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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 .

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.

Amanda Belfiore is a Reentry Legal Services Attorney at Time Served. Meet Our Reentry Legal Services Attorney BACK TO ABOUT US BACK TO ABOUT US Amanda Belfiore REENTRY LEGAL SERVICES ATTORNEY Amanda is originally from Newport News, Virginia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Global Justice and Policy from James Madison University in 2019 and her J.D. from the Charleston School of Law in 2023. During law school, Amanda served as a Guardian ad Litem volunteer, advocating for children in family court, and worked as a Law Clerk helping represent employees in cases involving claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation in the workplace. After graduating, Amanda was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar and is currently awaiting admission to the South Carolina Bar. Once admitted, she will join Time Served as the Reentry Legal Services Attorney. Amanda is excited to be joining Time Served and continue her commitment to social justice and criminal justice reform. Email Amanda

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!

Meet the dedicated Board of Directors behind Time Served, guiding our mission to provide second chances and empower individuals impacted by the justice system. Our Board of Directors The Board of Directors at Time Served brings together a diverse group of leaders committed to advancing justice and supporting meaningful change for formerly incarcerated individuals. Our board members work collaboratively to guide Time Served’s mission, championing innovative legal solutions and systems-change initiatives. Each board member is deeply invested in building pathways to opportunity and dignity for those affected by the criminal justice system, ensuring that Time Served remains a powerful advocate for equity, compassion, and lasting impact. Ana Walker CHAIR Born and raised in South Carolina, Ana Walker practices law in Greenville, South Carolina, as an Assistant Public Defender for the 13th Judicial Circuit. Ana subscribes to a belief shared by Bryan Stevenson, attorney and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative: “We are all more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” No one should be judged based solely on their worst day. Over her time as a criminal defense lawyer, Ana started to understanding how much American history—including events that occurred over 150 years ago, such as Reconstruction after the Civil War and the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution—continues to maintain the vast disparities within the criminal legal system. Today, people of color and minorities routinely suffer discrimination at the hands of law enforcement, the courts, and the legislature. Ana hopes her advocacy makes even a small impact towards widespread systemic change. Ana wholeheartedly supports Time Served’s mission and work. Their model of direct representation combined with policy advocacy works towards circumventing, and hopefully one day abolishing, the hurdles commonly navigated by those released (and those progressing towards release) from incarceration, attacking South Carolina recidivism rate head-on. Improving the lives of currently and formerly incarcerated improves the lives of all South Carolinians. Don Austin VICE CHAIR Don Austin currently serves as the Facilities Manager at the Triune Mercy Center. They share Christ’s love while meeting the physical needs of their parishioners and provide life-changing opportunities to the disadvantaged. Don has personally experienced mass incarceration in South Carolina, and he has benefitted from legal services that helped him break free of that cycle. In 1992, Don started to experience the cycles of addiction, poverty, incarceration, and homelessness. Eventually, Don was referred to United Ministries’ Place of Hope, a day shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Greenville. That’s where the seed was planted, and he was given lots of resources to help him get his life back together. He successfully completed the Overcomers and the C.S.R.C. substance abuse programs and was given a job at the Salvation Army. Don received a full pardon of his entire South Carolina record and dedicates his life now to helping others overcome the same obstacles he did. He has worked at Triune Mercy Center for 14 years, and he recently celebrated 20 years of sobriety. Taylor Gilliam SECRETARY Taylor Gilliam is secretary of the Time Served Board of Directors. After serving most recently as the Pro Bono Director at the University of South Carolina School of Law, Taylor is now an Assistant Federal Defender for the Columbia office. He is a 2011 graduate of The Citadel and received his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2014. The current President of the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division, Taylor has previously served on various committees within the YLD and was named “Young Lawyer of the Year” in 2020. Prior to joining the law school, he was an Appellate Defender at the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense. Taylor has handled over 300 cases before the South Carolina Court of Appeals and the South Carolina Supreme Court, including 20 oral arguments. Taylor is also a graduate of the South Carolina Bar Leadership Academy, class of 2019. He is a former Chair of the Public Service Committee of the Richland County Bar Association which recently held its sixth annual “Practical Knowledge for Any Attorney” CLE.

