South Carolina Criminal Records

According to recent crime data, South Carolina has a total crime index of 28 per 1,000 residents and a violent crime rate of approximately 4.91 incidents per 1,000 residents, one of the highest recorded violent crime rates across the country. South Carolina criminal records are official documentation of these incidents, and they detail an individual's interactions with law enforcement and the state's criminal justice system as a whole. These records generally include, but are not limited to, arrest records, warrants, case dispositions, sentencing information, and incarceration records.

South Carolina criminal records are maintained by several state and local agencies, including police departments and sheriff's offices, circuit courts, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, and the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Nevertheless, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) serves as the state's central repository for criminal records and provides access to these records for various purposes, such as employment background checks, licensing, legal proceedings, and general public inquiries.

Are Criminal Records Public in South Carolina?

Per the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), criminal records in the state are generally considered public records and may be inspected and copied by any interested member of the public. However, this law also outlines certain records/information that are exempt from public disclosure. Examples of these exempt records include juvenile records, information that could endanger witnesses and confidential informants, certain law enforcement investigation records, especially those related to ongoing cases, and expunged records.

How To Look Up Criminal Records in South Carolina?

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) provides access to official criminal records through its Citizens Access to Criminal Histories (CATCH) system. This system allows interested parties to perform online searches using an individual's name and date of birth (you may also provide a Social Security number to narrow down the search results), and subsequently view and print the generated results. You may either create a user account on the platform or perform the search using the "guest" option; however, with this option, generated results will only be available for 72 hours.

Alternatively, you may obtain copies of criminal records from SLED by mailing a Criminal Record Check Form, along with the appropriate fees and a self-addressed, stamped envelope, to the division at:

There is a non-refundable $25 fee per record check; requests submitted online will also attract an additional $1 convenience fee. Mail-in requesters who wish to obtain notarized or certified copies of the criminal records must also explicitly state this in the request form.

Note that the SLED may also conduct fingerprint-based record checks for specific entities, but only if these types of checks are required by state law - these fingerprint-based checks are typically more comprehensive than name-based checks and may include a nationwide search. Contact the division at (803) 737-9000 for more information on performing background checks and obtaining official criminal records.

How To Search South Carolina Arrest Records?

Arrest records in South Carolina are primarily generated by local police departments and county sheriff's offices within their respective jurisdictions; the state's Department of Public Safety also generates and maintains copies of arrests carried out by its officers (usually for traffic-related offenses).

South Carolina arrest records typically contain the following information:

• The name, age, and sex of the person arrested
• The date and location of the arrest
• The offenses that led to the arrest
• The arresting officer's name and agency
• A brief description of the arrest

South Carolina arrest records can typically be accessed by submitting an official request directly to the law enforcement agency that handled the arrest and paying any applicable fees. Some local law enforcement agencies provide online portals or mail-in options for submitting records requests and may also offer online access to their respective incident reports and arrest databases. The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division also provides online access to statewide arrest records through its CATCH system. Note that fees apply.

How To Search South Carolina Warrants?

A South Carolina warrant is a legal document that authorizes law enforcement to take specific actions, such as making an arrest or conducting a search. These warrants are typically issued by judges and magistrates, but may also be issued by any other duly authorized/designated judicial officer. Common types of warrants issued in South Carolina include:

• Arrest Warrants: These are issued when law enforcement provides probable cause that a person has committed a crime and authorizes officers to take the person into custody.
• Bench Warrants: These are issued when a person fails to appear in court or violates a court order and authorize the immediate apprehension of the person.
• Search Warrants: These authorize law enforcement to search a specific location for evidence related to a crime and are also issued based on probable cause.

South Carolina warrants are typically considered "lifelong", meaning that they generally remain active until executed/resolved, or revoked by the court. However, search warrants must be executed and returned to the issuing court within 10 days.

You may search for warrant information in South Carolina by contacting the local law enforcement agency or the county clerk of court in the jurisdiction where the warrant was issued. The South Carolina Judicial Branch offers a Case Records Search platform that may be used to look up warrant information. Similarly, many counties also offer online databases that provide access to warrant information for their respective jurisdictions. Note that access to warrant information may be limited/restricted in certain situations, especially ones involving active/ongoing law enforcement investigations.

Can I Obtain a South Carolina Criminal History Record of Another Person?

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division maintains a Citizens Access to Criminal Histories (CATCH) system that allows interested parties to search for, view, and print criminal history records of another person online. Note that these background checks are name-based; as such, you will be required to provide the person's name and date of birth to initiate a record search; you may also provide their Social Security number (this is optional).

You may also request copies of another person's criminal history record by mailing a Criminal Records Check Form to:

You will need to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a $25 fee (per search) with the request form. Online searches also cost $25, plus an extra $1 convenience fee.

How To Expunge or Seal South Carolina Criminal Records

In South Carolina, individuals with a criminal record may get their record expunged - this is a legal process that removes arrests and dispositions from the record. These expungements are governed by the state's Uniform Expungement of Criminal Records Act. Per this law, expungements are generally limited to non-conviction records (records of arrests that did not result in a conviction) and certain non-violent first-time offenses.

The expungement process typically involves the following steps:

• Complete the mandatory waiting period. This may range from 1 - 5 years after the imposed sentence has been completed.
• Contact the solicitor's office in the judicial circuit where the offense was committed.
• Obtain the necessary application forms and pay the stipulated fees.
• Wait for the response. The solicitor's office will typically send the application to the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to verify that the record/offenses listed in the application are eligible for expungement. If this is confirmed, the record will be expunged.

Note that, while expungements typically destroy the record and make it inaccessible to the public, certain agencies may retain some information/records for up to three years and four months (or indefinitely in some cases), in line with Section 17-1-40 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. These include law enforcement agencies, prosecutors' offices, and detention/correctional facilities.

What Are the Limitations to the Use of Criminal Records for Employment, Licensing, and Housing in South Carolina?

South Carolina does not currently have any laws broadly restricting the use of criminal records for employment, housing, and licensing in the state. Nonetheless, several federal regulations influence and limit how these records may be used.

These include the Fair Chance Act, which prevents federal agencies and contractors from asking about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer is made. Additionally, guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) restricts employers and landlords from enforcing broad policies that automatically reject individuals with criminal records. Instead, they are encouraged to evaluate the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the job or housing application before making decisions.

Can I Access South Carolina Criminal Records for Free Online?

Several private platforms offer access to South Carolina criminal records online, some at no cost and others for a small fee. However, the accuracy and completeness of the information provided by these platforms may not always be reliable. For reliable, complete, and up-to-date information, it is best to utilize official platforms like the state's CATCH and Case Records Search systems, or reputable third-party websites like SouthCarolinaPublicRecords.us that aggregate data from verified public and private databases.