Convicted child killer Susan Smith has been charged with an internal disciplinary violation just weeks before her upcoming parole hearing. According to the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC), Smith was found guilty of communicating with a documentary filmmaker while serving her prison sentence, a violation of prison policies.
On August 26, 2024, Smith was charged with improperly communicating with a victim and/or witness. The disciplinary hearing took place on October 3, and Smith was convicted. As a result, she has lost her telephone, tablet, and canteen privileges for 90 days, starting from October 4, told the State.
The violation stems from Smith’s decision to share contact information of friends, family, and victims—including her ex-husband—with the filmmaker. In return, the filmmaker deposited money into Smith’s prison account. SCDC policies strictly prohibit inmates from giving interviews over the phone or in person, though they are allowed to correspond via letters.
Inmates at SCDC are issued tablets for monitored calls and electronic messages, which are considered a privilege. Following her disciplinary action, Smith’s access to a tablet has been revoked. Prison authorities will later determine if and when she may regain tablet privileges.
Despite this setback, Smith remains eligible for parole on November 4, 2024, when her case will be reviewed. Smith, who gained national infamy in 1995 for drowning her two young sons by driving her car into a lake, is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
Smith’s parole eligibility and recent disciplinary infraction are likely to attract public scrutiny as her parole hearing approaches.