Florence County Criminal Records Search
Florence County criminal records are maintained across several local and state agencies, giving residents, attorneys, and researchers multiple avenues for access. The Florence County Clerk of Court serves as the official custodian for General Sessions criminal cases covering felonies and misdemeanors within the 12th Judicial Circuit. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division provides a statewide criminal history portal for broader searches beyond Florence County. Florence County's government reflects a strong public service orientation, with the county striving to be an exceptional place to live, work, and visit, and those values extend to maintaining transparent and accessible public records.
Florence County Quick Facts
Florence County Clerk of Court and Criminal Case Records
The Florence County Clerk of Court is the primary repository for criminal court records in the county. Doris Poulos O'Hara serves as Clerk of Court, with the office located at 180 N. Irby Street, Florence SC 29501. The main phone number is 843-665-3031. Office hours follow standard weekday business schedules, Monday through Friday.
The Clerk's office maintains records for three courts: the Court of Common Pleas, Family Court, and the Court of General Sessions. Criminal felony and misdemeanor cases flow through General Sessions, making that division the focal point for anyone researching criminal history in Florence County. Case files held by the Clerk document charges, court proceedings, verdicts, sentences, and case dispositions.
Online access is provided through the South Carolina Public Index. The Florence County Public Index is Circuit 12, County 21, and allows users to search case records by entering a case number, party name, or filing date. Users can also filter by court type to narrow results to General Sessions criminal matters. The Public Index is a free resource that provides case summaries, scheduled events, and basic filing information without requiring an in-person visit.
Court rosters for upcoming hearings are posted online, showing pending cases and scheduled dates. These rosters are useful for attorneys, defendants, and family members tracking the progress of active cases. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq., members of the public have the right to inspect and copy court records maintained by the Clerk's office. Written requests submitted by mail are accepted, and responses must be provided within the timeframe required by state law.
Florence County Sheriff's Office and Arrest Records
The Florence County Sheriff's Office is located at 6719 Friendfield Road, Effingham SC 29541, with a main phone number of 843-665-2121. The Records Division is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. To obtain records from the Sheriff's Office, individuals must complete a records request form, present valid identification, and pay any applicable fees.
The Sheriff's Office Detention Center maintains an online database of current inmates that is updated daily. This database displays charges, bond amounts, and basic booking information for individuals currently in custody. It is a practical first step for anyone trying to determine whether a specific individual has been recently arrested and booked into the Florence County jail.
The following image is sourced from the Florence County Government website.
The Florence County Sheriff's Office generates arrest records that become part of the General Sessions criminal case files maintained by the Clerk of Court.
Arrest records created by the Sheriff's Office document the individual's name, date of birth, charges, arresting agency, and booking information. These records reflect an arrest and do not indicate guilt. Many arrests result in charges that are later reduced, dismissed, or resolved through plea agreements. Researchers are advised to verify current case status through the Public Index or by contacting the Clerk of Court directly. Certain law enforcement records may be partially withheld under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40 when disclosure could compromise an active investigation.
The City of Florence operates a separate Municipal Court that handles traffic citations, ordinance violations, and court scheduling for cases arising within city limits. Municipal Court records are maintained by the Florence Municipal Court and are distinct from the county-level General Sessions records held by the Clerk of Court. Individuals with cases in Florence Municipal Court should contact that court directly for access procedures.
SLED CATCH: Statewide Florence County Criminal History
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division operates the CATCH portal at catch.sled.sc.gov. CATCH stands for Comprehensive ATM Criminal History, and the system consolidates criminal history data reported by all law enforcement agencies in the state, including those in Florence County. A SLED criminal history search returns results based on name and captures arrests, charges, and dispositions from across South Carolina rather than a single county.
The fee for a SLED CATCH search is $25.00, with an additional $1.00 online processing fee. This fee structure is established by S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-120, all law enforcement agencies in South Carolina are required to report criminal data to SLED, which ensures that the CATCH database reflects activity from Florence County as well as every other jurisdiction in the state.
