Florence County Arrest Records

When there is reasonable suspicion that someone has committed a crime or disobeyed the law, law enforcement officials in Florence County are tasked with making an arrest (South Carolina Laws Chapter 13).

Arrests in Florence County, South Carolina, usually happen when law enforcement officials have good reason to suspect someone of committing a crime, ranging from petty offenses to significant felonies. An arrest must be made when it's necessary to stop more crimes, ensure the suspect shows up in court, or safeguard the public. Until their release from prison or transfer to another facility, inmates in Florence County are typically housed at the Florence County Detention Center.

Arrest record generation and maintenance are primarily the responsibility of the Florence County Sheriff's Office. These documents, which are available to the public under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act, contain information about the arrest, the charges, and the booking data. Florence County court records, which include more information about the legal proceedings that followed the arrest, are among the public records that frequently cross over with arrest records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Florence County?

In Florence County, arrest records are public. This means that anyone may request to view them from the organization that maintains them. Arrest records are considered public records under the South Carolina Public Record Laws and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which regulate the management and distribution of records to protect citizens' right to privacy and foster government transparency. However, selected records may be excluded from public disclosure under specific circumstances.

One exemption that relates to the disclosure of arrest records under Section 30-4-40 (3) of the Act is the non-disclosure of recordings, audio or video recordings, or other information gathered for law enforcement purposes, but only to the extent that producing such records or information would:

• Interfere with a planned investigation by law enforcement;
• Deny someone their right to a fair trial or an unbiased decision-making process;
• Constitute an irrational infringement upon one's privacy;
• Reveal the identity of any private institution or agency that provided information on a confidential basis, as well as any state, local, or foreign agency or authority that may have collected information in the course of a criminal investigation or an agency carrying out a lawful security intelligence investigation, if a confidential source provided the information;
• Reveal the methods and processes currently used in law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, or if doing so would put the public in danger of breaking the law, reveal the rules;
• Put someone's life or bodily safety in peril;

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A public arrest record contains the following details, per South Carolina Public Records Law, Freedom of Information Section 30-4-50:

• Personal information about the person apprehended, including name, date of birth, gender, and race
• Arrest Information: This includes the arresting agency, as well as the date, time, and place of the arrest
• Particular criminal accusations were brought against the defendant, together with any applicable laws
• Reservation Information, including specifics regarding the reservation procedure, like the reservation number, fingerprint history, and picture (mugshot)
• Information on the bond, such as the bail amount and if the person has been released on bond
• Court Information, such as future dates for the charges' court appearances.

Florence County Crime Rate

As per the most recent report published by the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for the year 2022, there were 14,356 recorded crimes in Florence County. The document states that there were 7,962 (55.46%) instances of Group A offenses, which was the highest and included crimes against people, crimes against property, and crimes against society. Property crimes ranked second at 5,084 (35.41%), while violent crimes were the least common at 1,310 (9.12%).

Group A offenders committed the most crimes against property (3,013), followed by crimes against individuals (2,966) and crimes against society (1,933). Simple assault was the most common crime against persons (1,977), fraud was the most common crime against property (1,057), and drug/narcotics offenses were the most common crimes against society.

Florence County Arrest Statistics

The SLED publishes arrest data as well as crime statistics of counties within its jurisdiction. These statistics include all arrests made in all South Carolina counties, including Florence County. A total of 5,064 arrests were made in Florence County, according to the 2022 report. Out of that total, the most common charges were drug law violations, 1,163 (22.9%), followed by larceny-theft offenses, 588 (11.61%), and simple assault, 580 (11.45%). These three categories accounted for the majority of arrests. There was a 6.4% decrease in arrests in 2022 compared to the 2021 arrest rate, which was restricted at 5,409.

Find Florence County Arrest Records

Although local law enforcement agencies in Florence County handle the majority of arrests, the Sheriff's Office serves as the countywide central repository for arrest data. These law enforcement organizations collaborate with the Sheriff's Office to ensure that law and order is upheld throughout the county.

Inquirers may perform an arrest record search by querying law enforcement agencies in the judicial district where the arrest occured. To facilitate the search, requesters may be asked to fill out an application with specific details about the subject record, including name and birthdate, and pay processing costs to acquire copies of the documents. The police departments of the City of Florence, Lake City, Timmonsville, and Pamplico are a few of these organizations.

