s services for incarcerated individuals, including legal advocacy, support, and resources to help pave the way for successful reentry and brighter futures. Services for Incarcerated Persons At Time Served, we are dedicated to advocating for those currently incarcerated, supporting both their journey toward reentry and their fight for justice. Our mission centers on dismantling extreme sentences, addressing wrongful convictions, and providing crucial support to ensure a smoother reentry into society. Apply for Services Our Representation Services for Release Time Served offers skilled representation to incarcerated South Carolinians, with a focus on reducing extreme sentences and challenging wrongful convictions. Our team is committed to securing fair treatment and just outcomes for those affected by harsh sentencing policies. Parole Representation We specialize in representing those serving life sentences, advocating tirelessly for their parole and reintegration into the community. Compassionate Release For incarcerated individuals facing serious illness, we seek compassionate release, prioritizing their dignity and quality of life during end-of-life care. Sentence Reductions & Clarifications We work to secure sentence reductions and provide clarity around sentencing, helping clients and their families navigate complex legal scenarios that impact release dates and future opportunities. Redressing Wrongful Convictions Fighting for justice is at the heart of our mission. We seek to overturn wrongful convictions, pursuing freedom for those who have been unjustly imprisoned. Representation for Smoother Reentry Reentry begins within the prison walls, and Time Served is committed to preparing incarcerated individuals for a successful transition back into society. We offer legal assistance in the following areas: Detainers & Credit for Time Served We help resolve detainers and ensure credit is applied for time served, so clients can return home promptly when eligible. Family Law Support To ease the transition back to family life, we provide guidance on child support, custody, and visitation matters, supporting a reconnection with loved ones. Medical Advocacy For incarcerated individuals with significant health concerns, we offer advocacy to ensure they receive proper medical care while preparing for reentry. Additional Support Our team also provides counsel on probation concerns, pending charges, and other legal issues that may impact reentry, setting a foundation for a stable future post-release. Why Choose Time Served? Time Served stands for hope, justice, and the belief in second chances. We understand that incarceration impacts more than the individual—it affects families, communities, and society as a whole. Our experienced legal team is dedicated to offering a path forward, fighting for fair treatment, and restoring dignity to those navigating the criminal justice system. If you or a loved one needs support, we invite you to reach out. Together, we can build a bridge from incarceration to a brighter future. Contact Us Today

Explore Time Served’s services for formerly incarcerated individuals, including reentry support, legal advocacy, and resources to help rebuild lives and create brighter futures. Services for Formerly Incarcerated Persons Time Served is committed to helping individuals with criminal records overcome the barriers they face. Whether the record is recent or decades old, our team assists in restoring rights, improving stability, and removing obstacles that hinder progress. We provide legal support for record cleaning, family stability, employment, housing, and more. Apply for Services Services for Individuals with Criminal Records Navigating life with a criminal record can bring endless challenges, impacting housing, employment, family relationships, and financial obligations. Time Served offers comprehensive legal assistance in the following areas to support stability and success for those affected by a criminal record: Record Cleaning Assistance with expungements and pardon representation to clear records and restore rights. Family Law Support Legal advice and representation for visitation, custody, and child support, especially when a period of incarceration or a criminal record has complicated family dynamics. Supervision-Related Guidance Help with probation or parole issues, including administrative hearings related to supervision requirements. Driver’s License Reinstatement Assistance in navigating reinstatement processes and overcoming obstacles related to driving privileges. Financial Obligation Management Support for understanding and handling court-imposed financial obligations, including fines, fees, and restitution. Registry Removal and Redress Legal assistance in addressing wrongful or outdated registry requirements, helping to remove unnecessary restrictions under current laws. Key Areas of Focus Our services are targeted toward improving stability in three primary areas: housing, employment, and family. Housing Stability Employment Stability Family Stability Safe and stable housing is essential for rebuilding a life after incarceration. Unfortunately, criminal records often prevent individuals from accessing housing, with 79% of formerly incarcerated people facing denial due to past convictions. Even minor offenses, like disorderly conduct or simple possession, can have a lasting impact on housing eligibility. At our Triune Mercy Center office in Greenville, we work closely with individuals in need of housing support. Join us at Homeless Court on the first Monday of each month to receive guidance and assistance from our team as we help clients navigate the challenges of securing housing with a record. Breaking the cycle of poverty is a cornerstone of our mission. The economic impact of a criminal record is severe, as involvement with the legal system often deepens pre-existing financial struggles. Many formerly incarcerated people find themselves in temporary jobs without benefits or fair wages. Studies show that individuals with criminal records are 50% less likely to receive job callbacks, and only 40% are employed full-time five years post-release. Our record-cleaning services can make a substantial difference. Expunging a record has been shown to increase annual wages by 23%, helping clients move toward economic independence and a more stable future. Keeping families together is critical for community well-being. Nearly half of U.S. children have a parent with a criminal record, and these children often face increased risks of depression, behavioral issues, and poor educational outcomes. Time Served is dedicated to lessening the impact of a criminal record on children and families, helping parents secure the legal assistance they need for reunification and support. Our clients often seek to rebuild relationships with their children and provide a stable home. By addressing family law concerns and improving financial and housing stability, we help parents lay a solid foundation for a better future for themselves and their children. Empowering Change & Restoring Dignity Time Served stands beside those with criminal records, helping them reclaim rights, restore family connections, secure housing, and build a stable life. We believe that every person deserves a second chance to thrive. If you or a loved one needs support, reach out today. Together, we can dismantle barriers and build a bridge forward. Contact Us Today

