Aiken County Criminal Records
Aiken County criminal records are kept by the Clerk of Court and are accessible through both in-person requests and the statewide Public Index system. Located in the Central Savannah River Area, Aiken County has a well-organized records infrastructure that allows residents and researchers to search criminal court history for felony and misdemeanor cases. The Aiken County Sheriff's Office and the county Clerk of Court together form the foundation of criminal record-keeping in this part of South Carolina.
Aiken County Quick Facts
Aiken County Criminal Records at the Clerk of Court
The Aiken County Clerk of Court is the official custodian of criminal, civil, and family court records for the county. The office is located at 109 Park Avenue SE, Aiken SC 29801. Two main phone lines serve the office: (803) 642-1715 and (803) 642-1710. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Aiken County maintains distinct record sets for different court levels. General Sessions records cover felony cases. Common Pleas records address civil matters. Magistrate Court records handle misdemeanors and lower-level charges. Knowing which court handled a particular case helps researchers direct their request to the correct record set and avoid unnecessary delays.
Requesting records in person requires a valid government-issued photo ID. Mail requests must include a self-addressed stamped envelope. The fee for a records search when no specific case information is provided is $5.00. Copy fees are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document, plus copy fees. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30, the Clerk's office is required to respond to records requests within ten business days.
The Aiken County Public Index is the online portal for searching court records at no charge. Cases can be found by name, case number, or related parties. This tool gives a quick overview of case status and basic filing information before committing to a formal records request. The county's full government website is at aikencountysc.gov.
Aiken County Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Aiken County Sheriff's Office is headquartered at 420 Hampton Ave NE, Aiken SC 29801, and can be reached at (803) 642-1761. The Sheriff's mission is to serve and protect citizens and visitors of Aiken County with fairness, compassion, and respect. This commitment shapes how the office handles public records requests related to arrests and criminal activity.
The image below is sourced from the Aiken County Clerk of Court page, showing the county's official records facility.
This building houses the Clerk of Court, which maintains all Aiken County criminal court records including General Sessions filings.
When an arrest is made in Aiken County, a booking record is generated at the Aiken County Detention Center. The online inmate search tool on the county website allows anyone to look up current detainees by name or booking number. The search results include the charges filed, bond amounts, and upcoming court dates. This service is free and available around the clock. Bond hearings are held daily at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM at the Detention Center.
City-level arrests within Aiken's incorporated areas are handled by the Aiken Department of Public Safety, located at 251 Laurens St NW, Aiken SC 29801, phone (803) 642-7620. For arrests in North Augusta, the North Augusta Department of Public Safety at 444 East Buena Vista Ave, North Augusta SC 29841, phone (803) 279-2121, maintains its own arrest records. These city-level records are separate from county court records, though charges still flow into General Sessions for felony prosecution.
Note: Arrest records reflect charges at the time of booking and may not show final case outcomes. Always verify disposition through the Public Index or Clerk of Court.
SLED CATCH and Statewide Criminal History
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's CATCH portal at catch.sled.sc.gov provides statewide criminal history searches that include Aiken County records. CATCH aggregates data from all reporting agencies across the state, giving a more complete view than a single county search alone. The fee is $25.00 plus a $1.00 online processing charge, as set by S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115.
All law enforcement agencies in South Carolina, including the Aiken County Sheriff's Office and city public safety departments, are required under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-120 to report criminal arrest and disposition data to SLED. This reporting obligation ensures that the CATCH database reflects criminal history from across the state, not just what appears in a single county's court index.
SLED also hosts the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry, which is free to search. For individuals currently incarcerated in a state facility, the SCDC inmate search portal provides current custody status, projected release dates, and facility assignments. The SLED main website links to all of these resources.
The following image is from the Aiken County Sheriff's Office website, showing the 8th Circuit Solicitor's service area.
The Sheriff's Office and the 8th Circuit Solicitor together handle criminal enforcement and prosecution across the Aiken County area.
What Aiken County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal records from Aiken County courts document the full lifecycle of a criminal case. A General Sessions record includes the defendant's name and identifying information, the charges filed, the arresting agency, key dates such as arraignment and trial, and the final disposition. Disposition entries can reflect guilty pleas, trial verdicts, sentencing details including prison terms or probation, and dismissed or nolle prosequi entries when the Solicitor declines to proceed.
Magistrate Court records in Aiken County cover misdemeanor offenses and traffic violations. These cases move faster than General Sessions matters, and records may reflect fines, community service, suspended sentences, or dismissals. Magistrate records are also searchable through the Public Index.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-40, criminal records for cases that end in dismissal or acquittal may be subject to destruction. This statute protects individuals who were charged but not convicted from carrying a permanent public record of the charge. Researchers relying solely on arrest data should be aware that a charge appearing in a booking record may no longer be reflected in court records if the case was dismissed and destroyed.
Juvenile records in Aiken County are confidential under S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-2010 and are not available through public records channels. Only authorized parties may access juvenile court files.
Expungement in Aiken County
Expungement in Aiken County follows the statewide process established under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-910. Eligible individuals can petition to have qualifying criminal records cleared from public access. Once an expungement order is entered, the Clerk of Court, the Sheriff's Office, SLED, and other holding agencies are directed to seal or destroy the records. The record then disappears from public databases including the Public Index and the SLED CATCH system.
Eligibility depends on the charge type, the outcome, and the waiting period. First-offense nonviolent misdemeanors that ended in dismissal are often eligible immediately. Some first-time nonviolent felony convictions may qualify after completing all sentence requirements and observing a waiting period. Individuals who completed a conditional discharge program may also petition once the discharge period is over.
The expungement process begins at the Aiken County Clerk of Court. After the application is filed, it is reviewed by the Solicitor's Office. The Solicitor either consents or objects. A judge then issues a final ruling. Because the process involves multiple agencies and requires careful documentation, many applicants choose to work with a local attorney to navigate the steps. The full expungement statute is at scstatehouse.gov/code/t17c022.php.
Public Records Law and Aiken County Criminal Records Access
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq. gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records, including criminal court records held by the Aiken County Clerk of Court. Full FOIA statute language is at scstatehouse.gov/code/t30c004.php. The ten-business-day response deadline under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30 applies to all records requests submitted to county offices.
Certain records are exempt from disclosure under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40. Law enforcement investigative files, records that could compromise active investigations, and documents that would identify confidential sources fall within these exemptions. Court records sealed by judicial order are also withheld. When a request is denied in part or in full, the agency must provide a written explanation citing the applicable exemption.
For those needing court records across multiple South Carolina counties, the SC Courts case records search aggregates Public Index data statewide. The South Carolina Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services website lists individuals on supervision or with active pardon histories. These resources complement county-level searches for a more complete picture.
Note: Aiken County charges a $5.00 search fee when a requester cannot supply a specific case number or filing date, which is higher than many smaller counties.
Nearby Counties
Criminal records searches in counties neighboring Aiken may also be relevant depending on where charges were filed.