South Carolina Police Records and Police Departments

To find recent arrest information, check the website of the county sheriff's office where the arrest occurred. Most South Carolina sheriff's offices publish daily booking logs showing individuals arrested within the past 24-72 hours, including charges and bond information. For statewide arrest searches, the South Carolina Department of Corrections maintains an inmate search at doc.sc.gov for individuals currently incarcerated. The South Carolina Judicial Department's Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org provides court records showing criminal charges filed statewide. For comprehensive criminal background checks, request a SLED background check at sled.sc.gov, which requires fingerprints and costs $25.

Yes, mugshots are generally considered public records in South Carolina under the Freedom of Information Act. Most county detention centers publish booking photographs on their websites as part of daily arrest logs. However, agencies may restrict release of mugshots for juvenile arrestees or in cases involving pending investigations where release could compromise witness identification procedures. Some agencies charge fees for providing historical mugshots not available online. Third-party mugshot websites aggregate this public information, though South Carolina Code § 16-17-760 makes it illegal to demand payment for removing mugshots from commercial websites.

For standard incident reports from municipal police departments and sheriff's offices, processing typically takes 3-5 business days from the request date. Many larger agencies offer online purchasing systems that provide immediate access to basic reports for incidents where no ongoing investigation exists. South Carolina Highway Patrol crash reports typically become available 7-10 days after the collision date. Under South Carolina Code § 30-4-30(B), agencies have up to 15 business days to respond to FOIA requests when records must be retrieved from archives or require redactions. Complex requests involving multiple records or extensive redactions may take longer, though agencies must provide written notice if additional time is needed.

South Carolina law severely restricts access to body-worn camera footage. Under South Carolina Code § 23-1-240, body camera recordings are not public records subject to FOIA. Only individuals depicted in the recording, their legal representatives, persons whose property is depicted, and authorized law enforcement personnel can request footage. Requests must be submitted in writing to the law enforcement agency that created the recording. The agency has 30 days to respond and may charge actual production costs, which can be substantial for lengthy recordings requiring redaction. Denials can be appealed to circuit court within 30 days. This restrictive framework means most members of the public cannot access body camera footage unless they appear in the recording or own property shown in it.

South Carolina does not provide for automatic expungement; individuals must petition the court for an expungement order. Eligibility depends on the offense and disposition. First-offense youthful offenders (under age 25 at the time of offense) may petition under South Carolina Code § 17-1-40 after completing all sentencing conditions. First-offense convictions for certain misdemeanors and drug offenses may be expunged under § 22-5-910 or § 17-22-910 after waiting periods of three months to three years. Arrests not resulting in conviction may be expunged under § 17-1-40. The petition must be filed in the court where charges were filed, and petitioners must pay a $250 application fee. Once granted, the court sends the expungement order to SLED, which removes the record from the state repository. Processing typically takes 3-6 months after the court issues the order.

South Carolina's point system, established by South Carolina Code § 56-1-720, assigns points for traffic violations that remain on driving records for two years. Accumulating 12 or more points within 12 months results in automatic six-month license suspension. Point values include: six points for reckless driving or driving under suspension; four points for passing a stopped school bus, hit-and-run with property damage, or speeding more than 25 mph over the limit; and two points for most other moving violations including speeding up to 25 mph over the limit, improper lane changes, and following too closely. Drivers accumulating eight to eleven points must complete the Driver Improvement Program. The SCDMV sends warning letters when drivers reach two to seven points. Points can only be reduced through time; South Carolina does not offer point reduction courses for most violations.

Submit a written request to the county's consolidated 911 center or emergency communications department that handled the call. Requests should include the date, approximate time, location of the incident, and any other identifying information such as case numbers or party names. Under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, 911 recordings are generally public records, though agencies may withhold recordings that would interfere with ongoing investigations or violate specific privacy protections. Most counties charge fees based on staff time required to locate, review, and redact recordings, typically $25-$75 per hour plus media costs. Processing times range from one week to 30 days depending on redaction requirements. Contact information for county 911 centers is available through county government websites or by calling the county's non-emergency administrative line.

No, South Carolina law strongly protects police personnel and disciplinary records from public disclosure. South Carolina Code § 30-4-40(a)(3) exempts employment and personnel records from the Freedom of Information Act, and courts have consistently interpreted this exemption to shield police disciplinary records, internal affairs investigations, and sustained misconduct findings. The South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy maintains officer certification records and can suspend or revoke certifications for misconduct, but detailed disciplinary proceedings are typically closed to the public under § 23-23-150. The public can verify whether an officer holds active certification through the SCCJA website, but cannot access the reasons for decertification or disciplinary history. Police misconduct information generally becomes public only through criminal prosecutions or civil litigation that brings records into the court system.