Kaylie Stapleton is the office manager and paralegal for Time Served. Meet Our Paralegal BACK TO ABOUT US BACK TO ABOUT US Kaylie Stapleton VOLUNTEER PARALEGAL Email Kaylie Kaylie is one of the co-founders of Time Served and volunteers her services as a paralegal. She grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and has lived there her entire life. She received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina Upstate in 2020. During her studies, she completed an internship with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice while also working as a Detention Officer in Greenville. Kaylie then returned to school and received her Paralegal Certification from Spartanburg Community College in 2021. Prior to coming to co-founding Time Served, Kaylie worked for a Litigation and Criminal Defense Attorney in Greenville. Kaylie spends her free time hanging out with her nephew and niece or going to some of the beautiful lakes here in the Upstate!

Time Served Hosts "Reawakening Hope" < Back Megan Powell Mar 9, 2024 “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” - Desmond Tutu For people serving life with parole sentences in South Carolina, the hope for release on parole dwindles with every passing day. South Carolina currently has one of the lowest parole rate grants in the entire country , and as a result, some of the people who deserve release the most are being kept in prison. “I know for a fact I will never violate the law again. I’d be a fool to come back here if given a chance for parole,” said a currently incarcerated person. On February 19th, Time Served hosted Reawakening Hope—a collaborative event aimed at energizing and motivating advocates from all over South Carolina who care about sentencing, parole, and reentry reform, and providing a glimmer of hope for the people who are currently incarcerated in South Carolina. “This is the first time I’ve seen this,” said Jerry Blassingame, Founder and Executive Director of Soteria CDC. “I’ve been out 25 years, and this is the first time that I’ve seen formerly incarcerated people in a room getting ready to organize.” Photos courtesy of Isaac Ellison, Time Capsule Media, LLC. Time Served is extremely grateful for Mr. Ellison's donation of his time and services in covering this event. The crowd was comprised of a record-breaking number of formerly incarcerated advocates, loved ones of currently incarcerated people, and colleagues from local and national organizations, including: · The Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth; · Families Against Mandatory Minimums; · South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty; · University of South Carolina School of Law; · Justice360; · South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center; · Soteria CDC; · JumpStart; · FreshStart Visions 5.0; · And more. In addition to hearing stories of hope and change from formerly incarcerated advocates, we discussed the 2024 policy priorities of the SCJP, which include reforming South Carolina’s broken parole and compassionate release systems, eliminating juvenile life without parole, and passing Ban the Box legislation. Previous Next

