South Carolina Criminal Records

Are criminal records public in South Carolina?

South Carolina's code of laws, title thirty, include the Freedom of Information Act. This law states that any citizen has the right to inspect or copy any public document, including criminal records, with complete freedom. There are, however, a few exceptions to that rule, listed in section 30-4-40 of the Freedom of Information Act. If the records contain information that can endanger the life of a confidant or a witness, they will not be available. If due to the contents of the report, the subject's safety could be in jeopardy, these records will also be classified.

How do you access criminal records in South Carolina?

The institution responsible for managing the criminal records in the State of South Carolina is the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. As part of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Crime Information Center manages the Uniform Crime Reports Section and the Central Records Repository, both in charge of managing and handling criminal records. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division as an online criminal background checking system: the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division CATCH. Due to budget reasons, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division favors online requests over mail requests, which are only allowed when the requester needs the criminal records certified or notarized. All background checks have a cost of $25 unless the requester has the status of Charitable Organization. In that case, the fee is reduced to $8. Visit the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division CATCH website to learn more about this system.

What is Megan's Law in South Carolina?

Megan's Law in South Carolina was created to help protect the public by making information regarding sex offenders publicly available and easily accessible. It requires the state to maintain a sex offender registry, in which people convicted of sex crimes must register for a certain amount of time or for life.

How do I find sex offenders in South Carolina?

South Carolina's sex offender registry is managed by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and it has a very strong online presence, with a powerful and comprehensive search engine that can help to find sex offenders by name, proximity to a specific address, city, or by internet names, phone number or email address. It also features a complete list of non-compliant offenders. The resulting records are complete and easy to read. They include name, short physical description, body markings -including tattoos and piercings-, known addresses, offenses committed, legal status, additional comments, offender level (risk of re-incidence), and a link to an area map to simplify the task of locating the offender.

Are mugshots publicly available in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, mugshots are going to be found in most rap sheets, inmate records, and possibly court records. They are public information and can be viewed by anyone. The main purpose of a mugshot is to confirm the identity of an offender from a victim or post it to the public if they become an escaped fugitive.

How do I search for arrest records in South Carolina?

Arrest records can be found either by doing a criminal search through South Carolina Law Enforcement or by doing a third-party background check. Police departments will also maintain arrests, so you can contact your local one to find recent arrest records of yourself or others.

What's inside an arrest record in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, arrest records are different than conviction records because they don't prove that someone was guilty and contain information such as the name of the arresting officer, the date, time, and location of the arrest, any crimes charged against the person being arrested, and where they were detained.

How do I find court records in South Carolina?

South Carolina offers a statewide online case search through the state Judicial Branch. You can look up Circuit Court (General Sessions and Common Pleas) cases and many Magistrate and Municipal court cases at the South Carolina Judicial Branch case records search. For certified copies or older files, contact the Clerk of Court in the county where the case was filed.

What is a misdemeanor in South Carolina?

A misdemeanor in South Carolina is a smaller crime that results in a lesser jail sentence and/or fines. They categorize their misdemeanors by classes, with the most severe (Class A) to the least severe (Class C). Class C misdemeanors can't result in jail for more than a year, Class B has a maximum of two years, and Class A has a maximum of three years. Examples of misdemeanors include vandalism, DUI, shoplifting, and urinating in public.

What is a felony in South Carolina?

A felony in South Carolina are crimes that carry heavier prison sentences as compared to misdmeanors. They are organized into classes A through F alphabetically. Class A felonies have a max sentence of 30 years, and Class F felonies have a maximum sentence of five years. Examples of felonies are sexual misconduct, attempted manslaughter, murder, and rape.

Can I wipe my criminal record in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, there are two ways to get rid of your criminal record. The first is expungement, which is eligible for people who were arrested but not convicted or have minor offenses or first-time offenses. The second way is through a pardon, which is managed by the Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services Board. Typically, you must have lots of evidence that you have learned from your mistakes in the past to get a pardon.

How do I get my record expunged in South Carolina?

To get your record expunged in South Carolina, first check if you are eligible by either contacting your attorney or reading the expungement law. Then, you fill out an expungement form and send it to the court for review. This process is tedious and has certain fees. An attorney is highly recommended to increase your chances of successful expungement.

How far back can employers check criminal backgrounds in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, employers can run a criminal background check on job applicants and view any past convictions that have not been expunged, no matter the timeframe. However, they must comply with the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) and provide a copy of all criminal information they receive to the job applicant, as well as not inquire or look into non-convictions.

How do I find inmates in South Carolina?

The South Carolina Department of Corrections has an online inmate search tool that can be helpful when performing criminal background checks. The only downside of this system is that the search engine only returns records of subjects who are actually incarcerated under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. Subjects who have been released or who are on parole or probation are not included in the database. The resulting records are complete and clear, featuring a picture, list of offenses committed, sentence, parole hearings, physical description, and a list of known aliases. The inmate search engine can be found at the website of the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

How do I find police reports in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, the local police department would be the best place to look for recent police reports of collision reports. These reports are not criminal in nature and are about traffic accidents. They are also different than police records, which contain information regarding arrests and criminal information.

How do you check for arrest warrants in South Carolina?

While there are some online websites that will show local arrest warrants, the best place would be to contact the Sheriff's office in South Carolina to inquire about them. Arrest warrants are given to people who the police have received criminal complaints about.

How do I find someone's parole status in South Carolina?

The SCDPPPS (South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services) maintains and determines parole for inmates in South Carolina. They list upcoming parole hearings on their main page, and you can also contact them through the information on their website.

Is DWI a felony in South Carolina?

In most cases, driving while intoxicated will be treated as a misdemeanor in South Carolina. However, certain circumstances cause it to be a felony. If driving under the influence caused great harm or death to someone, then it will be turned into a felony. Additionally, if it is a repeat traffic offense, it will also be upgraded to a felony.

Are juvenile criminal records sealed in South Carolina?

If a juvenile committed a non-violent crime in South Carolina, then they will be eligible to expunge it when they turn 18. The sentence for the crime must be fully completed, however, and there is no guarantee that the judge will grant the expungement.