South Carolina Recent Arrests
South Carolina recent arrests are tracked by law enforcement agencies in all 46 counties. Arrest records in South Carolina are public under the state Freedom of Information Act. You can search recent arrests through county sheriff websites, detention center inmate rosters, and the South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index. Many counties post booking reports and arrest logs online. This page covers how to find recent arrests across South Carolina, including online search tools, records request options, and contact details for each county office that handles arrest data.
South Carolina Arrest Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Recent Arrests in South Carolina
South Carolina has several places to look up recent arrests. The county sheriff in each of the 46 counties runs a detention center. Many of these detention centers post arrest logs and inmate rosters online. You can search by name to find booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and mugshots. Some counties update their rosters in real time. Others post new bookings once a day.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is the state's main law enforcement agency. SLED runs the statewide criminal records system that collects arrest data from every agency in the state. Their office is at 4400 Broad River Road in Columbia. You can reach SLED by phone at 803.737.9000. SLED maintains the Computerized Criminal History system that tracks all arrests reported by local agencies across South Carolina. The agency processed over 47,000 record requests in a single year through its Criminal Justice Information Services division, averaging 444 requests each workday. For a full criminal history check, SLED offers both name-based and fingerprint-based searches.
County clerk of court offices also keep records tied to recent arrests. Once a person is charged, the case goes to court. The South Carolina Judicial Branch Case Records Search lets you look up cases in all 46 counties. You can search by name, case number, or court type. The system covers Circuit Courts, Family Courts, Magistrate Courts, and Municipal Courts.
Note: Law enforcement records from the last 14 days must be available for public viewing without a written request during normal business hours under South Carolina FOIA law.
South Carolina Recent Arrests Through SLED CATCH
SLED CATCH stands for Citizens Access To Criminal Histories. It is the official online portal for checking South Carolina arrest records. The system shows arrest data from South Carolina only. It does not include national records. SLED CATCH requires an exact match on the last name, first name, and date of birth. Social Security numbers are optional but help narrow results.
Each SLED CATCH search costs $25.00 and is not refundable. Most credit and debit cards work. There is an extra $1.00 fee for online searches. Charitable groups that meet state rules can pay a lower fee of $8.00. Checks for teachers going to local school districts are free. The results come from fingerprint submissions made under Section 23-3-120 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Name-based searches can return false matches if someone uses an alias. When the system finds more than one person, it shows a "Special Processing Required" message. You can call the SLED Public Dissemination Unit at (803) 896-1443 for help.
SLED also takes requests by mail. Send them to SLED Records Department, PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221-1398. Use a business check, certified check, or money order. Personal checks and cash are not accepted. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Search Recent Arrests by County
Most South Carolina counties run their own inmate search tools. These show people booked into the county jail. Larger counties like Charleston, Greenville, and Richland update their systems often. Smaller counties may require a phone call. Each county detention center keeps booking records that include the date of arrest, charges filed, bond amount, and court dates. Many also show mugshots.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections runs a separate search for people serving state sentences. This system shows inmates in state prisons, not county jails. It includes photos, offense details, and projected release dates. The SCDC search does not cover people held in county detention centers or those on probation or parole. For state inmates, you can search by name or SCDC number at the Department of Corrections website.
VINELink is another tool for tracking recent arrests in South Carolina. It is a free victim notification system. You can register to get alerts when someone's custody status changes. VINELink covers most county jails in the state. Alerts come by phone, email, or text. The system is available around the clock in English and Spanish.
Recent Arrests and South Carolina Court Records
After an arrest in South Carolina, the case moves to court. Court records show the full picture of what happens after a recent arrest. These records include the charges, hearing dates, case status, and final outcome. The South Carolina Judicial Branch maintains a Public Index that covers all 46 counties. You can search it for free at sccourts.org.
South Carolina criminal court records contain sworn statements, witness accounts, trial records, and judgments. You can get copies of these records in person at the Clerk of Court in any county. Mail requests also work. The Public Index lets you search by defendant name or case number online. As of January 2026, home addresses no longer appear on the public index for new and existing cases to protect privacy.
Note: Juvenile court records and sealed cases are not available through the Public Index in South Carolina.
How to Request South Carolina Arrest Records
The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to access arrest records. Under S.C. Code Ann. Section 30-4-10, public records include all documents held by government agencies. This covers arrest reports, booking logs, and jail records. Any person can request these records. You do not need to give a reason.
There are rules about what must be on hand without a written request. Jail and detention center records that show who is locked up must be open for the last three months. Law enforcement records from the last 14 days must be available for walk-in viewing. These rules come from the South Carolina FOIA Handbook, which the South Carolina Association of Counties publishes.
Written FOIA requests get a response within 10 working days. Fees depend on the agency. They can charge for the time it takes to find and copy records. Under Section 17-1-40, arrest records must be destroyed if charges are dismissed or the person is found not guilty. Expunged records are also off limits. But active arrest records and convictions remain public in South Carolina.
Some records are exempt from FOIA. These include items that would reveal law enforcement methods, endanger someone's safety, or expose confidential sources. Trade secrets and attorney-client materials are also protected. But the default rule in South Carolina is that arrest records are open to the public.
South Carolina Arrest Records and Supervision
The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services oversees people on probation or parole after an arrest and conviction. This agency does not post individual supervision records online. But it does handle pardon applications and parole hearings. Parole hearings are open to the public.
The South Carolina Sex Offender Registry is a separate system run by SLED. It tracks people convicted of sex crimes who live or work in South Carolina. The registry is free to search. SLED CATCH does not include sex offender data, so you need to check both systems for a full picture. You can search by name, address, city, county, or zip code.
South Carolina Laws on Recent Arrests
Title 17 of the South Carolina Code of Laws covers criminal procedures. It sets the rules for how arrests happen, how records are kept, and when they can be shared. Section 17-13 covers arrest procedures by both officers and private citizens. Sections 17-22-910 through 950 deal with expungement of certain first offenses and charges dropped through diversion programs.
Section 23-3-120 requires law enforcement to submit fingerprints to SLED for every arrest. This is how the statewide database stays current. The South Carolina Press Association notes that date of birth is required for all checks to make sure the record belongs to the right person. Running a check without the correct date of birth could lead to wrong results.
Browse South Carolina Recent Arrests by County
Each county in South Carolina runs its own sheriff's office and detention center. Pick a county below to find local arrest records, inmate search tools, and contact details for that area.
Recent Arrests in Major South Carolina Cities
City police departments handle arrests within their limits. Pick a city below to learn about recent arrests in that area.