Orangeburg County Arrest Records

In Orangeburg County, arrest records detail the detention of individuals for arrestable offenses. These documents may become precursor documents for criminal prosecutions within Orangeburg County courts and part of Orangeburg County court records.

The Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office, Orangeburg Department of Public Safety, South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP), South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies create arrest records when they arrest individuals within Orangeburg County.

In the U.S. and its satellite states, arrest becomes necessary if law enforcement officers witness or have evidence of criminal acts or if the court issues arrest warrants for the detention of individuals. Law enforcement agencies in Orangeburg County hold arrestees on short-term detention at temporary holding cells such as the City of Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Holding Facility or other local police departments holding cells. Individuals serving long-term state or federal sentences may be Incarcerated at Orangeburg-Calhoun Regional Detention Center.

Are Arrest Records Public in Orangeburg County?

Yes, Orangeburg arrest records are public. According to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), a person may access or make copies of government records unless the law states otherwise. Nonetheless, Orangeburg County arrest records are not publicly accessible if they relate to:

• Minors
• Sealed or expunged records
• Active law enforcement or judicial investigations
• Confidential victim or informant information
• Domestic violence and sexual assault
• Information that is protected by court orders.

In Orangeburg County and other parts of the U.S., a requester must own an exempted arrest record to access it. These documents may also be accessible to law enforcement, authorized government entities, and persons with judicial orders.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records contain information about arrests. These include personal details of the record owners, the reasons for their arrests, and the conditions for their release.

Typically, arrest records information encompasses but are not limited to:

• Names, dates of birth, gender, race, and physical description of the owners of the records
• Charges and the sections of the laws allegedly violated
• Booking number
• Mugshots
• Names and badge numbers of the arresting officers
• Bail/Bond details.

Orangeburg County Arrest Statistics

According to the FBI UCR arrest statistics, there was a steady rise in the number of arrests within Orangeburg County between 2020 and 2023. Law enforcement agencies within Orangeburg County reported 1,714 arrest incidents to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program in 2020. This figure rose to 1,809, 1,859, and 2,525 arrest incidents in 2021, 2022, and 2023. In Orangeburg County, drug-related offenses were the most common arrest incidents between 2020 and 2023. Between 2020 and 2023, there were over 800 arrests for drug violations within Orangeburg County, as shown in the table below.

Find Orangeburg County Arrest Records

Interested public seeking to access Orangeburg County arrest records may be able to do so by logging in to the South Carolina Department of Corrections Incarcerated Inmate Search Portal. These online search tools provide Statewide access to inmate records (including Orangeburg County arrest records). Alternatively, visit the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office or the Orangeburg-Calhoun Regional Detention Center and submit a FOIA request to access Orangeburg County arrest records in their possession.

Free Arrest Record Search in Orangeburg County

Individuals looking for free access to Orangeburg County arrest information may do so by logging in to the South Carolina Department of Corrections Incarcerated Inmate Search Portal and using names and Department of Corrections ID Numbers to search for specific arrest records through inmate records. Orangeburg County arrest information may also be available online for free through third-party websites. Some private databases may provide free access to South Carolina law enforcement documents and information.

Orangeburg County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Orangeburg County arrest records and criminal records are related but different. While arrest records are law enforcement documents detailing the circumstances surrounding the detention of individuals for various offenses, criminal records are the comprehensive histories of criminal prosecutions. Orangeburg County courts generate these documents during criminal trials.

Arrest records are evidence of arrests; they do not confirm the guilt or innocence of arrestees. In contrast, criminal records confirm guilty verdicts under the criminal justice system.

Orangeburg County arrest records may not significantly affect their owners. The court may seal or remove them under certain circumstances. Contrariwise, criminal records are more difficult to seal or remove, and they may have lifelong negative impacts on social status, housing, and employment.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Orangeburg County arrest information stays on a record indefinitely unless the owner petitions the court to seal or remove it. § 17-22-910 to § 17-22-960 of the South Carolina Codes Annotated grants record owners the right to petition for the sealing or removal of arrest information if they fulfill the qualifying criteria.

Expunge Orangeburg County Arrest Records

According to Section 17-22-910 to 17-22-960 of the South Carolina Codes Annotated, to petition the court to seal or remove arrest information in South Carolina, the arrest record must result from:

• Non-violent offense
• First-time minor criminal offenses such as misdemeanors and marijuana possession
• First-time youthful offender conviction
• Fraudulent check offenses
• Identity theft.

Also, individuals who receive pardons for non-violent offenses or complete Pre-trial Intervention (PTI) or Other diversion programs are eligible for arrest records expunction. In addition, applicants must observe the following waiting periods:

• Non-conviction arrests - no waiting period. The owner of the arrest record may petition the court immediately after the dismissal
• First-time misdemeanor conviction - 3 years after completing the sentence for the offense
• Third-degree domestic violence - 5 years
• First-Time Simple possession of marijuana - 3 years after conviction and no subsequent arrest or conviction for drug Offense
• Youthful Offender Conviction - 5 years after completing the punishment for the crime and no new conviction within the waiting period
• Pre-trial Intervention and other diversion programs - immediately after completing the program
• Fraudulent check offenses - 1 year after the conviction if there are no new convictions or pending criminal cases
• Identity theft arrest - Immediately after the individuals prove their cases
• Non-violent crime with pardon—no waiting period. After receiving the pardon, the individual may petition for the sealing or removal of the arrest record.

Eligible persons seeking to seal or remove Orangeburg County arrest records should do the following:

• Obtain copies of all documents that will support the petition (this includes disposition documents, receipts of payment of fines, and certificate of completion of pre-trial Intervention or diversion program if applicable)
• Download an Application for Expungement Form, complete it, and mail it to:

1st Judicial Circuit

151 Docket Street,
Orangeburg,
SC 29115

• Pay all applicable fees (this may range between $250.00 to $300.00)
• Provide additional information if the Solicitor's Office requests more
• Wait for approval. If the petition is successful, the court will issue an expungement order to law enforcement, court offices, and other relevant agencies to seal or remove the record from their databases
• Confirm that the record is no longer public through criminal background checks.

Orangeburg County Arrest Warrants

Orangeburg County arrest warrants are documents issued by Orangeburg County courts authorizing law enforcement to take individuals into custody. In Orangeburg County and the rest of the United States, judges/magistrates will issue arrest warrants to law enforcement if they provide enough evidence to justify the issuance of arrest warrants. Also, a judge/magistrate of Orangeburg County court may issue an arrest warrant if:

• A person disobeys court orders.
• Engage in domestic violence.
• A suspect plans to flee Orangeburg County to avoid prosecution for an offense.
• There is evidence that a person is a danger to others.

An Orangeburg County arrest warrant must contain the following information or more to be legally valid:

• The name, gender, aliases (if any), last known address, and physical description of the subject
• Charges against the subject/defendant and the sections of the law allegedly violated
• Statement of probable cause or affidavit from law enforcement supporting the request for the warrant
• Date and time of issuance of the warrant
• Name and location of the issuing court
• Signature and name of the issuing judge/magistrate
• Instructions to law enforcement on how to execute the warrant
• The warrant jurisdiction and the law enforcement must return the warrant to the court.

Do Orangeburg County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Orangeburg County arrest warrants do not expire. If a judge or magistrate of any Orangeburg County court issues an arrest warrant, it will remain active until law enforcement arrests the subject. However, an Orangeburg County arrest warrant will automatically become inactive if the subject dies or the court recalls it.