In compliance with S.C. Code Ann. §30-4-30, the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Florence County Sheriff's Office makes arrest records available to the public. Interested parties may receive this information by completing the FOIA request form and paying the applicable processing costs. The Florence County Sheriff's Office, ATTN: Office of General Counsel, 6719 Friendfield Road, Effingham, SC 29541, is the address where requests should be sent. Additionally, the Florence County Detention Center booking details of those who have been detained are freely accessible online via the Sheriff's Office. To find the information, interested parties can browse the list of prisoners or conduct a name search.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which complies with the FOIA to make documents older than two years accessible to the public, can be contacted for a statewide search of arrest records. Interested parties would need to pay $20 per hour for redaction and scanning, $25 per box for archive retrieval, $5 per disk for CD/DVD, or $0.15 per page for printed copies. Requests would also need to be made in writing. All inquiries should be sent by mail or email to:

Email: foi@sled.sc.gov
Mail:
Freedom of Information Office
S.C. Law Enforcement Division
P.O. Box 21398
Columbia, S.C. 29221

• At federal level, inquirers may find persons detained in federal prisons all throughout the country using the inmate locator tool offered by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The name or BOP number of the prisoner is required to utilize this tool. The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) provides a tool for searching for inmates presently housed in state prisons. User-friendly resources, including the inmate's location and anticipated release date, are available through the BOP and SCDC tools.
• When the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) makes an arrest, the subject is usually detained in federal custody until their arraignment. A search can be conducted using the Federal Inmate Locator by name or number to locate an inmate's holding facility. The person might then get in touch with the establishment to request details.
• Inquirers may use the Online Detainee Locator System to look up arrests conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). If the information is unavailable online, the interested party may contact a local field office or, if it is known, the specific ICE detention facility.

Free Arrest Record Search in Florence County

The Florence County Sheriff's Office website features an online database of detention facility inmates. It is a suitable option for finding free arrest records in Florence County, South Carolina. Additionally, court records, including arrest information, are accessible through the South Carolina Judicial Department's internet site, commonly referred to as the "Public Index". Usually, one must have the person's name or case number to use this search function.

Additionally, free arrest records are available in Florence County via independent websites. These websites provide free information such as the date, time, location, charges, and other specifics of the arrest; however, a user may have to pay certain costs for a more thorough search.

Get Florence County Criminal Records

In South Carolina, criminal records are kept by law enforcement agencies and contain a person's past arrests, charges, and convictions. Depending on the record's type and intended use, access to these documents can be obtained in various ways per state legislation. Unless otherwise specified by legislation, these records are open to the public under state law, including the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Although the law allows the public to request access to criminal history data, only individuals with the proper authorization—such as subjects of the record or those with a court order—can obtain a complete and thorough criminal history. An extensive criminal history record would frequently necessitate a fingerprint card.

The Florence County Sheriff's Office allows the general public to see criminal records within the county. Interested parties can submit a request by contacting the office. On request, the County Judicial branch may also provide certain criminal background information; interested parties may contact them. That said, the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) in Florence County, South Carolina, acts as the state's central repository for criminal history data. The S.C. Code of Laws Section 23-3-120 (A) mandates that all law enforcement agencies throughout the state and counties provide fingerprinted criminal history records to the division.

Citizens Access to Criminal Histories, or "CATCH," is an online criminal history search portal maintained by SLED that enables users to view and print criminal history records. Users can conduct a name-based search for a non-refundable $25.00 fee plus a $1.00 convenience fee. The record subject's first and last names, as well as their birthdate, are used in this search.

On the other hand, a record search based on a fingerprint can only be done via the mail-in method. Those who are interested should complete the criminal records check form, send it along with the $25.00 processing fee and any additional costs that may apply, and mail it to:

SLED Records Department,
P.O. Box 21398,
Columbia SC 29221-1398.

Since CATCH does not include records of sexual offenders, SLED additionally created and maintained a registry known as "SORT" where information about sexual offenders is kept. This platform is freely accessible to the general public.

Florence County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Criminal records detail a person's criminal history, including convictions, sentencing, and court decisions. Courts, prisons, and law enforcement organizations create and keep these documents. T

Arrest records, on the other hand, particularly record when a person has been taken into custody by law enforcement, including the time, place, and reason for the arrest. However, An arrest record does not prove guilt because an arrest does not always result in a conviction. Arrest records are unique in that they only document interactions with law enforcement that have not always led to a criminal conviction, even though they are a part of the more extensive criminal record.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records in Florence County, South Carolina, usually stay on a person's record permanently until they are lawfully expunged. State law in South Carolina allows for expungement in certain situations. For instance, the person may be qualified to have the arrest record erased if the charges are dropped, they are found not guilty, or they successfully finish a diversion program. In addition, after a predetermined waiting period, certain misdemeanor convictions and first-time offenses may be erased, given the individual satisfies all eligibility requirements and has no further convictions.

The expungement procedure includes:

• Filing a formal application with the relevant court.
• Paying any fees.
• Getting the required consent from prosecutors and law enforcement.

After being deleted, the arrest record is no longer available to the public, and the person can deny ever having been arrested.

