Georgetown County Public Records / Georgetown County Arrest Records

Georgetown County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Georgetown County

Arrest records in Georgetown County, South Carolina, are generally accessible to members of the public under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq. This statute establishes the public's right to inspect and obtain copies of government records, including law enforcement documents maintained by county and municipal agencies. Under current law, arrest records are considered public records because they document official government actions taken by law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. South Carolina law recognizes this distinction, and individuals who are arrested but not convicted may pursue legal remedies to limit public access to those records. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) maintains the state's central repository for criminal history records and governs access to both arrest and conviction information statewide.

What's in Georgetown County Arrest Records

Georgetown County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and maintained by the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies operating within the county.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Race, sex, height, weight, and physical descriptors
Last known residential address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Georgetown County Sheriff's Office, Georgetown Police Department)
Incident or case number

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed
Statute or ordinance allegedly violated
Classification of offense (felony, misdemeanor, or ordinance violation)
Number of counts per charge

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of originating warrant

Booking Information:

Date and time of booking
Booking number assigned by the detention facility
Facility where the individual was processed

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (personal recognizance, surety, cash)
Bond amount set by the court or magistrate
Bond conditions, if any

Court Information:

Assigned court and docket number
Scheduled hearing or arraignment dates
Presiding judge or magistrate

Custody Status:

Current custody status (held, released, transferred)
Release date and method of release

Additional Information May Include:

Mugshot photograph taken at booking
Fingerprint records submitted to SLED
Narrative arrest report prepared by the arresting officer
Vehicle or property seized in connection with the arrest

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Georgetown County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Georgetown County arrest records through several official channels. Requests should be submitted in writing pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30, which requires government bodies to respond to FOIA requests within ten business days.

Step 1 – Contact the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest and booking records for incidents occurring within unincorporated Georgetown County. Requestors may submit a written FOIA request in person, by mail, or by email to the Records Division.

Georgetown County Sheriff's Office 129 Screven Street, Georgetown, SC 29440 (843) 546-5102 Georgetown County Sheriff's Office

Step 2 – Contact the Georgetown Police Department for arrests made within the city limits of Georgetown.

Georgetown Police Department 1941 Highmarket Street, Georgetown, SC 29440 (843) 545-4300 Georgetown Police Department

Step 3 – Submit a request to SLED for a statewide criminal history record check. SLED processes both public and personal criminal history requests through its online portal.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) 4400 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210 (803) 737-9000 South Carolina Law Enforcement Division

Step 4 – Provide required identifying information. Requests should include the subject's full name, date of birth, and any known aliases to ensure accurate record retrieval.

Step 5 – Pay applicable fees. Agencies may charge reasonable fees for search, retrieval, and reproduction of records as permitted under current FOIA provisions.

How To Find Georgetown County Arrest Records Online

Several official online resources allow members of the public to search Georgetown County arrest records without visiting a government office in person.

The SLED Criminal Records Check portal provides online access to South Carolina criminal history records for a nominal fee. Users may search by name and date of birth to retrieve statewide arrest and conviction history.

The Georgetown County Detention Center maintains an online inmate search tool that reflects current custody status and recent bookings. Members of the public may access this resource through the Georgetown County government website.

Georgetown County Detention Center 129 Screven Street, Georgetown, SC 29440 (843) 546-5102 Georgetown County Government

The South Carolina Judicial Department's Public Index allows users to search court case records by name, case number, or attorney, providing access to charging documents and case dispositions associated with arrests in Georgetown County.

How To Search Georgetown County Arrest Records for Free?

Members of the public may access certain Georgetown County arrest records at no cost through the following methods.

The South Carolina Public Index is a free online tool maintained by the South Carolina Judicial Department. It provides access to court case records, including charges stemming from arrests, without any fee.

In-person inspection of public records at the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office Records Division is available at no charge during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Requestors who wish only to review records without obtaining copies may do so free of charge pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30.

The Georgetown County Clerk of Court maintains court records that are open to public inspection during office hours.

Georgetown County Clerk of Court 129 Screven Street, Georgetown, SC 29440 (843) 545-3004 Georgetown County Clerk of Court

How To Delete Arrest Records in Georgetown County

South Carolina law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement and sealing. Expungement refers to the legal erasure or destruction of a criminal record, while sealing restricts public access to a record without physically destroying it. Under current South Carolina law, expungement is the more commonly available remedy, and a sealed record may still be accessible to law enforcement and certain government agencies.

Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-910, individuals may be eligible for expungement in the following circumstances:

Charges that were dismissed or resulted in a not-guilty verdict
First-offense convictions for certain misdemeanors after completion of sentence and a waiting period
Arrests where no charges were filed
Convictions for certain drug offenses after successful completion of a diversion program
Juvenile records under specific conditions

Steps to Pursue Expungement:

Determine eligibility by reviewing the applicable statute or consulting the Solicitor's Office for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, which serves Georgetown County.
Obtain an expungement application from the Georgetown County Clerk of Court or the Solicitor's Office.
Submit the completed application along with any required documentation and applicable fees.
The Solicitor's Office reviews the application and, if approved, forwards it to the court for a judge's signature.
Upon court approval, the order is transmitted to SLED and all relevant agencies for record destruction or restriction.

Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office 1301 Second Avenue, Suite 1C30, Conway, SC 29526 (843) 915-5380 Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office

What Happens After Arrest in Georgetown County?

The criminal justice process in Georgetown County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Upon arrest, the individual is transported to the Georgetown County Detention Center for booking. During booking, officers record identifying information, photograph the arrestee, collect fingerprints, and formally document the charges. Fingerprint records are transmitted electronically to SLED and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Within twenty-four hours of arrest, the individual appears before a magistrate for a bond hearing. The magistrate determines whether bond will be set and, if so, the amount and conditions. For more serious offenses, a circuit court judge may conduct the bond hearing.

Following the bond hearing, the case is referred to the Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office, which determines whether to formally indict the individual, proceed by information, or decline prosecution. If charges are pursued, the case proceeds through the General Sessions Court (for felonies and serious misdemeanors) or Magistrate/Municipal Court (for lesser offenses).

Case disposition may result in conviction, acquittal, dismissal, or a negotiated plea agreement. The outcome is recorded in the court's public index and reflected in the individual's criminal history maintained by SLED.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Georgetown County?

Arrest records in Georgetown County are subject to retention schedules established under South Carolina law and administered by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Under current law, law enforcement agencies are required to maintain arrest records for defined minimum periods, after which records may be eligible for destruction unless subject to a legal hold or ongoing litigation.

The South Carolina General Records Retention Schedule for Law Enforcement Agencies specifies that arrest records, booking logs, and associated documentation are generally retained for a minimum of five years following the date of the record. Records associated with felony arrests or ongoing investigations may be retained for longer periods. Agencies are prohibited from destroying records that are the subject of a pending FOIA request, litigation, or expungement proceeding.

Different agencies within Georgetown County maintain their own records in accordance with these schedules. The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office, Georgetown Police Department, and Georgetown County Detention Center each maintain independent records systems subject to the same statewide retention requirements.

Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining governmental accountability. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History publishes official retention schedules applicable to all state and local government agencies.

South Carolina Department of Archives and History 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223 (803) 896-6100 South Carolina Department of Archives and History

How to Find Mugshots in Georgetown County

What Mugshots Are

A mugshot is a standardized photographic record taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots capture a frontal and profile image of the arrestee and are maintained as part of the official arrest record. They are considered public records under South Carolina's FOIA to the extent that the underlying arrest record is public.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained

Mugshots taken in Georgetown County are maintained by the Georgetown County Detention Center as part of the booking record. Copies are also transmitted to SLED as part of the statewide criminal history record.

Finding Mugshots

Members of the public may request mugshot photographs by submitting a written FOIA request to the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office or the Georgetown County Detention Center. Requests should identify the subject by full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest.

Can They Be Found Online

The Georgetown County Detention Center's inmate search tool may display booking photographs for individuals currently in custody or recently booked. SLED's criminal history records accessible through the SLED Criminal Records portal may include photographic records as part of a comprehensive criminal history report.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially

Official copies of mugshot photographs may be obtained through a formal FOIA request submitted to the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office. Fees for reproduction apply as permitted under current law.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access

If an individual's arrest record has been expunged pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-910, the associated mugshot photograph is subject to destruction along with all other records covered by the expungement order. Following a valid expungement, law enforcement agencies are prohibited from disclosing the photograph to members of the public.