In South Carolina, more than 180,000 arrests are typically made each year, with approximately 3,500 of these occurring in Laurens County. According to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the County's arrest records are generally classified as public records and are accessible to the public. Obtaining arrest records usually costs between $1 and $25.
However, certain records are restricted from public access for security and privacy reasons. These records include records involving juveniles, medical and mental health records, sealed records, and records of ongoing investigations. Access to these records is limited to authorized parties, including the record owners, their legal representatives, law enforcement agencies, judicial officers, and the Eighth Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office.
In Laurens County, arrest records are maintained by multiple agencies, including Police Departments, the County Sheriff's Office, the Courts, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
The Laurens County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records in the county. Interested individuals can use the Inmate Search portal provided by the Sheriff's Office to find arrest information about persons incarcerated in the county. They can also request copies of arrest records from the County Sheriff's Office by visiting in person at:
The County Sheriff's Office
216 West Main Street
Laurens, SC 29360
Phone: (864) 984-4967
Arrest records in the County may be obtained from the Police Department responsible for those arrests. The two PDs in the county are the Laurens Police Department and the Clinton Police Department. Records can be requested by mail or by visiting the PDs in person. Requesters need to provide details such as the arrestee's name and the date of the incident. Fees may apply for obtaining copies of records, and processing time varies.
To access the County's criminal records through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), record seekers can use the Citizens Access to Criminal Histories (CATCH) system. It allows users to search by the subject's last name, first initial, and date of birth. Providing a Social Security number (SSN) can improve search accuracy. Each criminal record search costs a non-refundable fee of $25.00. Requesters may also visit the SLED office to obtain copies of criminal records in person at:
SLED Headquarters
4400 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
Mail request requires the download and completion of the Criminal Records Check form from the SLED platform. The completed form and applicable fees with a self-addressed, stamped envelope can be sent to:
SLED Records Department
P.O. Box 21398
Columbia, SC 29221-1398
The Laurens County Clerk of Court maintains criminal court records, which contain records of arrests that led to trial. These records can be accessed online through the South Carolina Judicial Branch Case Records Search portal. To obtain copies of criminal court records by mail or in person, individuals may contact the Clerk of Court's Office at:
The County Clerk of Court's Office
100 Hillcrest Square
Suite B
P.O. Box 287
Laurens, SC 29360
Phone: (864) 984-3538
Fax: (864) 984-7023
The county's arrest records are also available through reputable third-party platforms such as InfoTracer. These platforms offer faster and more convenient access.
Laurens County has an arrest rate of 51,56 per 100,000 residents. Below is a breakdown of key arrest statistics:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter | 6 |
| Robbery | 11 |
| Rape | 2 |
| Aggravated Assault | 114 |
| Burglary | 85 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 31 |
| Larceny | 189 |
| Simple Assault | 1,066 |
| DUI | 334 |
| Arson | 6 |
| Fraud | 36 |
| Total number of Arrests | 3,551 |
Source: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Crime Statistics
It is situated in Laurens county, South Carolina with a total number of 0 employees - female, male officers and civilians. Laurens County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is SC0300000, it belongs to the South Atlantic division in the South region with a region code of Region III.
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Laurens Police Department | 201 W Main St B | 864-984-3532 |