Conway Criminal Records Search

Conway criminal records are maintained by the Conway Police Department, Conway Municipal Court, and the Horry County judicial system. As the county seat of Horry County, Conway is home to the Horry County Courthouse, where General Sessions Court handles felony criminal cases originating in the city and surrounding area. Searching Conway criminal records can surface arrest documentation, court case filings, charge dispositions, and related criminal history information. This page covers the official agencies, online tools, and request procedures available for locating criminal records tied to Conway, South Carolina.

Conway Police Department Criminal Records

The Conway Police Department serves as the primary law enforcement agency within the city limits. Chief Dale Long leads the department, with Operations Commander Captain Tammy Carter overseeing day-to-day field operations. The department's mission centers on community partnership: "The City of Conway Police Department, enjoined in a partnership with the community it serves, shall provide efficient and professional police services in a fair and impartial manner, in order to reduce crime and maintain an excellent quality of life for all citizens."

Incident reports and arrest records generated by Conway Police are public documents subject to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10. Requests for these records should be directed to the department. The agency has 10 business days to acknowledge a request and respond, per § 30-4-30. Some records may be withheld under the exemptions outlined in § 30-4-40, including active investigation files or information that could jeopardize ongoing proceedings.

For non-emergency inquiries, citizens can contact the department at (843) 248-1790 and ask to speak with the Watch Commander. Complaints about officer conduct follow the same contact path.

The photo below is sourced from conwaysc.gov and shows the Conway Police Department and related SLED CATCH portal resources for criminal records access.

The Conway Police Department coordinates with the SLED CATCH system for statewide criminal history reporting, allowing records originating in Conway to appear in state-level searches.

Horry County Court Records for Conway

Because Conway is the county seat of Horry County, the Horry County Courthouse sits in the city at 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. The Horry County Clerk of Court can be reached at (843) 915-5080. This office serves as custodian for Circuit Court criminal filings, Family Court proceedings, and related case documents covering all of Horry County, including cases arising from Conway.

Felony criminal cases charged in Conway are prosecuted in Horry County General Sessions Court. Misdemeanor and traffic matters are generally handled through Conway Municipal Court or Horry County Magistrate Court, depending on the nature of the charge. Court records from these proceedings become part of the publicly accessible case index maintained by the South Carolina Judicial Department.

The free online tool for searching these records is the SC Public Index for Horry County, accessible through the SC Judicial Branch portal at sccourts.org. Searches can be run by name, case number, or filing date, and results include charge descriptions, case status, and court dates.

Note: Public Index results reflect court filings only and do not show the full text of records or sealed case information under statutes such as § 63-19-2010 for juvenile matters.

Horry County Sheriff and Detention Records

The Horry County Sheriff's Office operates the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, which serves as the primary jail facility for Horry County, including individuals arrested in Conway. The Sheriff's Office handles warrant filing and service, registered sex offender tracking, and court security functions that affect how criminal records are generated and maintained at the county level.

Arrest bookings from Conway Police may result in detention at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center. Booking information, including charge details, arresting agency, and bond status, is publicly available and updated on a regular basis through the Horry County Sheriff's website.

Sex offender registration records for individuals with a Horry County address can be searched through the SC Sex Offender Registry maintained by SLED. This statewide registry reflects current registration status and is separate from criminal history records.

Conway Community Safety and Crime Prevention

The Conway Police Department runs several active community programs that complement its law enforcement record-keeping functions. The Neighborhood Watch Program is coordinated by Officer Tyres Nesmith, who can be reached at (843) 248-1790. The program connects residents with officers to address local concerns and improve information sharing about criminal activity in specific neighborhoods.

Camp G.R.E.A.T. is a summer program for K-5 students focused on gang resistance education. The department also operates a Merchant Watch Group for local business owners and a Senior Watch Program for residents 60 and older, which includes an option for home visits by officers.

The Internet Purchase Exchange Location at 1600 Ninth Ave is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm, and operates under continuous video surveillance. This facility offers a safe, monitored space for in-person transactions arranged online. Medication Drop Boxes are available 24 hours a day for disposal of unused prescriptions, reducing the potential for drug-related offenses in the community.

Note: Community program participation does not affect the content of criminal records held by the Conway Police Department or Horry County courts.

Statewide Criminal History Through SLED

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division offers a statewide criminal history search through the SLED CATCH system. A CATCH search covers arrests and dispositions from law enforcement agencies across South Carolina, including the Conway Police Department and Horry County Sheriff's Office. The fee for a CATCH search is $25 per individual, established under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115.

A CATCH result reflects the statewide record compiled from contributing agencies. It may include arrests that never resulted in conviction, pending charges, and older offenses. Records that have been expunged under § 17-22-910 are removed from the SLED database and will not appear in CATCH results once the expungement process is complete.

SLED also maintains the SLED main portal, which provides access to additional public safety resources, agency information, and links to other state record systems. For inmate status at South Carolina correctional facilities, the SC Department of Corrections inmate search covers individuals sentenced to state prison.

Requesting Conway Criminal Records by FOIA

Any person may submit a FOIA request for Conway criminal records under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10, which establishes the public's right to access government-held documents. Requests directed to the Conway Police Department should include enough identifying information to locate the specific records sought, such as name, date of arrest, case number, or incident date.

Agencies covered by South Carolina FOIA must respond within 10 business days of receiving a written request, as required by § 30-4-30. The response may provide the records, deny the request with a written explanation, or notify the requester that additional time is needed. Certain categories of records are exempt from disclosure under § 30-4-40, including records related to ongoing investigations, personal privacy matters, and information compiled for law enforcement purposes where release could harm a proceeding.

For court records held by the Horry County Clerk of Court at 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway, SC 29526, requests can also be submitted by phone at (843) 915-5080 or in person during business hours. Copies of court records may be obtained for a per-page fee set by the court.

• Conway Police Department: (843) 248-1790, call for Watch Commander
• Horry County Clerk of Court: (843) 915-5080, 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway
• SC Public Index - Horry County: publicindex.sccourts.org/horry/
• SLED CATCH statewide search: sled.sc.gov/CATCH/ ($25 fee)
• SC Sex Offender Registry: sled.sc.gov/SORT/
• SC Department of Corrections inmate search: scdc.state.sc.us