Aiken County Arrest Records

Aiken County arrest records are official law enforcement documents that detail the arrest of individuals who commit crimes within Aiken County, South Carolina. Law enforcement agencies will make an arrest (take an individual into custody) if the person commits or is about to commit a crime.

The following agencies in Aiken County may generate arrest records while carrying out their official duties:

• The Aiken County Sheriff's Office
• The Aiken Department of Public Safety
• North Augusta Department of Public Safety
• South Carolina Highway Patrol
• Local Police Departments.

Aiken County arrest records become part of Aiken County court records if the arrest leads to a case that proceeds to the court and part of Aiken County criminal records if the arrestee is convicted. In Aiken County, arrestees awaiting trial and individuals convicted of crimes are temporarily or permanently housed at the various local, state, and federal correctional facilities across the Aiken or neighboring counties. These include

• Aiken County Detention Center
• South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) Facilities in adjacent counties (for persons serving longer terms or those convicted of serious crimes)
• Adjacent County Jails (to temporarily house inmates who have court appearances or proceedings in Aiken County courts).

Are Arrest Records Public in Aiken County?

Per the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Aiken County arrest records are generally public and accessible to interested persons. However, South Carolina laws exempt public access to Aiken County arrest records that:

• Involve juveniles
• May impact an ongoing investigation
• Are sealed or expunged by the court.

Typically, access to exempted Aiken County arrest records involves stringent requirements. For instance, minors' arrest records may be available to their parents, legal guardians, or attorneys. In contrast, other parties may require court orders to access them.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Access to information on arrest records depends on whether the arrest records are public. Typically, an Aiken County arrest records information that is publicly accessible include:

• The arrestee's full name, date of birth, gender, and race
• Arrest details, including date and time of arrest, location of arrest, and the arresting agency
• List of the charges against the arrestee at the time of arrest and the description of the offenses
• Booking information:
  • Booking date and time
  • Booking number
  • Fingerprints
  • Mugshots
• Bond and Bail Information (bail amount and bond status)
• Court date
• Case number.

Aiken County Crime Rate

The South Carolina Law Enforcement data show that in 2022, there were 1,829 property-related crimes in Aiken County compared to 839 crimes against persons. Larceny theft is the most common property-related crime in Aiken County, and it accounted for 1070 of the 1,829 or 58.6% of property crimes and 77.4% of property-related arrests in 2022. The below outlines the variation in different types of crimes in Aiken County between 2013 and 2022.

Aiken County Crime Statistics 2013 to 2022

Data Source: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

Aiken County Arrest Statistics

Data from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division show varying trends in the number of arrests within Aiken County. According to the Aiken County Police Department report, there were 601 arrests for crimes against society, 349 property-related offense arrests, and 181 arrests for crimes against persons within the County in 2022. The table below breaks down the arrests trend within Aiken County from 2013 to 2022.

Aiken County Arrest Statistics 2013 to 2023

Data Source: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Find Aiken County Arrest Records

Aiken County arrest records are available online and offline. Interested parties can obtain information on Aiken County arrests using the following options:

Accessing Aiken County Arrest Records Online

• Log in to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's Citizens Access to Criminal History search page and use name, date of birth, and gender to look up inmate records
• Visit the Aiken County Sheriff's Office website:
  • Click the drop menu and select Aiken County Detention Center from the options
  • On the Detention Center page, scroll down to the Inmate Search icon to access the Aiken County Detention Center Inmate Search Page.
  • Use name, gender, and race to look up information on Aiken County inmates.
• Log in to the South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index page and search for arrest records relating to domestic violence cases.
• Search online for third-party websites with databases on Aiken County arrest records.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request for Aiken County Arrest Records

• Visit the Aiken County Detention Center or the Aiken County Sheriff's Office at the following addresses and request to access inmate records:

Aiken County Detention Center
435 Wire Road, Aiken, SC 29801
Phone: (803) 642-2040

Aiken County Sheriff's Office
420 Hampton Ave NE, Aiken, SC 29801
Phone: (803) 642-1761

Free Arrest Record Search in Aiken County

To access Aiken County arrest records for free:

• Visit the Aiken County Sheriff's Office website, access the Detention Center Inmate Search Portal, and perform a free record search
• Log in to the South Carolina Judicial Branch's Public Index Page, select Aiken from the county menu, and use the online search tools to look for court records on individuals (these usually contain information on arrests)
• Visit local police departments' websites and check for tools to access arrest records online.
• Search for Aiken County arrest records using third-party online resources (some third-party websites have databases on Aiken County public records and may have information relating to arrest records)
• You can request access to Aiken County arrest records under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act by visiting the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, the Aiken Detention Center, or local police departments.

