Florence County, South Carolina Arrest Records
Florence County arrest records are documents compiled to ensure that important details from an arrest are on file and available for reference. Arrest records do not confirm an individual's guilt; instead, they simply reveal that an individual was arrested and the charge for which they were arrested.
The Florence Police Department and Florence Sheriff Department have primary jurisdiction in the City of Florence and general jurisdiction, respectively. They are the major arresting agencies in the precinct. Other arresting agencies in the area that work in tandem with the Sheriff's Office include the Coward Police Department, the Scranton Police Department, and the Lake City Police Department. Typically, county and city law enforcement agencies handle and oversee arrests. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and federal agencies also operate in the county.
Florence County arrest records are covered by the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, while criminal history records, which are expanded records that include an individual's arrests and disposition, are governed by S.C. Code Regs. § 73-24.
Are Arrest Records Public Information in Florence, South Carolina?
Yes. The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) governs the maintenance and dissemination of Florence arrest records. The law grants members of the public access to details about individuals in custody. The requirements for accessing arrest records depend on the agency providing the records; however, requesters generally need to submit a written request, provide details of the sought record, or pay a required fee, especially when copies of records are requested.
Apart from the exemptions stated in the Freedom of Information Act, most individuals can freely obtain a Florence arrest record. Additionally, most arrest details that do not fall under the limitations on released information can be obtained.
What Do Public Florence County Arrest Records Contain?
Florence County public arrest records comprise data that outlines specific booking events and ensures that the public remains updated on persons arrested within the region or detained at local detention centers. While the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act facilitates general access to these basic arrest data, statutory provisions simultaneously limit the dissemination of sensitive or confidential details.
Publicly accessible information includes the arrested person's details, such as their name, age, race, sex, and mugshot, as well as the incident specifics, such as the unique identification number, arresting agency, charges, bond amount, and arrest date.
Like other public records governed by FOIA laws, public arrest records in Florence County exclude sensitive information related to the subject of the record, witnesses, victims, or government operations. They also omit communications between the judiciary and law enforcement personnel, information about ongoing investigations, information about minors, and sealed or expunged records.
Florence County, South Carolina Arrest Search
Arrest records can be obtained at different levels of government, including local, state, and federal agencies. However, the process for retrieving records at the state and national levels may differ from that for obtaining local records. Generally, arrest records are retrievable as part of a criminal history record through state or federal repositories. Available channels include
- Mail: SLED accepts mail-in requests for criminal record histories. Requesters will need to complete the Criminal Record Check form, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope, and send the request to:
SLED Records Department
PO Box 21398
Columbia, SC 29221-1398
Requesters may also submit mail requests for federal arrest records to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to obtain a RAP sheet, which contains arrest records, court hearings, and dispositions. However, only the record owner may obtain this record. The requester must submit a completed Certification of Identity form and a completed fingerprint card. The FBI charges $18 for a copy of a national criminal history record.
- Online: South Carolina maintains an online database called Citizens Access to Criminal Histories (CATCH), where individuals may view and copy state criminal history records. The service charges a non-refundable $25 fee per search. Individuals may search records by providing the subject's name or the date of birth. Through this platform, SLED also offers fingerprint-based searches; however, the agency conducts these searches only when authorized by statute.
Requesters may submit federal arrest record requests electronically through the eFOIPA portal. They must provide a completed fingerprint card to assist with record retrieval. Additionally, requesters may obtain RAP sheets through approved private channelers for the fees set by the providers.
Florence County Inmate Locator
Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. 30-4-30(D), the Florence County Sheriff's Office provides an Inmate Search database through which members of the public may access arrest and booking information for individuals placed in custody and booked into the Florence County Detention Center. The database covers individuals charged with violating local ordinances and arrested within the county, regardless of the local law enforcement agency that made the arrest.
Users may search by providing a name, charges, or arrest date. Inquirers seeking a comprehensive arrest record may need to contact the arresting agency.