Apply for services with Time Served and take the first step toward a fresh start. We provide legal advocacy and resources to help individuals rebuild their lives. Apply for Services Financial Qualifications Application for Non-Incarcerated Application for Incarcerated Jump to Section: Before accepting cases, we conduct an application and intake process. Please keep in mind that submitting an application and completing an intake screening does not guarantee representation. Due to the high volume of requests, our limited resources, and our ethical obligations to current clients, we are unable to take on every case within our scope. financial Financial Qualifications and Potential Expenses As part of our intake process, we ask questions about household income and employment, but we do not automatically disqualify clients based on income or conduct strict means-testing (e.g., measuring income against the Federal poverty level). People seek our help because they cannot afford an attorney and face a legal issue or proceeding where no counsel will be appointed . Please note that we may screen cases based on financial means or, more commonly, the availability of appointed counsel. We do not charge clients for our legal services; however, clients are typically responsible for other case-related expenses, such as SLED background check fees ($26), fees for expungement and pardon applications, Guardian ad Litem fees, and fees for records. If you are concerned about potential costs, we strongly encourage you not to let that deter you from applying for services. non-incarcerated Application and Intake Process for Non-Incarcerated People with Records As licensed attorneys in South Carolina, we are only able to advise you on South Carolina and federal criminal records—not those from other states. If you have records both in South Carolina and in another state, we’re happy to assist with your South Carolina record and will do our best to refer you to resources for record clearing in other states. If you have pending charges, please note that we may recommend you return for record clearing assistance once your current case is resolved. If you have a South Carolina or federal record that’s holding you back, or if you’re facing legal challenges stemming from past criminal system involvement, you’re welcome to request an intake appointment with us. To schedule an intake appointment, please choose one of the following options: Call our office at (864) 546-5060. If you are unable to reach us, please leave a message with your name and contact information. Email us at info@tsscnow.org . Intake Process: Our initial intake is typically conducted over the phone. Please set aside 20–30 minutes for this call and plan to be in a private space where you can discuss your legal matter openly. After the intake, our team will review your case at our weekly case consult meeting to determine if we can accept your matter and establish our initial level of representation. For instance, some family law cases may initially be placed on “investigation status” to allow time to review all relevant documents before deciding how best to proceed. If we accept your case, you will then be assigned an attorney. incarcerated Application and Intake Process for Currently Incarcerated People We ask that incarcerated individuals seeking assistance write a detailed letter outlining their legal needs. In this letter, they should include the names of any co-defendants so we can conduct a conflict check. For initial correspondence, we kindly request that original documents not be sent. For those applying for parole representation, please note that we generally accept parole cases for individuals serving life sentences who are within 1.5 to 2 years of their next parole date. Due to the high volume of mail we receive from incarcerated individuals, including current clients, we strive to respond as efficiently as possible. Typically, we respond by (1) scheduling a legal call to complete a full intake if the case is in scope, (2) providing brief advice and a closing letter, (3) requesting additional information, or (4) issuing a letter to explain if the case is out of scope or we lack the capacity to take it on. Legal Mail from SCDC should be addressed as follows: Time Served P.O. Box 615 Taylors, SC 29687 For legal emergencies involving an incarcerated individual, we recommend that a loved one contact our office directly at (864) 546-5060 or email us at info@tsscnow.org .

Read Time Served’s Accessibility Statement to learn how we are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive experience for all visitors to our website. Accessibility Statement Measures to Support Accessibility Time Served takes the following measures to ensure accessibility of Time Served: Integrate accessibility into our procurement practices. Ensure that our website meets accessibility guidelines. Conformance Status The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. Time Served is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 level AA. Partially conformant means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard. Feedback We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of Time Served. Please let us know if you encounter accessibility barriers on Time Served: Phone: (864) 546-5060 E-mail: info@tsscnow.org Visitor Address: Triune Mercy Center, 222 Rutherford Street, Greenville, SC 29609 Postal Address: P.O. Box 615, Taylors, SC 29687 We try to respond to feedback within 2 business days. Technical Specifications Accessibility of Time Served relies on the following technologies to work with the particular combination of web browser and any assistive technologies or plugins installed on your computer: HTML CSS JavaScript These technologies are relied upon for conformance with the accessibility standards used. Limitations and Alternatives Despite our best efforts to ensure accessibility of Time Served , there may be some limitations. Below is a description of known limitations, and potential solutions. Please contact us if you observe an issue. Assessment Approach Time Served assessed the accessibility of Time Served by the following approaches: Self-evaluation Formal Complaints Please contact Time Served at info@tsscnow.org . Formal Approval of this Accessibility Statement This Accessibility Statement is approved by: Allison Elder Executive Director of Time Served

Guides At Time Served, we believe that access to justice includes widely-available community access to legal information and processes. That's why our team works to create educational Legal Guides related to our work. Please note that the Guides available here are based on general information and not tailored to your specific case. If you would like a specific review of your legal issue, contact us to apply for services. South Carolina Pardons Guide (English) 2025 Second Chance Day - Advocacy Information Packet

Ana Walker is a member of the Time Served Board of Directors. BACK TO ABOUT US BACK TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ana Walker BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CHAIR Biography coming soon!

