Georgetown County Public Records /Georgetown County Criminal Records

Georgetown County Criminal Records

What Is Georgetown County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Georgetown County are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final case disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies across the county, state, and federal levels.

Members of the public should understand the key distinctions among record types:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court. An arrest does not constitute a conviction, and individuals may have arrest records without any resulting conviction.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses carrying potential sentences of more than one year in a state correctional facility. Misdemeanors are lesser offenses typically punishable by fines or incarceration of up to one year in a local jail.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public under state law. Juvenile records are routinely sealed pursuant to § 63-19-2050 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, which restricts disclosure to protect the privacy of minors involved in the justice system.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current judicial orders authorizing law enforcement to apprehend an individual. Historical records document past arrests, charges, and dispositions that have been resolved.

The principal agencies maintaining Georgetown County criminal records include:

Georgetown County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking logs, and jail records
Georgetown County Clerk of Court — maintains circuit court case files, dispositions, and sentencing records
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) — maintains statewide criminal history records
Georgetown City Police Department — maintains local arrest and incident reports
Georgetown Municipal Court — handles cases within city jurisdiction, including traffic and ordinance violations

A complete criminal record may include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, pleas entered, trial records, sentencing orders, and probation or parole conditions. The Georgetown Municipal Court was established by City Council ordinance to hear and determine all cases within its jurisdiction, including criminal matters arising under city ordinances.

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

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

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

Are Criminal Records Public In Georgetown County

Criminal records in Georgetown County are generally accessible to the public under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act, codified at § 30-4-10 et seq. of the South Carolina Code of Laws. This statute establishes that public records maintained by government bodies are open for inspection and copying by any person upon request, subject to specific statutory exemptions.

Under current law, the following categories of criminal records are available to the public:

Adult conviction records, including charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentencing information
Court proceedings and case dockets maintained by the Clerk of Court
Arrest logs and booking records held by the Sheriff's Office and local police departments
Sex offender registry information maintained by SLED

The following categories are restricted from public disclosure:

Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where release could compromise law enforcement operations
Juvenile records, which are sealed by statute to protect minors
Expunged records, which have been legally removed from public access following a court order
Certain victim information, including addresses and identifying details protected under state victim privacy provisions
Mental health and medical records associated with criminal proceedings

Members of the public seeking to inspect records may do so in person at the relevant agency during normal business hours. Agencies are required to respond to written requests within a reasonable time, and fees for copies must not exceed the actual cost of duplication as specified under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Georgetown County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Georgetown County criminal records through several official channels. The process varies depending on the type of record sought and the agency that maintains it.

Step 1 — Identify the appropriate agency. Determine whether the record sought originates from a law enforcement agency (arrest records), the court system (case dispositions), or the state repository (comprehensive criminal history).

Step 2 — Submit a request to the Georgetown County Clerk of Court. For circuit court case records, members of the public may visit the Clerk of Court in person during public counter hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Requestors should provide the full legal name of the subject and, if known, the case number or approximate date of the proceedings.

Step 3 — Contact the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office. For arrest records and jail booking information, requests may be submitted in person or in writing to the Sheriff's Office. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

Step 4 — Request a statewide criminal history through SLED. For a comprehensive criminal history report, individuals may submit a request through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. SLED processes both name-based and fingerprint-based searches. Fingerprint-based searches are considered more accurate and are required for certain employment and licensing purposes.

Step 5 — Complete required forms and pay applicable fees. Most agencies require a written request form and a government-issued photo identification. Fees vary by agency and record type. SLED currently charges a fee for criminal history reports requested by third parties.

Step 6 — Allow processing time. In-person requests at the Clerk of Court may be fulfilled on the same day for available records. SLED requests may take several business days to process, depending on the method of submission.

How To Find Criminal Records in Georgetown County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to Georgetown County criminal records and related court information without requiring an in-person visit.

South Carolina Judicial Department Public Index The South Carolina DSS Family Court Case Management System portal provides online access to certain court case information. Users should note that information available through this portal is not an official record of the county or elected officials, and official certified records must be obtained directly from the Clerk of Court.

