With about 67,700 residents, Kershaw County is the 19th-most populous county in central South Carolina. The economy of the county is primarily driven by manufacturing, health care, and retail trade. The county is home to several cities and towns, including Camden (county seat), Lugoff, Elgin, Bethune, Antioch, and Cassatt.
The national violent crime rate is 437 per 100,000 residents, and Kershaw County's rate of 204 is approximately 53% below the national average. Similarly, the property crime rate in Kershaw County (227 per 100,000) is roughly 90% below the national average.
The primary law enforcement agency in the county is the Kershaw County Sheriff's Office(KCSO). The KCSOoversees the county jail, serves as the county's main law enforcement agency, and ensures public safety.
The Kershaw County Sheriff's Office maintains records of arrests, including jail bookings, inmate release data, and most county-level warrant information. Other secondary law enforcement agencies, such as city police, state troopers, and federal agents, also arrest suspects. They support the sheriff, make arrests, and generate their incident reports. When they book an individual, these records are often shared with the Sheriff's Office.
Kershaw County is home to several law enforcement agencies, including the county sheriff, city police departments, and federal law enforcement.
The Kershaw County Sheriff's Office is the most comprehensive source for county-level arrest logs and jail rosters. The county sheriff's office manages:
Local police departments operate within Kershaw County, such as those in Elgin, Kershaw, Bethune, and Camden. The city police conduct the arrest. Individuals are typically booked into the Kershaw County jail, where their records are handled by the Sheriff's Office.
Local police departments handle arrests within their municipal limits and maintain their own arrest or incident reports.
State police or the South Carolina Highway Patrol may conduct highway stops or investigate statewide or interjurisdictional crimes. If an arrest occurs in Kershaw County, the person is often booked into the county jail, and the records may appear in county logs.
Federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Border Patrol, and Homeland Security may investigate and arrest for violations of federal laws and regulations. These offenses include terrorism, drug trafficking, immigration, and cybercrime. Note that federal arrests typically do not show up in county records unless the individual is temporarily housed in the Kershaw County jail.
A typical arrest record in Kershaw County may include the following details:
Note that the exact details available in arrest records vary depending on the agency, jurisdiction, and case type. Some information may be withheld due to privacy laws, juvenile protections, or ongoing investigations.
Annually, Kershaw County reports about 185 violent crimes and 1,070 property crimes. The average violent crime rate is 173.0 per 100,000 residents, which is approximately 60% lower than the national average. Also, property crime rates average 780 per 100,000, which is about 60% below the national average.
A breakdown of arrest statistics in Kershaw County is presented below:
Arrest Total | Yearly Average |
|---|---|
Arrest Rate per 100,000 | 5,892 |
Adult Arrests | 440 |
Juvenile Arrests | 350 |
Crime Type | |
Murder | 10 |
Rape | 20 |
Robbery | 10 |
Aggravated Assault | 280 |
Burglary | 60 |
Larceny | 370 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 70 |
Arson | 20 |
Source: South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division
Several types of warrants are issued in Kershaw 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 Kershaw 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 Kershaw 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. It authorizes 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. It is issued by a judge based on probable cause and is not an arrest warrant. However, it may lead to an arrest warrant if illegal items or evidence are found during the search.
Kershaw County arrest and jail records are accessible to the public via several methods. You can visit the Kershaw County Detention Center Inmate List Portal to search for inmates' arrest records and their warrant status. The Kershaw Sheriff's Office allows you to fill out the FOIL Request Form to request arrest records.
You can register on the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's Citizens Access to Criminal History Portal. Through this portal, you can access Kershaw County arrest records. The South Carolina Courts Public Index System allows you to look up Kershaw County arrest records. You can search the portal for criminal records of individuals convicted of offenses in Kershaw County's Circuit, Magistrate, or Municipal Courts.
Alternatively, you may request records in person, by phone, or by email from the sheriff's office, jail, or the appropriate Court Clerk's Office.
The following are jail and detention facilities in Kershaw County:
Agency Name: Kershaw County Sheriff's Office
City: Lugoff, South Carolina
Type: County law enforcement agency
Address: 821 Ridgeway Road, Lugoff, SC 29078
Phone Number: (803) 425-1512 (Non-emergency)
Website: https://www.kershawsheriff.com/
Staffing: The Kershaw County Sheriff's Office employs about 30 personnel
Police Department | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Camden Police Department | 816 W DeKalb St., Camden, SC, 29020 | (803) 425-6025 X134 |
Elgin Police Department | 2469 Main St., Elgin, SC 29045 | (803) 438-9917 |
Bethune Police Department | 103 Main St N Bethune, SC 29009 | (843) 334-6238 |
South Carolina Highway Patrol | 10311 Wilson Boulevard, Blythewood, SC 29016 | (803) 896-7920 |
Agency Name: Kershaw County, SC Detention Center
State: South Carolina
City: Camden
Type: County detention facility
Address: 101 Bramblewood Plantation Road
Phone Number: (803) 425-1516
Website: https://www.kershaw.sc.gov/government/departments-r-z/safety-and-emergency-services/detention-center
Facility Name | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Kershaw County Detention Center | 101 Bramblewood Plantation Road, Camden, SC 29020 | (803) 425-1516 |