Williamsburg County Arrest Records

In Williamsburg County, arrests are legal events that restrain a suspected offender's right of movement. Law enforcement officers can legally arrest suspected offenders with or without an arrest warrant. Officers also apprehend persons who pose a potential risk to life, property, or society. In those cases, there must be enough evidence to show probable cause. Depending on the severity of the crime and progress of the investigation, officers may book and detain arrestees in the county jail.

Williamsburg County arrest records are under the purview of the county sheriff's office. The agency creates and keeps records of arrest events. Crime-related public files may contain some arrest information. For example, Williamsburg County court records contain arrest information such as the arrestee's name, charges, booking date, and bond amount.

Are Arrest Records Public in Williamsburg County?

Yes, most arrest records are publicly accessible in Williamsburg County. Under the South Carolina Public Records Laws, the public can legally get arrest records from specific public entities. The law requires the entities to maintain different options through which the public can obtain records. For instance, the Williamsburg County sheriff's office allows mail or walk-in requests for arrest records. Interested parties must request the records in person at this address:

200 South Jackson Street
Kingstree, SC 29556
Phone: (843) 355-6381
Fax: (843) 355-7956

However, the state law prevents public access to certain arrest records. The exempt record typically contains information whose disclosure is judged not to be in the public interest. Examples of such records include the following:

• Documents that, if disclosed, will interfere with a prospective law enforcement proceeding.
• Arrest documents whose disclosure will deprive a person of their right to an impartial adjudication or fair trial
• Documents whose disclosure will violate the privacy or safety rights of concerned parties

Williamsburg County Arrest Statistics

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division collects data from the state's arresting agencies to create an annual arrest and crime statistics report. According to the report, Williamsburg County's arresting agencies made 642 arrests in 2023.

While there is no inmate statistics report for Williamsburg County, the state's correctional facilities housed 16,578 inmates as of April 23, 2025.

Find Williamsburg County Arrest Records

Public members can find arrest information in inmate records. Such records mostly contain post-arrest information, such as the mugshot, criminal charges, bond amount, and booking date.

Inquirers can locate inmate records using searchable databases maintained by designated record custodians. For instance, the South Carolina Department of Corrections maintains a searchable database of inmates currently held in state correctional facilities. Inquirers using the database must input the inmate name, SCDC ID, or SID into the required search fields. Next, they must select "Submit" to view the needed record.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons, via the Inmate Locator, offers an alternative option for viewing inmate records. Inquirers must provide the inmate's name or prison number so they can view records on the platform.

Williamsburg County Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records

In Williamsburg County, arrest and criminal records are quite different in the following ways:

They contain different information

Williamsburg County arrest records comprise only arrest-related data, such as the arrestee's name, personal description, mugshot, criminal charges, arresting agency, and booking information. In contrast, criminal records compile crime-related information, including arrests, court, and incarceration data.

They lead to different social outcomes.

Arrest records do not reveal if the subject was convicted of the charges. Thus, an arrestee may not experience discrimination due to arrest records. However, criminal records reveal a court's verdict concerning a crime. The record may lead to negative implications, like discrimination during employment or house hunting.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Williamsburg, South Carolina, arrest records are publicly visible until they are sealed or expunged. The county has specific legal procedures for expunging arrest records. After expungement, government agencies may retain the records for three years and four months, after which they destroy the documents.

Williamsburg County Arrest Warrants

In Williamsburg County, arrest warrants are court orders that empower law enforcement officers to arrest defendants named in the document. Court magistrates issue arrest warrants after receiving a signed affidavit from an arresting officer. The affidavit must show evidence that the defendant committed a crime.

• The defendant's full name or aliases, address, and phone number.
• A description of the criminal charges.
• The warrant-issuing judicial officer's name.
• The criminal incident date and time.

Do Williamsburg County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Williamsburg County arrest warrants have a lifetime validity. Law enforcement officers can choose when to execute an arrest warrant. For instance, they may decide to execute the warrant even after the statute of limitations for the crime has elapsed.

Expunge Williamsburg County Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal process for destroying arrest or criminal records so they do not appear in publicly accessible databases. Generally, arrestees can expunge arrest records by contacting the Solicitor's Office in the county where the arrest occurred. The Solicitor's Office (3rd Judicial Circuit) in Sumter County oversees expungement requests from Williamsburg residents.

The Solicitor's Office is located at this address:

Sumter County Judicial Center
215 North Harvin Street
Sumter, S.C. 29150
Phone: (803) 436-2185
Fax: (803) 436-2236

Interested parties must pay the following fees to the Solicitor's Office:

• $250 to the Solicitor's Office.
• $35 to the Clerk of Courts.
• $25 to the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division.

Note: You are considered eligible to expunge arrest records under these conditions:

• The charges were dismissed or not prosecuted.
• The criminal conviction carries a maximum fine of $1,000 or up to 30 days in jail, and there were no additional convictions within 3 years after completing the sentence.
• You were convicted of a non-violent juvenile offense and had no subsequent conviction.