Georgetown County Criminal Records and Court Cases
Georgetown County criminal records are held across multiple courts and agencies within the 15th Judicial Circuit. The Clerk of Court maintains General Sessions records covering felony and misdemeanor cases, while six Magistrate Courts across the county handle lower-level offenses and traffic matters. Researchers seeking Georgetown County criminal records can access the state's Public Index online at no cost, or submit a formal request to the Clerk's office in Georgetown. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division also offers a statewide criminal history search that captures activity originating in Georgetown County.
Georgetown County Quick Facts
Georgetown County Clerk of Court: Criminal Records Custodian
The Georgetown County Clerk of Court provides administrative support for the county's judicial system and serves as the official keeper of criminal court records. The Clerk's office maintains records for the Court of Common Pleas, Family Court, and the Court of General Sessions. General Sessions is the court through which all felony criminal charges and certain misdemeanors in Georgetown County are processed. The Solicitor represents the state in General Sessions proceedings, while the defendant is represented by private or public defense counsel.
The Clerk's office can be contacted through email for inquiries related to specific court divisions, including Common Pleas, Family Court, General Sessions, and jury duty. Georgetown County's court system also includes a Master-in-Equity court, which handles relatively quick, inexpensive, non-jury civil matters. The Probate Court manages estate administration, marriage licenses, guardianships, and mental health commitments. While these courts do not handle criminal cases, they may be relevant for researchers tracing civil matters related to criminal cases.
Online case access is available through the Georgetown County Public Index, which is Circuit 15, County 22. Users can search by party name, case number, or filing date. The Public Index is a free resource that returns case summaries, scheduled events, and basic filing information. It is updated regularly and reflects both active and disposed cases within Georgetown County courts.
Records maintained by the Clerk include filings of civil cases, judgments, Lis Pendens notices, arbitration actions, attachments, and records of motion hearings and jury proceedings. For General Sessions criminal matters, the Clerk's records document charges, court appearances, motions, verdicts, and sentences. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq., these records are generally available to the public unless sealed by court order or covered by a statutory exemption.
Georgetown County Court Structure and Criminal Jurisdiction
Georgetown County operates within the 15th Judicial Circuit and its court system spans several venues. The Court of General Sessions handles felony criminal prosecutions and is the court most directly associated with Georgetown County criminal records of a serious nature. Common Pleas handles civil disputes, including automobile accidents, medical malpractice, personal injury claims, and appeals from lower courts. Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction over domestic disputes, child custody matters, and related family proceedings.
Six Magistrate Courts operate across Georgetown County, including a Central Traffic Court. Magistrate Courts handle misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, and lower-level criminal matters that do not rise to the felony level. Records from Magistrate Courts are maintained locally and may not be reflected in the same Public Index system as General Sessions records. Researchers who need records from a specific Magistrate Court should contact that court directly.
The following image is sourced from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety website.
State-level agencies like the South Carolina Department of Public Safety support Georgetown County criminal records access through coordinated data sharing and statewide reporting requirements.
The Master-in-Equity court in Georgetown County provides an alternative for resolving certain civil matters outside the regular trial court process. While not directly involved in criminal cases, its proceedings may intersect with matters that arise from criminal activity, such as property disputes or forfeiture actions. Probate Court records related to guardianships or mental health commitments may also be relevant in some criminal background research contexts, though those records are governed by separate confidentiality rules.
SLED CATCH and Georgetown County Criminal History
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division operates the CATCH portal at catch.sled.sc.gov. This statewide system aggregates criminal history records reported by law enforcement agencies across all South Carolina counties, including Georgetown County. A CATCH search returns results tied to a specific individual's name and includes arrests, charges, and dispositions reported from across the state, not just Georgetown County.
The cost of a SLED CATCH name-based search is $25.00, plus a $1.00 online processing fee, as set by S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115. Reporting by local agencies is mandatory under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-120, which requires all South Carolina law enforcement agencies to submit criminal data to SLED. This requirement helps ensure completeness of the CATCH database for researchers conducting Georgetown County criminal history inquiries.
SLED also maintains the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry, a free searchable database of individuals required to register in the state. The South Carolina Department of Corrections inmate search at public.doc.state.sc.us/scdc-public provides current and historical records of individuals incarcerated in state facilities. The SLED main website offers guidance on all available records services, including background check options for individuals and organizations.
Georgetown County Criminal Records: Contents and Limitations
Georgetown County criminal records maintained in General Sessions typically include the defendant's full name, date of birth, the case number assigned by the Clerk, the charges as filed by the Solicitor, and each court event in the case history. Records reflect the current status of a case, whether pending, disposed, or under appeal. Case outcomes documented in these records include guilty pleas, jury verdicts, sentences, probation terms, fines, and dismissals.
When a case results in a dismissal or acquittal, the record may be subject to destruction under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-40. This statute governs how South Carolina handles records from cases that did not result in a conviction. The purpose is to prevent individuals from being permanently associated with charges that were not proven. Researchers should be aware that records for dismissed or acquitted cases may be removed from public systems following a court order or upon application by the affected individual.
Juvenile records in Georgetown County are confidential under S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-2010. These records are not available to the general public and can only be accessed by the juvenile, parents or guardians, defense counsel, the Solicitor, and authorized courts. Confidentiality protections for juvenile records are designed to support rehabilitation by limiting the long-term impact of youthful mistakes on a person's public record.
Some older Georgetown County criminal records may exist only in paper format and may require an in-person visit to the Clerk of Court to inspect. The Clerk's office can advise on the availability of specific records and any applicable fees. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30, the Clerk must respond to written records requests within ten business days.
Expungement of Georgetown County Criminal Records
Individuals with eligible criminal records in Georgetown County may apply to have those records expunged under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-910. Expungement removes or seals a criminal record from public access, directing the Clerk of Court, the arresting agency, SLED, and other entities to destroy or seal the designated files. After expungement, the record no longer appears in the Georgetown County Public Index or in the SLED CATCH results for that individual.
Eligibility for expungement turns on factors including the nature of the charge, the case outcome, and the time elapsed since disposition. First-time misdemeanor dismissals and acquittals are frequently eligible. Conditional discharge dispositions may also qualify for expungement once the prescribed conditions have been met. Certain first-time nonviolent felony convictions may be eligible after the defendant has completed the full sentence and a required waiting period.
The expungement process begins with the Clerk of Court in Georgetown County. The application is reviewed by the 15th Circuit Solicitor's Office, which either consents or objects. A judge then issues the final ruling. Those pursuing expungement are encouraged to consult with an attorney who practices in Georgetown County courts. The full expungement statute is available at scstatehouse.gov/code/t17c022.php, and the FOIA framework governing records access is available at scstatehouse.gov/code/t30c004.php.
Accessing Georgetown County Court Records Online
The SC Courts case records search portal offers a statewide entry point for accessing court case information, including Georgetown County records. The portal links to the Public Index for each county and provides guidance on navigating case records. Title 23 of the South Carolina Code, which governs SLED and law enforcement agencies, is available at scstatehouse.gov/code/t23c003.php.
Georgetown County's government website at georgetowncountysc.org provides links to county offices and departments, including the Clerk of Court. Visiting the county website is a good starting point for confirming current office hours, contact information, and any updated procedures for records requests. In-person visits to the Clerk of Court at the Georgetown County Courthouse provide direct access to case files, with the Clerk available to assist with locating specific records.
Nearby Counties
Looking for criminal records in neighboring counties? The following counties border or are near Georgetown County.