L. Eden Hendrick
Executive Director
Governor Henry McMaster announced Feb. 22, 2022 that Eden Hendrick has been selected as the next executive director of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Hendrick was officially confirmed as executive director by the S.C. Senate on May 11, 2022.
"In her short time with the agency, Ms. Hendrick has demonstrated that she is precisely the right person to lead DJJ at this time,” said Gov. McMaster. "Her unique experience has allowed her to quickly identify challenges the agency faces and – most importantly – immediately begin making necessary changes to overcome each one. Under her leadership, DJJ will continue to improve."
As executive director, Hendrick has focused her efforts on employee retention and recruitment, facility upgrades, and increased mental health services for DJJ youth.
"Reforming DJJ will be a complicated and difficult process that will take time, but I am optimistic and inspired by the change that has occurred in the past five months since I have been there and I'm confident this trend will continue," said Director Hendrick. "I am grateful to the governor for giving me the opportunity to permanently lead the agency."
Before becoming Acting Director in September 2021, Hendrick served as Assistant General Counsel at the S.C. Department of Administration. Hendrick formerly served as a prosecutor in the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, specializing in family court matters. As the solicitor’s office’s team leader over its family court division, she supervised a team of support staff, victim advocates, junior attorneys, law clerks, two diversion programs, and two diversion courts.
Hendrick graduated with honors from the University of Georgia in 2002 prior to receiving a Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2005. She is the recipient of the 2016 Ernest F. Hollings Award for Excellence in State Prosecution in Family Court and was previously a member of the Children’s Justice Act Task Force.
Hendrick is married with two children and is a resident of Richland County.
Christine G. Wallace
Chief of Staff
Christine Wallace began her career at the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice in 1992 working on the front lines with adolescent youth. She was promoted to the position of Chief of Staff in February 2022. Her experience spans more than 30 years working with various child-servicing agencies in an effort to address the various needs of youth and families in South Carolina. It also includes more than 15 years directly in juvenile justice and numerous years in executive leadership positions.
Wallace received both her bachelor and master’s degrees in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina and is a Certified Public Manager (CPM), which is a nationally accredited comprehensive management development program.
Wallace has served on numerous boards and commissions to include a prior appointment to the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Council (GJJAC), where she specifically focused on addressing issues of disproportionality in South Carolina’s juvenile justice system and interventions to promote youth and family well-being.
She is committed to the betterment of local communities and holds membership in numerous organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc and is active with the Upsilon Omega Omega Chapter in Irmo, S.C. Wallace enjoys spending time with her husband for over 28 years and has two adult children.