Columbia Criminal Records and Police Reports

Columbia criminal records are produced by the Columbia Police Department, Columbia Municipal Court, and the Richland County judicial system. As South Carolina's state capital, Columbia generates a substantial volume of criminal records each year through its police department, courts, and associated agencies. Searching Columbia criminal records provides access to incident reports, arrest histories, court case filings, and case dispositions for matters arising within the city. This guide explains the official sources, request procedures, and online tools available for locating criminal records in Columbia.

Columbia Police Department Records Unit

The Columbia Police Department is headquartered at 1 Justice Square, Columbia, SC 29201. The Records Unit can be reached directly at (803) 545-3500, and the non-emergency line is (803) 252-2911. Full information about the Records Unit and its services is available at columbiapd.net/records. The Records Unit manages access to incident reports, accident reports, and related documentation generated by Columbia Police Department activities.

Incident reports requested within 14 days of the incident date are available free of charge for victims. All other requesters pay a $3.00 fee for reports within the 14-day window. For incident reports older than 14 days, requesters must submit a formal FOIA request. Accident reports cost $3.00 regardless of the requester's involvement in the incident. Payment is accepted by cash, check, or debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover). All reports follow FOIA guidelines for privacy and may be redacted to remove exempt information before release. Media requests for incident or accident reports must be directed to the Public Information Officer rather than the Records Unit.

The Columbia Police Department website provides access to the Records Unit, public data initiatives, and information about how to obtain Columbia criminal records through official channels.

Columbia FOIA Requests for Criminal Records

For records older than 14 days or not available through standard report requests, members of the public must submit a formal FOIA request. Columbia FOIA requests are processed by the City of Columbia FOIA Office, located at 1401 Main Street (PO Box 667), Columbia, SC 29201. The office phone is (803) 737-0000 and the fax is (803) 737-4250. The Washington Street side entrance should be used when visiting in person. Requests can also be submitted online at columbiapd.net or through the City FOIA portal at columbiasc.net/foia.

Under South Carolina's FOIA statute at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq., most government-held records are available to the public. The city is required to respond to FOIA requests within ten business days under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30. Exemptions apply to certain categories of records under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40, including active investigative materials and information that could identify confidential sources.

The Columbia Police Department maintains a Public Data Initiative designed to provide accessible and transparent information to the public. This initiative includes access to a 2020 Internal Affairs Report, crime statistics, and data visualizations covering police activities in Columbia. The Office of Professional Standards also produces an annual report covering officer-involved shootings, use of force incidents, vehicle pursuits, officer-involved collisions, and misconduct complaints.

The Columbia Police Department FOIA request page allows online submission of public records requests for Columbia criminal records, incident reports, and other police documentation.

Columbia Municipal Court

The Columbia Municipal Court handles lower-level criminal matters within the city, including traffic violations, misdemeanor offenses, and city ordinance violations. The court is located at 811 Washington Street, Columbia, SC 29201, and can be reached at (803) 545-3150. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Municipal Court records for cases adjudicated in Columbia are maintained at the court and are accessible to the public through standard records request procedures.

For felony and General Sessions criminal cases originating in Columbia, records are maintained by the Richland County Clerk of Court. These cases involve arrests made by the Columbia Police Department where charges rise to the level of General Sessions Court jurisdiction. The Richland County Public Index provides online access to these court records as they are filed and updated through the court system.

Richland County Public Index for Columbia Records

The South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index for Richland County is accessible at publicindex.sccourts.org/richland/. This free tool searches all court cases filed in Richland County courts, including General Sessions cases originating from Columbia Police Department arrests. Name and case number searches return filing information, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. The Public Index is the most accessible method for locating Columbia criminal records that have progressed through the court system without visiting the courthouse in person.

The Richland County Sheriff's Department (RCSD) at rcsd.net is located at 5623 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC 29223, phone (803) 576-3000. The RCSD maintains records for incidents and arrests in unincorporated Richland County and operates the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. The detention center inmate search is available online at richlandcountysc.gov for checking current inmate status.

SLED and Statewide Records Covering Columbia

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division maintains statewide criminal history records that include arrests and convictions from the City of Columbia. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-120, law enforcement agencies are required to report criminal history data to SLED. SLED background checks are available through the CATCH system at catch.sled.sc.gov for $25 per check as established under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115. These checks include Columbia criminal records alongside all other South Carolina jurisdictions.

The SLED Sex Offender Registry at scor.sled.sc.gov provides free name and geographic searches for registrants in the Columbia area. The SC Courts case records search at sccourts.org provides statewide access to court filings that includes Richland County cases originating from Columbia. Expungement of qualifying Columbia criminal records is available under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-910. Juvenile records are sealed under S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-2010.

Richland County Criminal Records

Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, and county-level criminal records complement the city-level resources described on this page. The Richland County Clerk of Court, the Richland County Sheriff's Department, and the 5th Judicial Circuit all generate and maintain records covering criminal activity in the Columbia area. For detailed information about county-level resources and the Richland County Public Index, visit the Richland County criminal records page.