The Florence County Sheriff's Office is located at
6719 Friendfield Road
Effingham, SC 29541
Active Warrant Search in Florence County
In Florence County, courts issue arrest warrants on probable cause. This means a judge must find sufficient evidence, supported by an affidavit, showing that a crime may have occurred before issuing the warrant. The warrant empowers law enforcement officers to bring the named individual before a judge. Florence County arrest warrants contain
- Identifying details of the suspect, name, age, weight, height, sex, and race
- The charge against the individual
- Warrant number
- Type of offense
- Description of offense
- The date of issuance
- The signature of the judge/magistrate who issued the warrant
The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act governs access to Florence arrest warrants and generally permits public access, except where access is prohibited. Members of the public may view details of Florence warrants online or in person. The Sheriff's Office in Florence County provides a public online database for warrant searches. By providing a name, one may look up the list of active warrants.
Inquirers may also visit a law enforcement agency to inspect records of open warrants maintained by the agency. Regardless of the request method, inquirers generally need to possess the name or date of birth of the subject of the warrant.
|
Agency / Resource |
Purpose |
Search Methods |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Florence County Sheriff's Office |
Serve and manage warrants issued within Florence County |
Online, in person |
The Sheriff's online Warrant Database provided features for active warrants issued within the county |
How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Florence County
Florence law enforcement agencies provide arrest records to the public at no cost. Thus, individuals may obtain these records in person for free. Requesters typically need to provide the necessary identifying information for the agency to locate the record. However, mail requests may incur fees, especially when the agency will need to provide copies of records.
Another way to find arrest records for free in Florence County is to search the Florence County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search database. However, only limited arrest information is shown for the county's detainees/inmates.
Florence County Arrest Report
One of the early documents compiled for a criminal case occurring in Florence County is an arrest report. These reports provide a detailed account of local arrests made by public safety agencies within the county, as documented by the arresting officer.
Members of the public should take care not to confuse an arrest report with an arrest record. The two documents differ not only in administrative function but also in content. Being comprehensive files, arrest reports typically include information not otherwise found in basic arrest logs or records.
How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Florence County
In Florence County, certain individuals may qualify for an expungement under South Carolina law if they meet specific statutory requirements. An expunction is the process through which a person may have arrest or criminal records removed from public view as though they never existed. However, law enforcement agencies may retain access for administrative or legal purposes.
Per S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-40 and § 17-22, individuals may petition for an expungement in several situations, including when an arrest did not result in sentencing, the charges were dismissed or discharged, the accused was found not guilty, or the matter resulted in a non-criminal disposition.
The expungement process usually begins when the petitioner submits an application to the Solicitor of the Circuit Court where the case was heard. The applicant may also need to pay administrative fees, the Solicitor fees, verification fees to SLED, and filing fees, where applicable.
After receiving the application, the Solicitor sends it to SLED to verify the offense's eligibility for expungement. If the offense qualifies, the Solicitor obtains all required signatures, including those of the summary judge, the PTI Director, and the Circuit Court judge.
Once the Circuit Court judge signs the order, the Solicitor files it with the Clerk of Court. The Solicitor then distributes copies of the approved expungement order to all the relevant government agencies, including the applicant's attorney.
How Do You Remove Florence County Arrest Records From the Internet?
Government agencies that possess the arrest record of an individual granted an expungement in Florence County typically receive a copy of the expungement order from the Solicitor. Once the agencies receive the order, they seal the record and remove it from public access.
For certain expungement cases, agencies destroy the record after 3 years and 120 days, while also retaining a single copy for administrative purposes. In other situations, agencies may preserve the record for a longer period or even permanently. However, they do not release the record to the public; even when a court orders the expunged records release, authorities redact certain information, including the offender's name and other identifying details.
The process for removing expunged records from private websites follows a different route, as the applicant often needs to send a copy of the expungement order directly to the website and officially request that their record be deleted.