Situated along the Atlantic Coast, Beaufort County has a population of over 200,000. This makes it the tenth most populous county in South Carolina, with 3.68 percent of the state's population. Blessed with beaches and some of the most beautiful outdoor scenery, the county thrives on tourism and hospitality. Its major cities and towns include Beaufort (its county seat), Bluffton, Hilton Head Island (its most populous town), and Port Royal.
The average rate of property crime in Beaufort County is 1,368.5 per 100,000 people, while the average rate of violent crime is 301.5. Compared to the national average, the average property and violent crime rates are significantly lower at 22.2% and 16%, respectively.
The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. This office serves as the primary point of contact for the public regarding matters related to county law enforcement.
At the county level, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office oversees arrest records, although the Detention Center handles jail bookings and inmate release statistics. Other law enforcement agencies, such as federal agencies, state highway patrol, and city police, are also capable of making arrests and creating incident reports. However, if the person is booked into the county jail, those records are frequently shared with the Sheriff's Office.
Beaufort County is home to several law enforcement agencies, including the county sheriff, city police departments, and federal law enforcement agencies.
The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is the most accurate and reliable source for county-level arrest information and jail rosters. The county sheriff's office manages:
Beaufort City and Bluffton have local police departments that are part of Beaufort County. People are often booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center, and the Sheriff's Office is responsible for their detention records, even though these police departments make the arrest.
Local police departments oversee arrests within their municipal limits and maintain their own arrest or incident reports.
Highway stops and criminal investigations inside South Carolina may be conducted by state police or the South Carolina Highway Patrol. When someone is arrested in Beaufort County, they are usually put into the county jail, and the details may be entered into official logs.
Federal law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, DEA, ATF, and Homeland Security may look into federal crimes and make arrests. These crimes include cybercrime, drug trafficking, terrorism, and immigration. Note that unless the person is temporarily detained in the Beaufort County Detention Center, federal arrests usually do not appear in county records.
Campus police, like those at the Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) and the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB), handle issues that arise on campus and make arrests on university property. Usually, the county jail handles bookings.
Arrest records in Beaufort County typically contain the following details:
Remember that the information in arrest records varies depending on the type of case, agency, and jurisdiction. Due to things like active investigations, juvenile protection, or privacy regulations, some details may be protected from the public.
Annually, Beaufort County reports about 603 violent crimes and 2,737 property crimes. The average violent crime rate is 301.5 per 100,000 residents, below the national average by 16%. In contrast, property crimes average 1,368.5 per 100,000, which is 22.2% below the national average.
The table below shows a breakdown of arrest statistics in Beaufort County:
Arrest Total | Yearly Average |
|---|---|
Arrest Rate per 100,000 | 2,475 |
Adult Arrests | 4,736 |
Juvenile Arrests | 215 |
Crime Type | |
Murder | 18 |
Rape | 58 |
Robbery | 46 |
Aggravated Assault | 481 |
Burglary | 310 |
Larceny | 2,192 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 223 |
Arson | 12 |
Source: South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division
Common Warrant Types in Beaufort County, SC
Several types of warrants are issued in Beaufort County. These warrants can be found in arrest records, and each serves a different legal purpose. Warrants are used by judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement to enforce court orders and investigate crimes. Depending on state laws, warrants may have different names and scopes of authority. The following warrants are common in Beaufort County:
An arrest warrant is issued when law enforcement or a prosecutor presents probable cause that a person has committed a crime. It is signed by a judge, and it gives law enforcement legal authority to arrest the individual.
Bench warrants are issued by judges when a person fails to appear in court or disobeys a court order. These warrants do not require new criminal charges and are often used for missed hearings or unpaid fines.
A civil capias warrant is used in civil matters, such as unpaid child support or failure to comply with a subpoena. Although it originates from a civil case, this warrant can still lead to arrest and temporary detention until the issue is resolved.
Also called an out-of-county or out-of-state warrant, a fugitive warrant is issued when someone wanted elsewhere is located in Beaufort County. Local authorities detain the individual until they can be transferred back to the jurisdiction that issued the original warrant.
A governor's warrant is a formal document signed by the governor authorizing the arrest and transfer of a person wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence in another state.
A search warrant allows law enforcement to enter and search a specific location for evidence related to a suspected crime. Issued by a judge based on probable cause, it is not an arrest warrant but may lead to one if illegal items or evidence are found during the search.
There are various ways to get access to Beaufort County arrest and jail records. To start, you can locate current jail bookings and inmate status by using the Beaufort County inmate search or jail roster. To locate court cases related to arrests, you can also visit the South Carolina state court system or conduct a warrant lookup through the county or sheriff's department. Certain services allow you to register for notifications regarding court changes or inmate releases.
Alternatively, you can ask the sheriff's office, jail, or clerk of court for records in person, over the phone, or via email. If necessary, you may also submit a formal request for public documents in accordance with South Carolina law; however, this may include costs and call for legitimate identification.
The following are jail and detention facilities in Beaufort County:
Agency Name: Beaufort County Sheriff's Office
City: Beaufort, South Carolina
Type: County law enforcement agency
Address: 2001 Duke St, Beaufort, SC 29902
Phone Number: (843) 255-3200
Website: https://bcso.net/
Staffing: The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office employs over 340 personnel
Police Department | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Beaufort County Sheriff's Office | 2001 Duke St., Beaufort, SC 29902 | (843) 255-3200 |
Bluffton Police Department | 101 Progressive St., Bluffton, SC 29910 | (843) 706-4550 |
Beaufort Police Department | 1901 Boundary St., Beaufort, SC 29902 | (843) 322-7900 |
Port Royal Police Department | 1748 Paris Ave, Port Royal, SC 29935 | (843) 986-2220 |
Agency Name: Beaufort County Detention Center
State: South Carolina
City: Beaufort
Type: County detention facility
Address: 100 Ribaut Rd, Beaufort, SC 29902
Phone Number: (843) 255-5200
Website: https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/detention-center/index.html
Facility Name | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Beaufort County Detention Center | 100 Ribaut Rd, Beaufort, SC 29902 | (843) 255-5200 |