Allison Elder is the Executive Director of Time Served. Meet Our Executive Director BACK TO ABOUT US BACK TO ABOUT US Allison Elder EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Email Allison Allison began her legal services career as an Equal Justice Works Fellow with the newly established South Carolina office of Root & Rebound. Her fellowship focused on family reunification for formerly incarcerated individuals, and she also contributed to the expansion and management of the new team. After completing the two-year fellowship, she stayed on as a Staff Attorney and soon became Legal Services Director, primarily overseeing client services, managing litigation, and building a parole project. Prior to her fellowship, Allison clerked for the Honorable Henry F. Floyd of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. In 2023, she had her first opportunity to argue before that Court after winning a Certificate of Appealability in a habeas case. Allison received her J.D. (magna cum laude, Order of the Coif) and an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law with honors from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 2019. During law school, she interned for Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers at Cabrini Green Legal Aid and was a five-semester clinic student. She worked with the Bluhm Legal Clinic’s Children and Family Justice Center and the MacArthur Justice Center’s Jail Suicide and Prisoners’ Rights clinic teams, each for a full academic year, and also participated in the International Human Rights Clinic for an additional semester. Allison continued with the MacArthur Justice Center as a summer intern, working on prisoners’ rights cases and other civil rights litigation, including a class action challenging the constitutionality of Chicago’s gang database. She also served as a solitary confinement research assistant for the MacArthur Justice Center Appellate Program. During her LL.M. year, Allison explored the intersection of criminal legal systems and civil rights from an international perspective. She conducted senior research on the detention of individuals convicted by international criminal tribunals and externed for the Governance and Justice Group, primarily working on a Justice Audit of Somalia’s criminal legal system. Allison received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Mandarin Chinese from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, after which she was a Fulbright Scholar conducting public health research in China.

Megan Powell, Esq. is the Deputy Director of Time Served. Meet Our Deputy Director BACK TO ABOUT US BACK TO ABOUT US Megan is the Deputy Director and co-founder of Time Served, a nonprofit advancing justice and reentry support for people impacted by incarceration. A proud Spartanburg native, Megan has always believed in the promise of a better South Carolina—one where dignity and second chances are part of the legal system. Megan graduated with honors in Political Science from Converse University in 2019, then earned her J.D. from the Charleston School of Law in 2022. While in law school, she logged over 120 hours of pro bono service, advocating for indigent clients and working with the ACLU’s Criminal Justice & Policy team. There, she saw firsthand how incarceration creates barriers that can last long after release, and became committed to dismantling them. Her work earned her the Woman of the Year award for her dedication to social justice and empowerment. She also gained experience clerking at a civil litigation firm in Greenville. After law school, Megan was admitted to the South Carolina Bar and began her legal career as a Staff Attorney with Root & Rebound, where she provided legal support to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals across the state—from parole hearings to medical advocacy and everything in between. Today, Megan helps lead Time Served's mission by providing direct legal services to hundreds of clients and advocating for justice and reentry support. Outside of work, Megan enjoys spending time with her three younger brothers and two goddaughters, who keep her on her toes. She is a passionate hockey fan (go Red Wings!), an amateur baker, and the resident jokester in her book club. Bar Admissions and Memberships: State of South Carolina South Carolina Bar, Young Lawyer's Division South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Megan Powell DEPUTY DIRECTOR Email Megan

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Mar'Quez Oglesby is a paralegal at Time Served. Meet Our Paralegal BACK TO ABOUT US BACK TO ABOUT US Mar'Quez (Mo) Oglesby PARALEGAL Mar'Quez ("Mo") Oglesby is a paralegal at Time Served, dedicated to supporting individuals impacted by the criminal legal system. A Greenville, South Carolina native, he is currently pursuing his associate degree in paralegal studies at Greenville Technical College, with plans to continue his education in legal studies. Mo is passionate about this work because he sees firsthand how the system has created unfair barriers for many people. He is committed to helping clients navigate these challenges and move forward with confidence. Outside of work, Mo enjoys staying active with walks in the park and working out. He also has a creative side, spending time scrapbooking, reading, and exploring new places through travel. Email Mar'Quez