Mother who killed sons loses interview privileges with filmmaker before parole hearing

GREENWOOD, S.C. (WLOS) — A woman convicted of killing her two sons in 1994 was recently disciplined by the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) for a policy violation, according to the agency.

On August 26, in advance of her upcoming parole hearing, Susan Smith was charged with communicating with a victim and/or witness.

According to the SCDC, the charges involved telephone conversations with a documentary filmmaker about her crimes. Smith had agreed to provide the filmmaker with contact information for friends, family and victims, including her former husband David Smith.

The SCDC said the documentary filmmaker deposited money into Smith's inmate account.

The incident is a violation of SCDC policy. In South Carolina, individuals in the custody of the SC Department of Corrections are not permitted to conduct telephone or in-person interviews. Inmates are only allowed to write letters.

Smith previously wrote a letter to the State newspaper shortly before the 25th anniversary of her incarceration.

She was convicted of the violation on October 3. As a result, Smith has lost her phone, tablet and cafeteria privileges for 90 days since October 4th.

According to the SCDC, inmates are given tablets that are secured for use in the prison system. The tablets can be used to make monitored calls and send monitored electronic messages and are considered a privilege.

Smith is eligible for parole on November 4th.