Expunge Florence County Arrest Records

In general, restricting access can be achieved by sealing or expunging an arrest record, but the outcomes vary.

Upon expungement, a record is wholly removed from public view, making it appear as though the arrest or conviction never took place. Upon expungement, the record is deleted from publicly accessible databases, and in most circumstances, the person is free to deny the incident. Conversely, sealing a record prevents the general public from seeing it but does not destroy it. The record exists, but only specific persons—like law enforcement—or under particular conditions—such as a court order, can prompt its disclosure. Sealed records are nevertheless accessible in some circumstances, even though they are not visible in routine background checks.

The legal idea of "sealing" records—making them unavailable without a court order—does not exist in Florence County, South Carolina, as in certain other states. Expungement is the primary way that arrest records can be made private in South Carolina, according to state law. This implies that, although it is not technically possible to "seal" an arrest record in Florence County, it may be erased provided certain conditions are satisfied by South Carolina law, namely Title 17, Chapter 22 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.

State laws specify different prerequisites for expungement, such as not-guilty verdicts or dismissed charges, first-time offenders, Pre-Trial intervention programs, and so forth. According to S.C. Code Laws Section 17-22-950(B), for example, if criminal charges are brought before a summary court, the accused person is found not guilty, the charges are dismissed or "nolle prossed," and the accused person was not fingerprinted for the charges, the accused person may, at no cost to them, request that the criminal records, including any bench warrants associated with them, be expunged from the summary court.

To have a record removed in Florence County, applicants may apply with the assistance of the Twelfth Judicial District Solicitor's Office. Below is a summary of the actions that are typically needed:

• Obtain a copy of your State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) criminal history record.
• Decide on the kind of expungement you want to employ.
• Obtain the application form from the solicitor's office.
• Find out what records you will require from the solicitor's office.
• Obtain the documentation and complete the application.
• Obtain the necessary money orders.
• Send the money orders and application to the solicitor's office.

Florence County Arrest Warrants

A judge or magistrate can issue an arrest warrant or a court order allowing law enforcement to make an individual arrest. An arrest warrant is issued in South Carolina, including Florence County, based on probable cause, which calls for solid evidence linking the subject to a criminal offense.

A law enforcement official may be arrested without a warrant under Section 17-13-30 of the South Carolina Code of Laws in certain circumstances, such as when the offense was committed in front of them. Meanwhile, a citizen or anybody else may be arrested under specific legal circumstances, according to Sections 17-13-10 and 17-13-20 of the state statutes.

Before a judge issues an arrest warrant, probable cause must be produced and backed by an affidavit or other proof. Police officers, sheriffs, and deputies are among the law enforcement officials who can carry out an arrest order. Usually, while asking for an arrest warrant, law enforcement officials testify or supporting documentation before a magistrate or court. The judge considers the available evidence to decide whether there is probable cause. When an arrest warrant is issued, it is carried out by law enforcement, who then track down and detain the person it names and make sure they appear in court to face charges.

Here is an outline of the information contained in a Florence County arrest warrant:

• The complete name of the person who is about to be arrested, together with any known aliases, and any other identifying details like their residence, date of birth, or physical description
• A detailed account of the precise crime or offense that the defendant is alleged to have committed, together with the particular statute or legal provision that was broken
• A brief overview of the facts or evidence providing a reasonable suspicion of the arrest. Police records, witness accounts, and any supporting documentation might be included in this.
• The warrant's date and location of issuance, as well as the name and signature of the court or magistrate who issued it
• Instructions for carrying out the warrant, including any terms or restrictions, including the time limit or the area where the arrest may take place
• Information about the court, such as its jurisdiction and contact details, from which the warrant was obtained

Florence County Arrest Warrant Search

Inquirers may begin an arrest warrant search in Florence County, South Carolina, by contacting the Florence County Sheriff's Office or visiting their website. Anyone can obtain information about active warrants from the Sheriff's Office via their website or by making a formal request. Inquirers may also visit the Magistrate Court or the Florence County Clerk of Court to learn more about warrants. Records of warrants issued within the county are kept on file by these offices. The public can access active warrants using the South Carolina Judicial Branch's online warrant search portal.

Third-party websites may provide warrant information for online searches but may not always be accurate or up-to-date. Usually, to perform a search, the person must supply identifying information, such as the person's name and birthdate.

Do Florence County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Generally speaking, arrest warrants in Florence County never expire. Once issued, they are in effect until the person is taken into custody or the court formally recalls or quails the warrant. However, several things could impact whether a warrant can be enforced, including mistakes made throughout the process, modifications to the legislation, or the suspect's death. The warrant stays valid indefinitely, permitting the subject's arrest at any moment, but law enforcement agencies may regularly examine and prioritize older warrants.