Union County Arrest Records

The Union County Detention Center houses approximately 100 individuals, including those in pretrial detention and inmates serving court-ordered sentences of 90 days or less. Arrest records for these detainees are usually generated following the apprehension and may be accessed online or by visiting the center during business hours. Once inmates are tried in court, their arrest records are transferred to the Circuit Court. The arrest information featured within Union County court records is usually relevant during prosecution.

Are Arrest Records Public in Union County?

Yes, The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act guarantees the public disclosure of arrest records by law enforcement agencies. The law authorizes the Union County Sheriff’s Office to make its records available to citizens upon request. However, according to SC Code §30-4-40, law enforcement agencies must exempt certain arrest records from public disclosure. Arrest information of a personal nature whose disclosure would constitute an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy is confidential. Exempted arrest records also include any documents or video/audio recordings whose disclosure would:

• Endanger the life or physical safety of anyone.
• Interfere with a pending law enforcement proceeding.
• Constitute an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy.
• Deprive an accused of the right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication.
• Reveal the identity of a confidential source and current techniques for law enforcement investigations.
• Reveal any contents of intercepted wire, oral, or electronic communications not revealed during a trial.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Union County public arrest records contain the person’s mugshot, name, race, sex, age, arrest date, holding agency, bond, warrant details, and judge’s name. This arrest information is publicly available online on the Union County Sheriff’s Office website.

Union County Arrest Statistics

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) publishes reports annually to help citizens find arrest statistics. The 2023 Crime in South Carolina Annual Report shows that Union County had 884 arrests, 25.6% less than the number of arrests in 2022. The arrest rate for that year was 331.97. The top three crimes committed by the arrestee are drug law violations, simple assault, and trespass of real property.

Find Union County Arrest Records

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) manages state-level arrest records. It supervises 16,000 inmates across 21 prisons and provides access to their arrest records online and in person. Record seekers can use the SCDC's Inmate Search or Released Inmate List portals to view arrest information for free. Users must enter a SCDC ID, SID, name, or release date range in the appropriate search box to conduct the search.

Federal law enforcement agencies handle arrest records of Union County inmates housed in federal prisons. They provide access to these records online, by mail, or in person during business hours. Some agencies make their records available to members of the public, while others restrict access to only the subjects of records. Citizens can request Union County arrest records from the federal agencies below:

• The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Individuals can find Union County arrest records online through the Online Detainee Locator System using an A-Number or biographical information. They can also visit any ICE local field office and detention facility to obtain copies of arrest records for a small fee.
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP): Customers can access arrest records maintained by the BOP either online or by visiting any BOP facility in person. Online searches can be conducted using a name or number through the Inmate Locator.
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI): Subjects of records can get copies of their arrest records online, by mail, or through approved channelers. The fee is $18, payable by Credit Card Payment Form, money order, or certified check.
• The United States Capitol Police (USCP): Requesters can use the USCP’s online portal to view arrest summary reports for free. To perform the search, users need a crime summary, crime date, CFN number, or crime type. Requests can also be submitted by mail using a Request Form.

Free Arrest Record Search in Union County

The Union County Sheriff’s Office makes arrest records freely accessible to residents online via the Inmate Portal. Searches can be conducted by name, race, sex, custody date, arrest date, or holding agency. Requesters can also scroll through the arrest information on the portal to locate their desired records.

Third-party vendors offer free access to Union County arrest records online for those seeking information. Users can view arrest details from multiple jurisdictions by simply entering a name. However, these free searches typically provide only basic information. A small fee may apply for more comprehensive arrest records. It's important to note that arrest records obtained from third-party sites are best used for unofficial purposes.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests typically remain on a person’s record indefinitely. While they are generally part of the public record, they can be expunged, which means they are sealed and no longer accessible to the public. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History’s Record Management provides General Records Retention Schedules for some arrest records. For example, arrest dockets, arrest warrants for non-DUI offenses, and arrest cards are destroyed after 5 years. Additionally, arrest information associated with traffic tickets and juvenile arrest records is destroyed after 3 years.

Expunge Union County Arrest Records

Union County residents can have their arrest records expunged by submitting an Expungement Application Form online or by mail to the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office. This service attracts a non-refundable administrative fee of $250 payable by money order. The Solicitor’s Office will respond to the applicant's request by email, phone, or mail. Afterward, the applicant must prepare and type a proposed order acceptable to SC Court Administration and send it to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for confirmation. A fee of $25 should accompany the order. The applicant must also obtain the approval and signature of a Circuit Court Judge and file the original signed Order in the Clerk of Court’s office. The filing fee is $35. The applicant can get certified copies of the order from the Clerk of Court and mail them to appropiate agencies. The whole expungement process lasts for about 6 to 8 weeks.

Union County Arrest Warrants

Under South Carolina Code §22-5-110, a Union County magistrate may issue an arrest warrant at the request of a law enforcement officer, provided the officer submits a sworn statement establishing probable cause that a crime has been committed. If the request comes from a private citizen rather than law enforcement, the court will issue a courtesy summons instead. When a person is arrested under a warrant, the arresting officer must provide the individual with a copy of the warrant and the supporting affidavit, as required by the South Carolina Code §22-5-210.

Do Union County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Union County arrest warrants do not expire, and a law enforcement officer may decide to enforce them upon locating the warrant's subject. South Carolina law requires officers to execute arrest warrants promptly, but no official timeline exists.