South Carolina Criminal Records at a Glance
South Carolina criminal records are maintained by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). SLED provides criminal background checks and maintains the state criminal history repository. Court records are accessible through the South Carolina courts online system. SLED also operates the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry.
1South Carolina Statewide Criminal Search Resources
- SLED CATCH, Citizens Access to Criminal Historiescatch.sled.sc.govView and print South Carolina criminal records using name-based search.
- SLED, Sex Offender Registry (SORT)www.sled.sc.govSouth Carolina Sex Offender Registry Tool provided by the U.S. Department of Justice.
- SLED Homewww.sled.sc.govSouth Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Criminal investigations, forensics, background checks.
- SC Judicial Branch, Case Records Searchwww.sccourts.orgSearch case records for all counties in South Carolina.
- SCDC, Inmate Searchpublic.doc.state.sc.usSearch South Carolina Department of Corrections inmates by SCDC number, SID, or name.
- vinelink.vineapps.com vinelink.vineapps.comSearch offenders in SC custody and register for victim notification.
2South Carolina County Sheriff Reports & Criminal Records
SLED’s CATCH (Citizens Access to Criminal Histories) system allows anyone to view and print South Carolina criminal records using a name-based search. This makes South Carolina one of the more accessible states for public online criminal record searches.
- Abbeville County Sheriffs Officeabbevillecountysc.comObtain information regarding the Abbeville county investigations division.
- Aiken County Sheriffs Officeaikencountysheriff.netSearch the Aiken county most wanted list.
- Anderson County Sheriffs Officewww.andersonsheriff.orgView Anderson county amber alerts online.
- Bamberg County Sheriffs Officewww.bambergcountysc.govRequest information for the Bamberg county detention center.
- Barnwell County Sheriffs Departmentwww.barnwellcountysheriff.comCrime prevention and law enforcement services for Barnwell county.
- Beaufort County Sheriffs Officewww.bcso.netAccess the most wanted list for Beaufort county online.
- Berkeley County Sheriffs Officewww.berkeleycountysc.govFind information for the Berkeley county criminal investigations and community services divisions.
- Calhoun County Sheriffs Officeccso.sc.govLearn about community policing in Calhoun county.
- Charleston County Sheriffs Officewww.charlestoncounty.orgRequest Charleston county police reports and criminal history records.
- Cherokee County Sheriffs Officewww.cherokeecountysheriff.netAccess the Cherokee county inmate search and most wanted list.
- Chester County Sheriffs Officewww.chesterscsheriff.comSearch for sex offenders in Chester county.
- Chesterfield County Sheriffs Officewww.chesterfieldsheriff.orgFind information regarding Chesterfield county criminal investigations division.
- Colleton County Sheriffs Officewww.colletoncounty.orgRequest information on the Colleton county detention center.
- Darlington County Sheriffwww.darcosc.comSearch the Darlington county most wanted database.
- Dorchester County Sheriffs Officewww.dorchestercountysc.govObtain information on the Dorchester county neighborhood watch program.
- Edgefield County Sheriffs Officewww.edgefieldcountysheriff.orgSearch Edgefield county warrant lists online.
- Fairfield County Sheriffs Officewww.fairfieldsc.comFind information about the investigations and narcotics units in Fairfield county.
- Florence County Sheriffs Officewww.fcso.orgAccess the bookings and releases link at the Florence county sheriff website.
- Georgetown County Sheriffs Officewww.gcsheriff.orgFind warrants and wanted persons information for Georgetown county.
- Greenville County Sheriffs Officegcso.orgRequest information for Greenville county victim services.
- Hampton County Sheriffs Departmentwww.hamptoncountysc.orgView information regarding the Hampton county sheriff office tip line.
- Horry County Sheriffs Officewww.horrycountysc.govAccess Horry county sex offender registration and tracking information online.
- Jasper County Sheriffs Officejcso.netContact the sheriff for Jasper county criminal history information.
- Kershaw County Sheriffs Officewww.kershaw.sc.govObtain information regarding Kershaw county criminal investigations and warrants divisions.
- Lancaster County Sheriffs Officewww.lacoso.netCrime prevention and public safety services for Lancaster county.
- Laurens County Sheriffs Officewww.laurenscountysheriff.orgSearch the fugitives, predators and inmate databases for Laurens county.
- Lee County Sheriffs Officewww.leeso.orgContact the sheriff for law enforcement services in Lee county.
- Lexington County Sheriffs Departmentwww.lexingtonscsheriff.comSearch for individuals currently jailed in the Lexington county detention center.
- Newberry County Sheriffwww.newberrycounty.govAccess the Newberry county inmate search online.
- Oconee County Sheriffwww.oconeelaw.comRequest information about online victim notifications for Oconee county.
- Orangeburg County Sheriffs Officewww.orangeburgcounty.orgFind information regarding law enforcement services for Orangeburg county.
- Pickens County Sheriffs Officepickenssheriff.comRequest records and background checks from the Pickens county sheriff.
- Richland County Sheriffs Departmentwww.rcsd.netSearch the Richland county wanted database online.
- Spartanburg County Sheriffs Officewww.spartanburgso.orgFind information regarding Spartanburg crime prevention and criminal investigation services.
- Sumter County Sheriffs Officewww.sumtersheriff.orgAccess Sumter county most wanted and warrants information.
- Union County Sheriffs Officegearupunionsc.comFind Union county investigations and wanted persons information. Williamsburg County Sheriffs Office Contact the records division for Williamsburg county police reports and records.
- York County Sheriffwww.yorkcountysheriff.comSearch York county inmate and most wanted databases online.
3Federal & National Authoritative Sources
These federal and national sources complement South Carolina's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when South Carolina state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.
The Department of Justice's single national search across every state, territory, and tribal registry. Authoritative for offender status but does not include every historical conviction.
https://www.nsopw.gov/ (nsopw.gov)
How to request your own FBI rap sheet (CJIS Identity History Summary) under Title 28 CFR § 16.30, 16.34. $18 fee, fingerprint submission required.
https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/need-an-fbi-service-or-more-information/identity-history-summary-checks (fbi.gov)
The FBI's aggregate crime statistics program. Useful for context on offense frequency but not a record of individual persons.
https://ucr.fbi.gov/ (ucr.fbi.gov)
South Carolina Criminal Records, FAQ
Is there a single nationwide criminal record search?
No public one. The FBI's Interstate Identification Index (III) is nationwide but is only accessible to law enforcement agencies and approved employers under Public Law 92-544. Individuals can order their own rap sheet through the CJIS Identity History Summary service.
What is the difference between state and FBI record checks?
A state check searches one state's conviction database. The FBI III check searches every state that participates in III. Both are fingerprint-based.
Can arrests without conviction appear on a background check?
Yes, on some. State BCI responses vary, a few states return arrests without disposition for up to seven years, others redact non-conviction arrests. The FCRA (15 U.S.C. § 1681c) caps non-conviction arrests on consumer reports at 7 years.
How long does an expungement take?
It is a court process governed by state statute, typically 60 - 180 days from petition to order, plus another 60 - 90 days for agency updates.