Lexington County Criminal Records Access
Lexington County criminal records are maintained by the Clerk of Court and accessible through local, state, and online channels. Residents, attorneys, researchers, and other interested parties can search these records to review criminal case histories filed within the county. The Lexington County Clerk of Court handles civil actions and criminal felonies through the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions, while the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division provides broader statewide criminal history searches for anyone needing a complete picture beyond county-level filings.
Lexington County Quick Facts
Lexington County Criminal Records at the Clerk of Court
The Lexington County Clerk of Court is a vital administrative office in the judicial system of South Carolina. Lisa M. Comer serves as Clerk of Court, with the office located at 205 East Main Street Suite 128, Lexington SC 29072. She can be reached by email at lcomer@lexingtoncounty.sc.gov, by phone at (803) 785-8212, by fax at (803) 785-2215, or via TTY at (803) 785-2860. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Clerk of Court maintains records for the Courts of Appeals and Common Pleas. Criminal felony matters are handled through the Court of Common Pleas, which makes the Clerk's office the primary repository for felony criminal records in Lexington County. Court records can be searched online through the South Carolina Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/lexington, which allows name and case-number searches at no charge. The Common Pleas division can be reached at (803) 785-8398, and the Docket Clerk at (803) 785-8583.
Online data services are available through the Clerk's office for parties who need regular access to Lexington County case records. The Clerk also coordinates with other key offices in the county court system. Traffic Court can be reached at (803) 785-2518, Bond Court at (803) 785-8471, the Solicitor's Office at (803) 785-8352, Pre-Trial Intervention at (803) 785-8197, and the Public Defender at (803) 957-8873. These numbers are useful when following a case through the various stages of the criminal justice process in Lexington County.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq., the public has a legal right to inspect and copy criminal court records held by the Clerk's office. Requests submitted in person during office hours are generally the fastest route to specific documents. The Clerk's office complies with all FOIA requirements, including the ten-business-day response mandate set out in S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30(B).
Lexington County Sheriff and Arrest Records
Sheriff Jay Koon leads the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, one of the larger sheriff's offices in South Carolina. The main office is located at PO Box 639, Lexington SC 29071-0639, with a primary phone number of (803) 785-2559. The Detention Center can be reached at (803) 785-2740. An additional departmental number is (803) 785-8230. The Sheriff's department website is available at lexingtonscsheriff.com.
Recent departmental news has included an LCSD lieutenant graduating from the FBI National Academy, the 2026 Lexington County Sheriff's Foundation Award Banquet, and various departmental promotions and transfers. These activities reflect an office that maintains strong professional development standards alongside its core law enforcement responsibilities.
Arrest records generated by the Sheriff's Department are incorporated into the Clerk of Court's case files once formal charges are filed. Arrest records reflect that an individual was taken into custody and formally charged. They do not represent a finding of guilt. Researchers should always review the full case history through the Public Index to determine how the case was ultimately resolved.
The image below is from the SLED CATCH portal, which consolidates criminal history data from the Lexington County Sheriff's Department and all other South Carolina law enforcement agencies.
The Sheriff's Department plays a central role in generating the arrest records that flow into the Lexington County criminal court system.
SLED CATCH and Statewide Criminal History for Lexington County
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division operates the CATCH portal at catch.sled.sc.gov. This statewide system aggregates criminal history information reported by all South Carolina law enforcement agencies, including Lexington County. CATCH is the most comprehensive option for reviewing an individual's full criminal record across the state rather than limiting the search to a single county's records.
S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-120 requires all law enforcement agencies in South Carolina to report criminal data to SLED, ensuring the CATCH database stays current and complete. The fee for a SLED criminal history search is $25.00 under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115, with an additional $1.00 fee for online submissions. The South Carolina Sex Offender Registry is also maintained by SLED and is free to search for any member of the public. The SCDC inmate search covers individuals serving sentences in state correctional facilities.
What Lexington County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal records from Lexington County courts typically include the defendant's full name, date of birth, case number, the specific charges filed, and the court handling the matter. General Sessions records address felony charges. Magistrate Court records cover misdemeanors and minor traffic violations. Each case file reflects the current status of the case, including whether it is pending, resolved, or appealed to a higher court.
Dispositions documented in Lexington County criminal records include guilty pleas, jury verdicts, sentences, fines, probation terms, and dismissals. Cases that end in dismissal or acquittal may be subject to record destruction under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-40. That statute provides a pathway to protect individuals from the enduring consequences of charges that did not result in conviction. Juvenile records are handled separately under S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-2010, which makes them confidential and inaccessible through standard public channels.
Note: Older Lexington County case records not yet digitized may require an in-person visit to the Clerk of Court to review.
Expungement of Lexington County Criminal Records
South Carolina's expungement process, governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-910, allows eligible individuals to have qualifying criminal records removed from public view. When an expungement order is granted, the Lexington County Clerk of Court, the Sheriff's Department, SLED, and other relevant agencies are directed to seal or destroy the specified records. Once expunged, those records are no longer visible through the Public Index, the SLED CATCH portal, or other standard public resources.
Eligibility for expungement in Lexington County depends on the nature of the charge, the outcome, and the elapsed time since resolution. First-offense misdemeanors dismissed or resulting in acquittal are frequently eligible. Certain first-time nonviolent felony convictions may qualify after all sentence requirements are met and the statutory waiting period has passed. Pre-Trial Intervention completions, reachable at (803) 785-8197, may also open the door to expungement for some offenders. The expungement process begins at the Clerk of Court's office and requires coordination with the Solicitor's Office at (803) 785-8352 before a judge issues a final order. Details on the expungement statute are at scstatehouse.gov/code/t17c022.php.
Lexington County Criminal Records and Public Records Law
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 establishes the public's right to access government-held records, including most criminal court records maintained by the Lexington County Clerk of Court. The full FOIA text is at scstatehouse.gov/code/t30c004.php. Certain records are exempt under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40, including those that could endanger an ongoing investigation or reveal a confidential source. Court records sealed by a judge are also withheld from public access.
Additional statewide resources are available through SLED and the SC Courts case records search. Title 23 statutes governing law enforcement reporting requirements appear at scstatehouse.gov/code/t23c003.php.
Nearby Counties
Looking for criminal records in neighboring counties? The following counties border or are near Lexington County.