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Youth looks into the sunset
Graduating girl, House being lifted, Probation officer knocking on door, Probation Officer with youth, Youth upholstering chair, Teacher and youth, Juvenile Correctional Officers
 

          Director's Biography

          Freddie Pough

          Director, SC Department of Juvenile Justice

          Freddie Pough





          Scholarship, Perseverance, and the Uplifting of all mankind are the guiding principles of South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice Director, Freddie B. Pough. Freddie is a proud native of South Carolina. He was reared in Swansea by his loving and devoted parents, James and Margie Pough. As the younger of two male children, he was taught through experiential learning the value of hard work and determination by his working class parents. Pough's father worked nearly 40 years in the steel industry, and his mother is a master seamstress, who is still offering her craftsmanship after 50 years of service. Freddie's father, before his passing in 2009, ensured that his son knew that true success in life begins with God, Family and Servant-leadership. Those characteristics are evident when you examine the work that Director Pough has performed over his extensive law enforcement career.

          It was at the age of 15 that Pough vowed to live a life of protecting and serving. After spending his adolescent years as a member of the boy scouts, he became a law enforcement cadet with the Lexington County Sheriffs Department Law Enforcement Explorers Program, where he rose to the rank of Major and concluded his tenure in that program at the age of 21. He dedicated countless hours to training and understanding what it really means to be a law enforcement officer. Mr. Pough takes great pride in placing the civil liberties and safety for others above himself.

          Freddie is a 1995 graduate of Swansea High School. He graduated top of his class and continued his academic and athletic career at South Carolina State University -- graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, as a four-year lettered athlete in 1999. Pough' s Alma Mater, established in 1896, is one of the cornerstones of South Carolina's history and serves as the place of birth for the scholastic and social acuteness he displays as a selfless leader.

          In the fall of 2000, Freddie seized the opportunity to fulfill his calling and began working for the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) as a juvenile correctional officer. Today, Nearly 18 years later, he is regarded as an expert in the field of interviewing and interrogation, marksmanship, investigations, and search and seizure. He is a certified class one police officer with the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and professionally certified as a detective, school resource officer, probation, pardon and parole agent and a juvenile justice correctional officer.

          Before returning to the foundation of his rewarding law enforcement career, DJJ, in March of 2016 as the Inspector General; Mr. Pough served the citizens of South Carolina as a probation, pardon and parole agent; a patrol officer; and as a lieutenant with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

          Since 2016, Pough has developed and implemented an agency-wide search and seizure policy for staff and visitors; and has taken aggressive measures towards combating gangs through in-depth gang intervention and investigative action. Under his decisive leadership, the Special Response Team (SRT) was established to quickly respond to disturbances and security needs at all secure facilities. In addition, he created and implemented DJJ's Emergency Response Plan. This plan withstood Hurricane Matthew and helped to ensure the well-being of staff and juveniles across South Carolina during the mandatory evacuations, storm, floods and aftermath.

          Director Freddie B. Pough's commitment to empowering South Carolina's youth for the future exudes from the very essence of the work he is doing at the state's Department of Juvenile Justice. Mr. Pough often reflects on his personal mission of utilizing each day to bring forth improvements to the law enforcement system-- striving to reduce recidivism and improving clinical and vocational outcomes. Freddie understands that the continuum of care is a never-ending cycle that requires everyone's involvement to achieve the maximum level of measurable results. Pough often states, "the system can and will only be changed when the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is etched into the fabric of our society, "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere; and, we cannot be satisfied until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream;" and I'm committed to enacting that level of change."

          Director Pough shares his public servant passion with his wife of 15 years, the former Celestine Banks, a notable public educator in South Carolina and their 13 year old daughter Ebony.

          Accomplishments

          Director Freddie Pough has achieved several notable accomplishments during his executive management tenure with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice:

          • SCDJJ Regionalization implementation: regionalization will rehabilitate and reestablish the juvenile and family unit. This national best practice will serve the needs of South Carolina in a more efficient manner, while continuing to position the state and DJJ as a global standard of care model.

          • SCDJJ College preparation: In March 2017, DJJ formed a partnership with Allen University which affords the students the opportunity to take classes to earn college credit. To date, 8 juveniles are enrolled in the program and in November 2017, 5 SCDJJ students received academic scholarships to continue their scholastic studies at Allen University.

          • SCDJJ Emergency Preparedness: Developed a robust division that will manage, coordinate and implement policies to address and respond to natural events, accidental manmade hazards, technical disasters, and hostage situations.

          • SCDJJ Security Operations: Restructured the department of public safety and improved security staffing ratios along with the establishment of an agency-wide Special Response Team.

          • SCDJJ Job Readiness: In 2017, secured over 600 jobs and paid internships for SCDJJ juveniles.

          • SCDJJ Culture: Improving the culture of the agency has been a priority for the new administration. Director Pough sends a weekly communication that discusses agency enhancements, updates and employees. This correspondence serves as a testament of the great work taking place at SCDJJ and has greatly improved agency morale

           

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          South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice
          4900 Broad River Road
          Columbia SC, 29212-3552
          Telephone: 803-896-9749

          South Carolina Safe Space

          If you or someone you love is suffering from domestic violence, get help today and change your tomorrow. We're here for you anytime.

          Please visit Safe Place South Carolina for help.

          The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age. THE FOLLOWING OFFICES HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED TO HANDLE INQUIRIES REGARDING THE NONDISCRIMINATON POLICIES: Title IX -- Inspector General's Office -- 803-896-9595 Title II & 504 -- Special Education Office -- 803-896-8484.