Get Aiken County Criminal Records

Aiken County criminal records are documents relating to an individual's criminal interaction and convictions within the criminal justice system of Aiken County, South Carolina. In Aiken County, law enforcement agencies, the County Clerk of Courts, and correctional facilities are responsible for criminal records. Typically, Aiken County criminal records encompass

• Arrest Records
• Incident and Police Reports
• Booking Records
• Court Records
• Conviction Records
• Incarceration Records
• Probation and Parole Records
• Warrant Records.

To access Aiken County criminal records:

• Log in to the Aiken County Detention Center Inmate Search Page, provide the name, sex, and race of the inmate to access their criminal records
• Visit the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's Citizens Access to Criminal History Page, and enter the individual's name, date of birth, and gender to access their criminal history.
• Visit local police department websites and check for online tools to look up criminal records
• Search for the records online through third-party websites that have databases on Aiken County criminal records
• Visit the Aiken County Clerk of Courts Office and make a FOIA request at:

Aiken County Courthouse

109 Park Avenue SE Aiken,
SC 29801.

Also, criminal records may be available through in-person visits to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, Aiken County Detention Center, or local police departments.

Aiken County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records and criminal records are part of law enforcement records. However, there is a distinction between an arrest and a criminal record. The table below outlines the differences between Aiken County arrest records and Aiken County criminal records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Per South Carolina laws, an arrest can stay on a record indefinitely. However, a court may seal an arrest record and make it inaccessible to the public or expunge the records. To remove an arrest record, an individual must fulfill the conditions of South Carolina laws.

Expunge Aiken County Arrest Records

An arrest may stay on a record indefinitely if nothing is done to remove it. To expunge an arrest record in Aiken County involves a legal process. In Aiken County, a court may expunge an arrest record if the owner of the record:

• Is innocent of the charges that led to the arrest
• Is guilty but have completed their sentence, probation, or parole
• Is a first-time offender for a non-violent misdemeanor offense. Typically, a court may expunge the arrest record after three years from the date of the offense. However, there must be no subsequent offenses within the time interval.
• Was convicted under the e South Carolina Youthful Offender Act and has completed their sentence.

The following steps may aid individuals who want to expunge their arrest records in Aiken County:

• Download an Expungement Application Form from the South Carolina Judicial Department or South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) website, or visit the Aiken County Clerk of Courts Office for a copy
• Fill out the Expungement Application Form with the necessary information
• Attach a separate certified check or money order for the following fees:
  • $250.00 non-refundable administrative fee payable to the solicitor (this fee is not applicable if the charges against the individual were dismissed, discharged, or processed as part of a plea bargain)
  • $25.00 non-refundable SLED verification (if applicable)
  • $35.00 filing fee payable to the Aiken County Clerk of Court (if applicable)
• Submit the completed form to the Aiken County Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office at

Judicial Center (Courthouse)
109 Park Avenue SE | Room 117
Aiken, SC 29801
PO Drawer 3368, Aiken SC 29802

• Wait while the solicitor reviews the application to ensure it meets the legal requirements.
• The Aiken County solicitor will send the application to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to confirm that the applicant has no disqualifying criminal records.
• If the application meets all the requirements, the SLED will send it to the judge to approve and issue an expungement order for the removal of the arrest records from public access databases and official records.
• Notices are sent to relevant entities to update their records.

Aiken County Arrest Warrants

Aiken County arrest warrants are official documents issued by an Aiken County judge or magistrate to authorize law enforcement to take an individual into custody. Arrest warrants are consistent with the laws. In Aiken, a judge or magistrate will issue an arrest warrant if law enforcement or prosecutors:

• Submit an affidavit detailing evidence of an alleged crime
• Provide evidence to establish a probable cause that an individual committed, is committing, or will commit a crime
• Specify the individual who is to be arrested and the charges against them.

Aiken County arrest warrants information includes

• Name and the physical description of the individual to be arrested
• Charges against their individual or the offense they committed
• A case number relating to the alleged offense
• The judge or magistrate who issues the warrant
• The originating court for the arrest warrants
• The conditions for the arrest (time and location for the arrest).

Aiken County Arrest Warrant Search

Finding an active Aiken County warrant involves several processes. To search for active Aiken County warrants:

• Log in to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office website and search for information on wanted persons
• Call or visit the Aiken County Sheriff's Office for information on active arrest warrants
• Visit the Aiken County Clerk of Courts for information on active arrest records.

Do Aiken County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants do not expire. In Aiken County and the rest of South Carolina counties, an arrest warrant remains active until law enforcement apprehends the individual mentioned in the arrest warrant. However, an Aiken County arrest warrant will become inactive if the court recalls the warrant or the individual dies.