Search South Carolina Public Records

How to Look Up Criminal Records in South Carolina

South Carolina arrest records and criminal records are kept in a central repository to easily handle name-based inmate search requests. State law allows the general public access to arrest records upon request. All law enforcement agencies create and keep records and add them into the database. SC repository holds state-level records only, not federal. They don’t use fingerprint-based records for the public. When requesting records, the user will have to pay a small fee for each record request, and the name and information must match exactly.

Victims & Offenders by Gender and Race

What Information Does South Carolina Criminal Records Report Include?

A South Carolina arrest record will show demographic information like the person’s name, date of birth, age, race, gender, height, weight, physical description, address, phone number and next of kin. It will also show the booking details, the name of the arresting officer, the location where the arrest took place, the date of the arrest, and vehicle details if one was involved. Other information on it will be mugshots, fingerprints, the arresting agencies details and other information about the crime.

South Carolina Police Reports and Mugshots

Are South Carolina Police Reports Public Record?

Yes, police reports in South Carolina are public records. Many of the local town police departments, such as Lexington, have a section on their website with instructions on how to obtain them. Police reports are available within 48 hours after they have been created, and you can pick them up in person at the police station. They state that if for some reason, you cannot visit in person, you can call 803–359–6260 to make other arrangements. The information contained on most police reports includes:

• The date and time of the incident.
• Details of the crime/incident.
• The name of the suspect or person(s) involved.
• The person’s age and where they are from.
• How the officer’s handled resolution (was the person arrested, given a warning or left alone).
• Other warrants out for the person’s arrest.
• The jail location they were taken to.
• The police department that responded to the call.
• Bail details if available.
• The charges filed against the suspect.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) stores and issues state police collision reports. They have a special form called Request for Collision Report (SCDMV Form FR–50) to use when requesting a copy of yours. Each report costs $6.

South Carolina Mugshots Search

South Carolina mugshots may be found in many places online. For example, the Beaufort County website has a jail inmate listing that openly displays mugshots for anyone who was arrested in that area. All South Carolina mugshots have a light or dark gray background. Most inmates are wearing orange jumpsuits. Other places you might find South Carolina mugshots are newspapers, public records websites, and others.

Mugshots became an integral part of the booking process in the late 1800s when Alphonse Bertillon invented them and made it part of his procedure. He devised the layout (a front-facing and side shot), the lighting, and other details. Later, other countries adopted mugshots as part of their standard procedure. Investigators use them, witnesses and victims, alike.

South Carolina Arrest Booking Process

South Carolina police and troopers are allowed to arrest anyone they suspect of having committed a crime, someone they witnessed committing a crime, or as a result of an arrest warrant. After handcuffing and reading the person their Miranda rights, they will take them to the county jail or police station for booking. In most cases, the booking process consists of:

• Recording your name and the crime you’ve been arrested for.
• Taking a mugshot.
• Taking fingerprints.
• Surrendering your clothing and personal belongings for evidence or to be held until your release.
• Full body search.
• Check for outstanding warrants in your name.
• Health screening.
• Background and demographic information about you.

Many people will remain in jail until they can pay bail or have an initial hearing with a judge.

Violent Crime Rates for the last 10 years

The crime rate has decreased over the past decade in South Carolina, going from 14,574 crimes in 2006 to 10,123 by 14% lower than it was back in 2006. The largest percentage of violent crimes falls into the Aggravated Assault category, with Revised Rape being the least popular crime in the state.

Arrest Law

SC police officers may arrest someone when they are in possession of a warrant. They can also arrest someone when they witness them committing a crime. They can even arrest anyone who violates parole or probation. An officer can arrest someone when they have information that a felony has been committed or is aware that someone committed one but not in front of them. If someone commits a felony, they can be arrested at night, and deadly force may be used to bring them in or in self-defense.

The Arrest Rate in South Carolina

For the last year available 2016, SC recorded 27,147 property crimes, 37,615 drug crimes, 4,735 crimes related to weapons, 17,327 simple assaults, 16,925 DUIs, 7,403 liquor law violations, and 8,220 charges for drunkenness.

State Offender and Victim Age Group Statistics

Most of the violent crime offenders in South Carolina were 20-29 and the largest percentage of violent crime victims were 20-29.

Crime Victim Demographics

Residence Home is the place where the majority of crimes in South Carolina were committed, in most of the crime cases the offender was an acquaintance.

South Carolina Arrest Records by Type of Crime

The popular arrests for 2017 in South Carolina was for Drug Abuse Violations - 34,356, the same popularity of the arrest type was seen in New York, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. The least popularity had Curfew and Loitering Law Violations arrests - with only 64 crimes a year.