Palmetto State News

State Department of Juvenile Justice (SCDJJ) Director Freddie Pough announced his resignation from his position earlier this month after more than five years of service.

In his resignation letter to Gov. Henry McMaster, Pough expressed pride in his work with the SCDJJ, including a 43% decrease in the number of youths referred to DJJ by law enforcement and schools.

“I’m grateful for Mr. Pough’s five years of leadership at the Department of Juvenile Justice and his passion for the work of rehabilitating the young people who come under the supervision of the agency,” McMaster said in an office release. “We will immediately begin working to find the best possible person to lead the agency into the future.”

Until a permanent director is nominated by McMaster and confirmed by the state Senate, Eden Hendrick will serve as acting director of SCDJJ. 

According to the governor's office release, Hendrick most recently served as assistant general counsel at the state Department of Administration.

From 2015 to May 2020, Hendrick also served as an attorney with the state Department of Social Services, and led the Richland County Family Court Division in the Fifth Circuit, when she first joined the state Department of Administration, according to the release.