Search South Carolina Criminal History, Court and Custody Records
Use this guide to find a recent county booking, order a statewide SLED criminal-history check, verify the court outcome, locate a state-prison inmate and reach the correct office when a record is missing or outdated.
Choose the Record That Answers Your Question
Use SLED CATCH for a paid name-based South Carolina arrest-and-conviction record check.
Use the arresting county sheriff or detention center for fresh bookings, bond and release status.
Use the South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index for filed charges, hearings and disposition.
Use SCDC only for people currently sentenced to and incarcerated in the state corrections system.
Use the SCDPPPS Offender Search for qualifying people under community supervision.
Use the SCCID county directory to locate the Public Defender serving the county where charges are pending.
Use the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service instead of an unverified advertisement.
Use South Carolina VINE or the responsible victim-services office for custody and release alerts.
What Are You Trying to Find?
Select the task. This helper runs only in your browser and does not collect a name, birth date or case number.
Someone Was Arrested Today: Do These Steps First
How to Search South Carolina Criminal Records With SLED CATCH
Citizens Access to Criminal Histories, or CATCH, is SLED’s official name-based search for South Carolina records. It is not a national background check and does not replace county jail or court searches.
The official portal lists a non-refundable $25 criminal-record check plus the stated online service fee.
South Carolina arrests and convictions reported by participating state and local agencies.
Current county custody, nationwide history, active wanted-person information or every final court detail.
Check the South Carolina Court Case Before Relying on an Arrest Result
Term | What it generally means | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
Pending | The matter has not reached a final disposition. | Open upcoming events and the court roster. |
Disposed | The court has recorded an outcome for the case or charge. | Read the disposition and sentence fields. |
Dismissed | The charge or case was ended without a conviction on that entry. | Confirm whether other charges remain and research expungement eligibility. |
Nolle prossed | The prosecutor recorded that the charge would not be pursued at that time. | Confirm the final docket and ask the solicitor or clerk about the record. |
Guilty plea | The defendant entered a guilty plea accepted by the court. | Review sentence, probation, fines and conditions. |
Bench warrant | The court may have issued a warrant connected with failure to appear or another court matter. | Contact the handling court or a lawyer; do not rely on a private records site. |
County Jail, SCDC Prison and Community Supervision Are Different Searches
System | Who usually appears | Important limit | Official route |
|---|---|---|---|
County detention center | Recent bookings and people currently held locally | Records may disappear after release or use a separate archived-booking search | Use the arresting county sheriff website |
SCDC Inmate Search | People currently sentenced to and incarcerated with SCDC | Recent county detainees, released inmates, juveniles, probationers and parolees may not appear | |
SCDC Released Inmate List | Released SCDC inmates within the selected date range | It is not a county booking archive | |
SCDPPPS Offender Search | Qualifying people under probation or parole supervision | A person no longer under supervision may not be listed | |
Federal Inmate Locator | People in the federal prison system covered by the locator | State and county inmates do not appear |
How to Check Bond and Release Information Safely
South Carolina Judicial Branch guidance explains that a General Sessions bond hearing ordinarily occurs within 24 hours after arrest. The judge decides whether release is allowed and may set an amount and conditions.
Find a South Carolina Public Defender or Criminal Lawyer
South Carolina’s Public Defender system is county based. Use the SCCID directory, select the county where charges are pending and ask how the appointment or indigency process works.
The South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service accepts calls at 803-799-7100, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–noon and 1–5 p.m. The online referral service is available 24/7.
Prepare Before Calling
SCDC Visitation, Calls, Mail and Money: Start With the Facility
These routes apply to SCDC inmates. County-jail rules and vendors can be different, so always use the county detention center’s own instructions for a local detainee.
Use SCDC family resources to apply, review current visit rules and confirm the institution schedule before travelling.
Inmates generally place outgoing calls through the approved service. Confirm account and blocked-number help through SCDC.
Use the inmate’s full name, SCDC number and exact institution mailing format. Recheck the facility after a transfer.
Use only the approved deposit route listed by SCDC. Separate trust-account and phone-account payments when required.
Custody Notifications and Victim Services
Search participating custody records and register for available status notifications.
Qualifying victims can request offender-related notifications. SCDC lists a toll-free victim-services number of 1-800-835-0304.
Use probation and parole victim-services guidance for supervision and violation-hearing notifications.
Correcting or Expunging a South Carolina Criminal Record
Correcting a data error, obtaining an expungement and removing information from a private website are different processes.
Why a South Carolina Arrest Record May Be Missing
Quick Routes for Common Problems
Confirm the county, wait for booking, search surname only and call the booking desk with the arresting agency and approximate arrest time.
Ask whether payment is verified, paperwork is complete and any additional hold or warrant remains.