SLED also maintains the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry, which is a free public resource listing individuals who are required to register in the state. The registry can be searched by name, county, city, or ZIP code. For individuals currently incarcerated in state prison facilities, the South Carolina Department of Corrections inmate search at public.doc.state.sc.us/scdc-public provides current and historical inmate records statewide. The SLED main website provides additional guidance on available records services.
What Florence County Criminal Records Include
Florence County criminal records maintained by the Clerk of Court typically include the defendant's full name, date of birth, case number, the charges filed, and the court division handling the matter. General Sessions records address felony cases. Magistrate Court handles misdemeanor charges and lower-level offenses. Each case file documents the progression of the case, including appearances, motions, orders, and the final disposition.
Case outcomes documented in Florence County criminal records include guilty pleas, jury verdicts, sentences imposed, probation conditions, fines, and dismissals. When a case is dismissed or a defendant is found not guilty, those records may be subject to destruction or sealing under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-40, which governs how records of non-convictions are handled in South Carolina. This protects individuals from indefinitely carrying the burden of an arrest that did not result in a conviction.
Juvenile criminal records in Florence County are treated with special confidentiality protections. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-2010, juvenile records are not available to the general public. Access is limited to the juvenile, parents or legal guardians, defense counsel, prosecutors, and the courts involved in the case. These confidentiality rules reflect South Carolina's policy of protecting rehabilitation opportunities for young people involved in the justice system.
Expungement of Florence County Criminal Records
South Carolina law provides a mechanism for eligible individuals to have certain criminal records removed from public view through expungement. The expungement process in South Carolina is governed primarily by S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-910. A successful expungement directs the Clerk of Court, the Sheriff's Office, SLED, and other relevant agencies to destroy or seal the designated records. Once expunged, the record no longer appears in standard public searches, including the Florence County Public Index and the SLED CATCH portal.
Eligibility for expungement depends on several factors, including the nature of the charge, the outcome of the case, and how much time has passed since the case concluded. First-time misdemeanor charges that were dismissed or resulted in a not-guilty verdict are frequently eligible. Some first-time nonviolent felony convictions may qualify after the individual has completed all sentence requirements and satisfied the applicable waiting period. Charges that were resolved through conditional discharge programs may also be expunged once the conditions have been fulfilled.
The expungement process in Florence County begins with the Clerk of Court. After an application is filed, the Clerk coordinates review across the relevant agencies, including the 12th Circuit Solicitor's Office. The Solicitor's Office reviews the application and either approves or objects. A judge then makes the final determination. Individuals considering expungement are encouraged to consult with a local attorney who is familiar with Florence County court procedures. Full text of the expungement statute is available at scstatehouse.gov/code/t17c022.php.
Florence County Public Records Law and Access Rights
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act, found at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq. and viewable at scstatehouse.gov/code/t30c004.php, gives the public the right to inspect and copy records held by government agencies, including the Florence County Clerk of Court and Sheriff's Office. This right applies broadly to criminal court records that are not otherwise sealed, expunged, or covered by a recognized exemption.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30, agencies must respond to records requests within ten business days of receiving a written request. If an agency needs additional time to gather records, it must provide written notice explaining the reason for the delay. Agencies cannot deny access to records based solely on the identity of the requester. Responses may be partial if only portions of a document fall under a recognized exemption.
Exemptions from disclosure are set out in S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40. Law enforcement may withhold records when disclosure would endanger an ongoing investigation, reveal the identity of a confidential informant, or disclose security procedures. Court records sealed by judicial order are also exempt. Requesters who believe an agency has improperly withheld records may seek judicial review of the agency's decision.
The SC Courts case records search portal offers an additional statewide gateway to court records, including those from Florence County. Title 23 of the South Carolina Code, which governs law enforcement agencies and SLED, is available at scstatehouse.gov/code/t23c003.php.
Nearby Counties
Looking for criminal records in neighboring counties? The following counties border or are near Florence County.