Of the around 175,376 arrests recorded in South Carolina annually, about 8,100 are made in Lexington County. These arrest records are largely open to interested members of the public, with a copy fee ranging between $0.25 and $22. People's rights to inspect, view, and reproduce arrest and other public records are enshrined in the South Carolina Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA).
However, record custodians are empowered to restrict public access to some records sealed by the court, which may invade personal privacy or interfere with current law enforcement agents' investigations. Only persons mentioned in the record and law enforcement agencies, such as the police, Lexington County Solicitor, and Judicial Circuit Court, are granted access to such restricted arrest records.
The Lexington County arrest records are commonly maintained by different government agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, Lexington Police Department, and State Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
To request Lexington County arrest records from the Lexington County Sheriff's Office, interested individuals should obtain and complete the FOIA Request Form. The department charges copy fees between $0.25 and $1 for a page per paper size, $4 per CD/DVD, and $22 per hour for search, retrieval, and redaction. The completed form may be mailed or delivered in person to:
Lexington County Sheriff's Department
521 Gibson Road.
P.O. Box 639
Lexington, SC 29071
For arrest records of offenders currently in the custody of the Lexington County Sheriff, interested individuals may search their details through the Inmate Inquiry Portal. They may also call (803) 785-2442 for any inquiries on inmate arrest records.
Many arrest records in Lexington County are managed by the Lexington Police Department, which is the sole police department in the county and it enforces law, order, and public safety across Lexington County. To access these records, interested persons may call (803) 359-6260 or visit the department in person at:
Lexington Police Department
111 Maiden Lane
Lexington, SC 29072
The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) compiles and maintains criminal records of people gathered across the state. Individuals interested in obtaining Lexington County criminal record information may request online through the SLED Citizens Access To Criminal Histories (CATCH) portal. This platform is limited to residents of the state only. It enables users to search, view, and print criminal records at a $25 copy fee and an additional $1 convenience fee for online search. To perform a search on the portal, interested persons must provide the arrestee's last name, first name, gender, and birth date.
Different law enforcement agencies in Lexington County normally prosecute arrested offenders in the Judicial Circuit Court for a series of crimes committed. Court records of these criminal cases are typically documented and kept by the Clerk of Court. Interested persons may access the criminal court records through the Clerk of Court's website. Alternatively, the individuals may obtain physical copies of these criminal records from the Lexington County courthouse located at:
Lexington County Clerk of Court
205 E. Main Street
Lexington, SC 29072
For quicker, easier, and more extensive arrest record searches, interested persons may use reputable third-party websites like InfoTracer.
Lexington County's arrest rate is 276.5 per 10,000 population. Some Lexington County indexed arrest figures include:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Murder and Nonnegligent Manslaughter | 11 |
| Robbery | 88 |
| Sexual Battery | 23 |
| Aggravated Assault | 310 |
| Simple Assault | 1,003 |
| Arson | 3 |
| Burglary/Breaking & Entering | 173 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 75 |
| Larceny | 1,058 |
| Stolen Property | 168 |
| Total Crimes Against Persons (Violent Crimes) | 1,435 |
| Total Property Crimes | 1,477 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 8,128 |
Source: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)
It is situated in Lexington county, South Carolina with a total number of 279 employees - 25 female, 127 male officers and 127 civilians. Lexington County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is SC0320000, it belongs to the South Atlantic division in the South region with a region code of Region III.
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| West Columbia Police Department | 200 North 12th Street | (803)794-0721 |