Check the Public Index for amended, dismissed or disposed charges rather than relying on an old booking page.
Check the county, SCDC, released-inmate list, SCDPPPS and federal locator using the same identifiers.
Use the SCCID county Public Defender directory and ask the court about screening and appointment steps.
Obtain the court disposition, research expungement and then submit redacted proof to the private publisher.
South Carolina Criminal-Record Offices and Phone Numbers
Columbia, SC 29210
Main: 803-737-9000
Use for SLED CATCH and CJIS guidance. Call before visiting because general walk-in hours are not published on the main contact page.
1220 Senate Street
Columbia, SC 29201-3739
Phone: 803-734-1800
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding state holidays. A county clerk handles questions about a particular trial-court case.
Columbia, SC 29210
Main: 803-896-8500
Inmate information: 1-866-727-2846
Use for current SCDC inmates, not recent county detainees.
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 803-734-1343
Use the county directory to contact the Public Defender responsible for the pending charges.
SLED Headquarters Map
SLED CATCH and statewide criminal-history or CJIS routing questions.
A county inmate’s release time, local bond payment, visitation schedule or county court date.
Confirm the correct department, document requirements and whether an in-person visit is appropriate.
Use the official courthouse search for addresses, numbers and court-specific routing.
Official South Carolina Arrest and Criminal-Record Resources
Resource | Use it for | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
Paid South Carolina name-based criminal-history check | Legal name, date of birth and payment method | |
Trial-court charges, events, status and disposition | County, name, case number or filing period | |
Published court rosters and scheduled matters | County, court and date range | |
Current sentenced state-prison inmates | SCDC number, SID or name | |
SCDC releases in a selected date period | Release dates and county | |
Probation or parole supervision and available fee information | Name, SID, birth year or county | |
Find the Public Defender serving the case county | County and case information | |
Private-lawyer referrals and other legal-help routes | Legal issue and location | |
Participating custody records and notifications | Name or offender identifier | |
General Sessions, juvenile and summary-court expungement routes | County, court, charge and disposition |
South Carolina Arrest Records FAQs
Where can I search official South Carolina arrest records?
Use SLED CATCH for a paid statewide name-based criminal-history check. Use the arresting county sheriff or detention center for a recent booking, and use the South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index to verify filed charges and the final court disposition.
Are South Carolina arrest records free?
Many county inmate searches and court-record searches are free to view. SLED CATCH charges a non-refundable $25 fee for the standard South Carolina criminal-record check, plus the service fee displayed by the online portal.
Does a South Carolina arrest record prove a conviction?
No. An arrest or booking record does not establish guilt. Check the official court case for filed charges, amendments, dismissals, pleas, trial results and sentencing information.
How do I find someone arrested today in South Carolina?
Identify the arresting county and search its official detention-center or sheriff inmate page. If no result appears, wait for booking to finish and call the booking desk with the person’s full name, approximate age, arrest time and arresting agency.
Why is a recent arrest missing from SCDC Inmate Search?
SCDC Inmate Search is for people currently sentenced to and incarcerated in the state corrections system. A recently arrested county detainee, released person, juvenile, probationer or parolee may not appear there.
How do I check a South Carolina criminal case outcome?
Open the South Carolina Judicial Branch Case Records Search, choose the relevant county and search the Public Index by legal name or case number. Review the charge history, events, status and disposition.
How can I find bond information after a South Carolina arrest?
Contact the detention center or bond court shown in the booking information. Confirm the current bond type, amount, conditions, accepted payment method and whether any separate hold could delay release.
How do I find a South Carolina Public Defender?
Use the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense county directory and select the county where the charges are pending. Contact that office and ask about screening, application steps and court appointment.
Can a dismissed South Carolina arrest be expunged?
Some dismissed, not-prosecuted, not-guilty and qualifying conviction records may be eligible, but the route depends on the court and charge. Use the South Carolina Judicial Branch expungement page and the responsible solicitor or court for eligibility and processing.
How can victims receive South Carolina custody notifications?
Use South Carolina VINE for participating custody records and notifications. For an SCDC offender, qualifying victims can also contact SCDC Victim Services at 1-800-835-0304 for offender-related notification guidance.
Editorial review: Official statewide resources, major phone numbers and the linked search routes were reviewed on August 2, 2026.
This website is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with SLED, SCDC, SCDPPPS, the South Carolina Judicial Branch, SCCID, any sheriff’s office or another government agency. County procedures, custody status, fees, court schedules, forms and service providers can change. Confirm time-sensitive information directly with the responsible official office.
Responsible-use notice: Do not use an arrest listing to harass someone or to make employment, housing, credit, insurance or other decisions that require a legally compliant consumer report.