SLED CATCH Portal The Citizens Access to Criminal Histories (CATCH) system, operated by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, allows members of the public to view and print South Carolina criminal records using a name-based search. The portal is accessible online and does not require in-person attendance. Users must create an account and pay the applicable fee to obtain results. The CATCH system provides name-based search results drawn from SLED's statewide criminal history repository.

Georgetown County Sheriff's Office Online Resources The Sheriff's Office may publish current jail rosters and arrest logs on its official website. Members of the public may access these listings without registration for general information purposes.

Georgetown Municipal Court The Georgetown Municipal Court handles cases arising under city ordinances. Case information for matters heard in Municipal Court may be available through the court directly or through the South Carolina Judicial Department's online index.

Note that not all records are available online. Sealed records, expunged records, and certain sensitive case files are accessible only through in-person requests at the relevant agency, with appropriate legal authorization.

Can You Search Georgetown County Criminal Records for Free?

Under § 30-4-30 of the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. The right to inspect does not automatically include the right to free copies; agencies may charge fees for duplication that reflect the actual cost of reproduction.

The following resources currently provide free access to certain criminal record information:

In-person inspection at the Georgetown County Clerk of Court — Members of the public may inspect court case files at no cost during public counter hours. Copies are subject to a per-page fee.
Georgetown County Sheriff's Office arrest logs — Publicly available arrest and booking logs may be inspected in person at no charge.
South Carolina Judicial Department online case index — Basic case information, including case numbers, filing dates, and party names, is available through the state's online public index at no cost.
SLED CATCH portal — While the CATCH system charges a fee for printed criminal history reports, the portal allows limited name-based searches. Fees apply for full record retrieval.
Sex Offender Registry — SLED's publicly accessible sex offender registry is available online at no charge and contains registration information for individuals required to register under state law.

Members of the public seeking free access to records should visit the relevant agency in person and request to inspect, rather than copy, the documents of interest.

What's Included in a Georgetown County Criminal Record?

A Georgetown County criminal record may contain several categories of information, depending on the nature of the case and the agency maintaining the record.

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth
Physical description, including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
Mugshot photograph
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) assigned by SLED
FBI number, where applicable

Arrest Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, city police, or other law enforcement)
Booking number and jail facility
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond amount set

Court Case Information

Case number and court of jurisdiction (Circuit Court, Municipal Court, Magistrate Court)
Filing date and case status
Charges and applicable statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
Plea entered by the defendant
Attorney of record information

Disposition Information

Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, nolle prosequi)
Conviction date, where applicable
Sentencing details, including type and length of sentence, fines, restitution ordered, and conditions of supervision
Appeals filed and outcomes
Probation or parole terms and supervising agency

Additional Record Elements

Active or recalled warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status
DUI or DWI convictions
Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
Pending charges awaiting disposition

How Long Does Georgetown County Keep Criminal Records?

Georgetown County agencies retain criminal records in accordance with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History records retention schedules, which establish minimum retention periods for government records maintained by state and local agencies.

Current retention periods for principal record categories include:

Arrest records and booking logs: Retained permanently by the Sheriff's Office for convicted individuals. Records for individuals not convicted may be subject to expungement upon court order.
Circuit court case files: Retained permanently for felony convictions. Misdemeanor case files are generally retained for a minimum of ten years following final disposition.
Magistrate and Municipal Court records: Retained for a minimum of five years following final disposition, subject to applicable state schedules.
Juvenile records: Sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood and retained under restricted access; eligible for destruction under specific statutory conditions pursuant to § 63-19-2050.
Expunged records: Following a court-ordered expungement, records are removed from public access and destroyed or sealed in accordance with the expungement order and applicable state law.
SLED criminal history repository: Statewide criminal history records are retained indefinitely for individuals with convictions. Records for non-convicted individuals may be purged upon expungement.

Agencies are required to follow the retention schedules established by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, and no record may be destroyed prior to the expiration of its designated retention period without proper authorization.