Marlboro County Criminal Records Search
Marlboro County criminal records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Bennettsville and available through both local offices and statewide online portals. Residents, attorneys, journalists, and other interested parties can search these records to review criminal case histories filed within this South Carolina county. The Marlboro County Clerk of Court is the official custodian for General Sessions criminal cases, while the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division offers comprehensive statewide criminal history searches for individuals with records spanning more than one county.
Marlboro County Quick Facts
Marlboro County Criminal Records at the Clerk of Court
The function of the Clerk of Courts Office in Marlboro County is to provide administrative support, maintain court records, and support the information needs of the judicial system. Marquita McLain serves as Clerk of Court and can be reached by email at mmclain@marlborocounty.sc.gov. The mailing address is PO Drawer 996, Bennettsville SC 29512-0996. The physical office is located at Courthouse Square, Bennettsville SC 29512. Phone numbers for the office are (843) 479-5615 and (843) 897-0277. The fax number is (843) 479-5653.
The Clerk's office handles all General Sessions criminal court records in Marlboro County. Every felony charge processed in the county passes through this office. The Clerk receives criminal warrants, transmits case files to the Solicitor's office, administers bonds, and manages jury functions. These responsibilities make the Clerk of Court the central repository for felony criminal records in Marlboro County.
Online access to Marlboro County criminal court records is available through the South Carolina Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/marlboro. Searches can be conducted by defendant name or case number at no cost. The Public Index is the most convenient starting point for researching specific cases before contacting the Clerk's office for physical documents.
Copy fees at the Marlboro County Clerk of Court are 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per document plus per-page copy charges. These fees apply to most document requests submitted in person or by mail. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30(B), the office must respond to written requests within ten business days. South Carolina's FOIA statute at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq. governs access to these records.
Marlboro County Sheriff and Arrest Records
Sheriff Larry McNeil leads the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office, located at 105 E. Main Street (1 Sheriff's Drive) in Bennettsville. The mailing address is PO Box 577, Bennettsville SC 29512. The main phone number is (843) 479-5605, and the fax is (803) 914-2213. Warrant inquiries can be handled in person at the Sheriff's Office. The Records Division maintains an active warrant database for Marlboro County.
When deputies make an arrest, a record is created that includes the individual's name, the charges filed, the arresting agency, and the date. These records are later incorporated into the Clerk of Court's General Sessions files once formal charges are lodged. Arrest records reflect that a person was taken into custody and charged, not that guilt was established. Researchers should always verify case outcomes through the Public Index or directly with the Clerk's office to understand how a given case was ultimately resolved.
The following image is sourced from SLED, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which provides oversight and criminal history data for Marlboro County and all other South Carolina counties.
SLED plays a central role in collecting and distributing criminal records data from Marlboro County and every other jurisdiction in the state.
Some arrest records held by the Sheriff's Office may be partially exempt from public disclosure under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40 when releasing them could compromise an active investigation. Court records at the Clerk of Court that have been finalized remain publicly accessible under FOIA.
Marlboro County Detention Center
The Marlboro County Detention Center is led by Warden Travis Bragg. The facility is located at 253 Throop St, Bennettsville SC 29512. The Detention Center can be reached at (854) 228-2046. The facility holds individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial as well as those serving shorter sentences following conviction in Marlboro County courts.
Detention Center records, including current inmate rosters, may be available through a public records request. Families of individuals held at the Detention Center should contact the facility directly at the number above for information on visitation procedures, inmate status, and commissary options.
SLED CATCH and Statewide Criminal History for Marlboro County
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's CATCH portal at catch.sled.sc.gov aggregates criminal history data reported by all law enforcement agencies in South Carolina, including Marlboro County. CATCH is the most thorough statewide resource for reviewing an individual's complete South Carolina criminal history rather than records limited to a single county. S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-120 requires all agencies in the state to report criminal data to SLED, ensuring CATCH remains current and comprehensive. The search fee is $25.00 under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115, with an additional $1.00 online processing charge.
The South Carolina Sex Offender Registry is maintained by SLED as a free public resource. The SCDC inmate search is available for individuals currently or previously incarcerated in state correctional facilities. These tools complement the Marlboro County Public Index for a complete picture of an individual's criminal history in South Carolina.
What Marlboro County Criminal Records Include
Criminal records from Marlboro County courts 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 cover felony charges. Magistrate Court records address misdemeanors and traffic matters. Each file reflects the current status of the case, including pending, disposed, or appealed designations.
Case outcomes documented in Marlboro County criminal records include guilty pleas, jury verdicts, sentences, fines, probation terms, and dismissals. Cases that result in dismissal or acquittal may be eligible for record destruction under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-40. Juvenile records are treated separately under S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-2010, which makes them confidential and accessible only to the juvenile, parents, legal counsel, and the court.
Note: Older Marlboro County case files that predate computer indexing may require an in-person visit to the Clerk of Court for review.
Expungement of Marlboro County Criminal Records
South Carolina's expungement statute at S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-910 provides a pathway for eligible individuals to remove qualifying criminal records from public access. When a Marlboro County court grants an expungement, the Clerk of Court, the Sheriff's Office, SLED, and other relevant agencies are directed to seal or destroy the specified records. Following expungement, those records no longer appear in the Public Index, the CATCH portal, or standard public searches.
Eligibility for expungement in Marlboro County depends on the nature of the charge, the case outcome, and the time elapsed since resolution. First-offense misdemeanors dismissed or resolved in acquittal are frequently eligible. Certain first-time nonviolent felony convictions may qualify after satisfying all sentence requirements and the statutory waiting period. The process begins at the Clerk of Court's office and requires coordination with the 4th Circuit Solicitor. A Circuit Court judge makes the final determination. Full details on South Carolina's expungement statute are available at scstatehouse.gov/code/t17c022.php. Additional Title 23 statutes are at scstatehouse.gov/code/t23c003.php.
Marlboro 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 held by the Marlboro County Clerk of Court. The full FOIA text is at scstatehouse.gov/code/t30c004.php. Exemptions apply under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40, covering active investigation files and records sealed by court order. The Clerk's office will provide partial disclosures when portions of a document are exempt but others are not.
Additional statewide resources include SLED and the SC Courts case records search, which offer guidance on accessing criminal records across all 46 South Carolina counties.
Nearby Counties
Looking for criminal records in neighboring counties? The following counties border or are near Marlboro County.