Colleton County Arrest Records

Colleton County arrest records contain information about an individual’s arrest and subsequent law enforcement actions. The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records in Colleton County. Additional information will be available in Colleton County Court Records if the case goes to trial.

Are Arrest Records Public in Colleton County?

Yes. Per the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), public records, including court records, are accessible to the public unless legally restricted. Examples of information that may the restricted to protect individuals' privacy or an ongoing investigation include the following:

• Personal information of the defendant that can lead to identity theft
• Law enforcement records (techniques and ongoing investigation records)
• Sensitive information (health records, juvenile records).

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Colleton County typically contain the following information:

• Full name of the defendant
• Physical description of the defendant
• Arrest information (arrest date, arrest time, location of the arrest, arresting law enforcement agency)
• Specific charges and statutes broken
• Case number
• Booking information
• Court details (court names, dates, and disposition)
• Bail information.

Colleton County Arrest Statistics

According to the 2023 Annual Crime Report prepared by the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, Colleton County had 1,850 arrests in 2023. Compared to the 1,465 arrests it had in 2022, there was a 26.3% increase in arrests. Crimes that resulted in arrests the most in the county include the following:

• All other offenses with 647 arrests (a 72.5% increase from the previous year)
• Drug law violations with 232 arrests (a 3.6% increase)
• Simple Assault with 154 arrests (a 16.7% increase)
• Larceny/ Theft offenses with 122 arrests (a 9.0% decrease)
• Weapon law violations with 120 arrests (a 57.9% increase from the previous year).

Find Colleton County Arrest Records

Several county, state, and federal resources are available for finding inmate information. They include the following:

• Colleton County Sheriff's Office: They maintain an inmate roster for finding information on inmates incarcerated in the county jail. Individuals can find inmate information by searching by the inmate's name, arrest date, release date, or agency the arrestee is being held for. The Sheriff's office can also be contacted for inquiry on arrests using the following contact information:

394 Mable T. Willis Boulevard
P.O. Box 433
Walterboro, SC 29488
Phone: (843) 549-2211
Fax: (843) 538-4384
Email: sheriff@colletoncounty.org.

• South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) CATCH: SLED is a state tool that gives citizens access to criminal histories. Individuals can create an account and conduct a name-based search to retrieve criminal records, including arrest records.
• South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC): They maintain an inmate search tool through which individuals can find people incarcerated in state correctional facilities. Individuals can search for inmate information by the inmate’s SCDC number, State Identification (SID), first or last name.
• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator: The BOP allows individuals to find federal inmates by name or BOP number

Free Arrest Record Search in Colleton County

To conduct a free arrest records search in Colleton County, interested individuals can use the inmate roster provided by the Colleton County Sheriff's Office or the state inmate search tool provided by the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC). An in-person search can also be conducted for a free arrest record by visiting the record custodian’s office. Although inspection of the record may be free, fees may apply to obtain certified copies of the record.

Third-party resources are also an easy and user-friendly resource for finding arrest records for free. Arrest records from different counties and even the state are usually consolidated into a single third-party resource and searches can be conducted using basic information about the case such as the inmate’s full name, or case number. Third-party websites are also beneficial as they offer extended access to other public records including warrant information and court records if the case progresses to trial.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. In Colleton County and West Virginia, an arrest will stay on record and open for public viewing forever until it is expunged or sealed. Expunction is not automatic. The time it takes for the arrest to be removed from your record depends on the outcome of the case and if it qualifies for expunction as listed in South Carolina Code Section 17-1-40.

Expunge Colleton County Arrest Records

To expunge a record or charge is to legally remove it from a person’s criminal history and public view as if the incident never occurred. In South Carolina, expunged records are destroyed and records of them are not retained even for governmental agencies except under seal (court orders are needed for access). South Carolina Code Section 17-1-40 governs the expunction process and eligibility for it in South Carolina.

Not all crimes can be expunged. Violent offenses, traffic offenses, and repeat convictions cannot be expunged. For a charge to be eligible for expunction, it must satisfy the following criteria:

• The case was dismissed or the arrestee was found not guilty
• The arrestee completed their pre-trial diversion programs
• The arrestee completed the waiting period for their charge (3 years for misdemeanors, 5 years for convictions under the Youthful Offender Act and domestic violence).

The process of getting a charge expunged in Colleton County is as follows:

• The arrestee determines if their case is eligible for expunction
• The arrestee fills out an expunction application and submits it to the Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office
• The arrestee pays the $250 fee and attends a hearing to defend their expunction request if need be
• If the expunction is granted by the court, the arrest records are sealed.

Colleton County Arrest Warrants

Colleton County arrest warrants are documents granting law enforcement officers the power to take an individual suspected of committing a crime into custody. Before a warrant is granted, probable cause must be established and backed by evidence that the individual indeed defaulted on state or federal statutes. Other reasons why arrest warrants are issued in Colleton County include non-compliance with court orders, for failure to appear in court.

The process begins during an investigation when a law enforcement officer submits an affidavit to a judge accusing a person of committing a crime. If the judge believes that probable cause was established, the judge signs off on the warrant, authorizing the arrest of the individual named on it. Arrest warrants are necessary to ensure lawfulness and that the rights of a citizen are protected as judicial oversight is needed before they can be arrested. Information contained in an arrest warrant includes the following:

• The defendant's full name
• Identifying the physical description of the defendant
• Criminal charges
• Date and time the warrant was issued
• Signature of the judge issuing the warrant.

Do Colleton County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. In Colleton County and South Carolina in general, arrest warrants do not expire. They remain valid and enforceable until the individual dies, is arrested, or a judge recalls the warrant. Some factors that can delay the execution of a warrant include the priority of the case, law enforcement resources, the warrant subject’s location, and new developments in ongoing proceedings.