Ndayishimiye "Flo" Florence is a Development Associate at Time Served. Meet Our Development Associate BACK TO ABOUT US BACK TO ABOUT US Ndayishimiye "Flo" Florence DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE Email Flo Ndayishimiye “Flo” Florence is the Development Associate at Time Served. She earned her Bachelor of Arts with honors in Political Science from Presbyterian College, where she double majored in International Affairs and History. Flo then earned her Masters in International Affairs with a concentration in Global Development, Environment, and Sustainability from the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, Bloomington. During her academic career, her research focused on the impact of colonialism on development in post-colonial Africa. Some of her other research included women’s representation globally, the portrayal of sexual violence in television dramas, reproductive healthcare access, and more. During her time in graduate school, Flo worked as an intern at the Indiana University Foundation supporting the Affinity Giving areas of Women's Philanthropy, Black Philanthropy, and LGBTQ+ Philanthropy. She also worked in development and alumni relations for the O’Neill School working in donor prospect research and event planning. Before joining Time Served, Flo’s professional journey was focused on higher education. She previously worked as the Assistant Director of External Relations at the Walter Center for Career Achievement, and as an admissions counselor at her alma mater, Presbyterian College. Flo has now joined the Time Served family to continue her passions of fostering inclusive communities globally. Outside of work, Flo enjoys spending time with her family and is very much a homebody. You’ll probably find her binge-watching her favorite shows or reading.

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All Posts Civil Rights Nov 7, 2023 3 min Civil Rights You, too, can vote in South Carolina (probably). The right to vote is one of the most crucial tools we, as American citizens, have in our toolkits for change. And you should be using it.

Mon, Feb 19 | Wesley United Methodist Church Reawakening Hope Join Time Served as we host a launch event for our 2024 policy and advocacy work. We're at capacity. Please contact us at info@tsscnow.org for assistance. See other events Time & Location Feb 19, 2024, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Wesley United Methodist Church, 1725 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA About the event Time Served is proud to host Reawakening Hope -- a launch event for our 2024 policy and advocacy work. Guest speakers and panelists include Time Served staff, systems-impacted activists and leaders from across the state, and more. We will explore our top three policy priorities for the year: South Carolina's broken parole system, ending juvenile life without parole, and ban the box legislation. RSVPs are required for food and capacity purposes. This event is open to the public, but due to the nature of the conversation, you must be 18 years or older to attend. Show More Share this event

Latest News Mar 9, 2024 Time Served Hosts "Reawakening Hope" Read More Feb 1, 2024 Time Served collaborates with FCC to host public commentary event Read More

< Back Time Served Hosts "Reawakening Hope" 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

< Back Time Served collaborates with FCC to host public commentary event Shirene Hansotia Feb 1, 2024 ​ Your voice matters! Twenty years ago, a grandmother in Washington, DC wrote a letter to the FCC requesting they look into the steep cost of prison phone calls. At the time, Ms. Wright-Reed was struggling with many serious underlying health issues and subsisting on a meager budget. She faced difficult decisions, often forsaking paying for all of her necessary medications in order to have the funds to speak to her incarcerated grandson. Last year, legislation was passed in her name. The recently adopted Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2022 directs the FCC to adopt just and reasonable in-state communication rates between incarcerated people and their loved ones. On February 1, 2024, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and former FCC acting chairwoman and member Mignon Clyburn traveled to North Charleston, South Carolina to hold a listening session, gathering testimony from four formerly incarcerated men and women with lived experience trying to maintain familial relationships by phone while incarcerated. These four participants spoke eloquently about their experiences in federal and state prisons, struggling to maintain contact with loved ones, and often having to choose between food or phone calls. They also described frequent dropped calls and a severe shortage of phones within prison facilities, making communication very difficult. "For too many years, families and friends of incarcerated people have struggled with the outrageous costs charged for communicating with their loved ones,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “The FCC has long fought this problem using our existing rules, but they limited us to regulating interstate rates. Thanks to Congress and the President, this new law gives the FCC new authority to oversee state rates. I hope my colleagues will support me in taking the next steps to lowering the cost of prison phone bills so that incarcerated people can affordably stay connected with families and loved ones.” The FCC is still accepting public comment regarding incarcerated people's communication services . To file an express comment: Go to www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express Indicate the docket number of the proceeding as "23-62" and "12-374" Add your name, basic contact information, and type your brief comments. Check the box at the bottom of the form acknowledging that you are filing a comment into an official FCC proceeding. After submitting your comments, press "Continue to review screen," review your filing, and then press "Submit." Time Served was grateful to collaborate with the FCC and #Turn90 in bringing voices to speak about the high costs of communication in prisons in South Carolina. Previous Next