Find South Carolina Inmate Records

The correctional system in South Carolina assigns specific agencies the responsibility of maintaining inmate records after the judiciary convicts the offender. At the county level, the County Sheriff's Office oversees county jails and creates and maintains records of detainees and inmates within its jurisdiction. On the other hand, the South Carolina Department of Corrections manages all correctional facilities but only maintains publicly available records on inmates in state prisons. Similarly, federal jails in South Carolina are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in South Carolina?

The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act allows public access to non-confidential, non-sensitive inmate records.

Private third-party websites and official government platforms may provide access to public records. These online services often simplify the research process by removing geographic limitations and offering broad search functions that can be used across counties and states. When beginning a search through either a third-party portal or an official government website, requesters are usually asked to provide basic identifying details, such as the name of the subject of the record—unless the individual is a minor—and the geographic location connected to the record, including the city, county, or state. It is worth noting that these commercial third-party websites operate independently and are not affiliated with government agencies. As a result, the availability, accuracy, and completeness of records on third-party platforms may differ from those maintained in official repositories.

What Information is Contained in a South Carolina Inmate Record?

A general feature of inmate records in the state, regardless of the custodian, is that inmate records contain the following information:

• Mugshot
• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Physical description
• Gender
• Inmate ID number
• Sentence history
• Charges/Offense
• Facility of incarceration

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in South Carolina?

Looking up incarcerated persons in South Carolina depends on the inmate's location, the facility's public request policy, and personal preference. Generally, the available methods in South Carolina include:

• An in-person visit to the administrative office
• Mail request
• Online search

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in South Carolina?

• In-person visits:

Unit correctional facilities in South Carolina are responsible for maintaining inmate records. If a person suspects that another person has been detained or incarcerated, the first step in finding an inmate is to find information on the facility. Knowing the facility goes a long way, as one can easily confirm the existence of an inmate online before visiting the facility. Online information is often sufficient for most purposes.

If the inmate needs to be visited, the requester must visit the Sheriff's Office or the county jail. A simple web search will furnish interested individuals with the address and contact information of the correctional facility.

Requesters who prefer in-person inquiry at the local jail or state prison must abide by the facility visitation rules. While these rules differ from county to county, all visitors must be well-dressed and possess a government-issued photo ID. Furthermore, visitors must be on the inmate visitation list and schedule a visit at least twenty-four hours in advance. The SCDC maintains a directory of correctional facilities in the state.

• Mail requests:

Interested persons may request and obtain publicly available records from all correctional facilities in the state. However, confidential records and records that contain sensitive information are exempt from public disclosure. Bypassing records restrictions involves submitting a court order or making a direct appeal to the record custodian. If the latter is successful, the record custodian will redact sensitive information before providing the documents.

To find an inmate record, submit an FOIA request to the incarcerating agency. At the county level, the agency is the Sheriff's Office. At the state level, the agency is the SCDC FOIA Coordinator. The written request must include a simple description of the requested information, the inmate, and the requester's contact information. Send the request by mail or email to:

FOIA Coordinator
Office of General Counsel
South Carolina Department of Corrections
P.O. Box 21787
Columbia, SC 29221–1787
Email: FOIA@doc.sc.gov

FOIA requests may require requesters to make deposits for nominal fees incurred in reproducing or certifying a record. Generally, the South Carolina Department of Corrections charges $0.25 a page and $25.92 per hour for search, retrieval, and redaction of records (Section 30–4–30(b)).

• Online requests

Finding an inmate in a state correctional facility is straightforward, as the interested individual can use the SCDC Offender Locator to find an inmate. However, a drawback is that it may take several business days for inmate information from state prisons to reflect on this database.

The searcher must know the inmate's full name or SCDC ID to use the Locator. Upon query, the database returns search results based on the parameter used. As the ID is unique to every inmate, it is the best search parameter to eliminate multiple search results. Clicking on a search result displays further information on the inmate. For local jails, the requester must search for the official inmate roster. This information is typically available on the local law enforcement website. For example, Horry County maintains an online Booking List, and Greenville County maintains an online inmate roster.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in South Carolina?

Submit a direct appeal for a fee waiver to the record custodian. In most cases, the record custodian will grant the fee waiver if the requester demonstrates that the record is in the public interest and for non-commercial purposes. Otherwise, the requester must bear the cost of searching, reproducing, and certifying a public record.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in South Carolina

Parties can mail a request to the Department of Corrections to find old inmate records in South Carolina. The agency shall respond with instructions and other requirements if the records are available and subject to public disclosure. If the inmate record is unavailable, the Department of Corrections shall direct the requester to the appropriate record custodian.

Historical inmate records are available on the National Archives. The searcher must know the name of the inmate of interest and perform a search using the surname. Another proper database for historical inmate records is the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

Inmate Release Date Lookup In South Carolina

In South Carolina, the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) manages and maintains inmate release dates. The agency provides access to offender information through its Online Inmate Search Tool, which allows interested parties to locate incarcerated individuals and determine their projected release dates. Searches may be conducted using details such as the inmate's first and last name or SCDC identification number.

The available information typically includes the inmate's current location, offense details, sentence length, and anticipated release date, subject to changes based on parole eligibility, sentence reductions, or disciplinary actions. For those unable to access the online database, requests can be made directly to the South Carolina Department of Corrections by contacting their central office or calling (803) 896-8500.

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in South Carolina?

Send a record request to the Department of Corrections following the instructions above. The Department of Corrections must also report the death of an inmate to the Department of Health. The requester may also request death records from the Department of Health. However, note that death records only become public records after fifty years. Pending this time limitation, the requester must demonstrate a concrete interest in the death record.

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has jurisdiction over federal inmates and records relating to their incarceration. The BOP Inmate Locator is a central repository containing information on inmates incarcerated as far back as 1982. It can be used to find an inmate in one of several federal correctional facilities.

The searcher only needs to use the offender's unique BOP number or full name to query this database. If there are multiple search results, using the inmate's race, age, and sex lets the searcher sift through the results. To find records on inmates incarcerated before 1982, visit the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) website. The searcher will have access to an inmate information database from 1870 to 1981.

How Long Does it Take For An Inmate's Information to Be Published in the South Carolina Inmate Locator?

It depends on several factors. Information on inmates from local jails typically appears on the inmate roster after midnight. For state prison inmate locators, this may take a few business days due to staff availability and the facility's technology.

Why Is An Inmate Not Showing Up In Search?

In South Carolina, an inmate may not appear in the public inmate search for several reasons. Records for individuals in county jails or detention centers are not always included in the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) database, which only covers state prison facilities. Juvenile offenders under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Justice are also excluded from the SCDC system.

Additionally, technical issues, recent transfers, or delays in updating records can cause temporary gaps in the database. Inmates who have just been admitted or released may not appear until the system refreshes. In rare cases, access to certain records may be restricted due to court orders, privacy protections, or security concerns. Anyone seeking confirmation of custody status or release dates for inmates not appearing online may contact the relevant county detention center or the SCDC main office at (803) 896-8500 for further assistance.