Newberry County Criminal Records and Court History
Newberry County criminal records are maintained by the Clerk of Court and accessible through the county courthouse and several online state systems. Residents, attorneys, researchers, and other interested parties can search these records to review criminal case histories filed within this South Carolina county. The Newberry County Clerk of Court is the official custodian for Circuit and Family Court records, while the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division offers comprehensive statewide criminal history searches for individuals whose records span multiple counties or time periods.
Newberry County Quick Facts
Newberry County Criminal Records at the Clerk of Court
Elizabeth P. Folk serves as Clerk of Court for Newberry County and is responsible for all support functions necessary for the operation of the Circuit and Family Courts. Beth Folk began working for the Clerk's Office in October 1977 and was elected to the office in November 2016, taking office on January 1, 2017. She brings over 45 years of experience to the role. The office is located at the Newberry County Courthouse, 1226 College Street, Newberry SC 29108, with a mailing address of PO Drawer 10. She can be reached by email at bfolk@newberrycounty.gov, by phone at (803) 321-2110, or by fax at (803) 321-2111. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Documents can be recorded between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM.
The Clerk of Court maintains all General Sessions and Family Court records for Newberry County. Every felony charge processed in the county passes through the General Sessions division of the Clerk's office. The Clerk receives criminal warrants, transmits case files to the Solicitor's office, manages bonds, and administers jury functions. These responsibilities make the Clerk of Court the central repository for criminal court records in Newberry County.
Online access to Newberry County court records is available through the South Carolina Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/newberry. Court rosters for upcoming hearings are posted at the Newberry County Court Rosters page. These free online tools allow searches by defendant name or case number and are the most accessible entry point for locating case information before contacting the Clerk's office directly. Document copy fees are $0.35 per page. Real estate records are available during standard office hours.
Important scam warning: An ongoing fraud scheme has involved individuals calling residents and falsely claiming to be from the Clerk's office to demand payment for jury duty. The Newberry County Clerk of Court does not request payment over the phone. If you receive such a call, report it to the Sheriff's Office. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30(B), the Clerk's office must respond to written public records requests within ten business days.
Newberry County Sheriff and Arrest Records
Sheriff Lee Foster leads the Newberry County Sheriff's Office. His email is lfoster@ncso.sc.gov. The office is located at 550 Wilson Road, Newberry SC 29108. The main phone is (803) 321-2211. The Detention Center is located at 3239 Louis Rich Road, Newberry SC 29108, and can be reached at (803) 321-2141.
The Sheriff's Office has a strong divisional structure. Major Garrett Lominack commands Patrol operations at (803) 405-7711. Captain Michael Stribble leads Investigations at (803) 405-7709. Captain Daniel Floyd oversees the Jail at (803) 405-7750. Lieutenant Deanna Wilbanks manages Warrants at (803) 405-7706. The Sheriff's Office also participates in the COPS Program, which is a community-oriented policing initiative. More information is available through the Sheriff's website at newberrycounty.gov/sheriffs-office.
When deputies make an arrest, a record is created that includes the individual's name, the charges, the arresting agency, and the date of the arrest. 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. They do not represent a finding of guilt. Researchers should always review the full case outcome through the Public Index to understand the final disposition of any Newberry County criminal case.
The following image is sourced from the Newberry County Sheriff's Office.
The Sheriff's Office is the originating source of most arrest-related entries that later appear in Newberry County criminal court records.
SLED CATCH and Statewide Criminal History for Newberry County
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division operates the CATCH portal at catch.sled.sc.gov. CATCH aggregates criminal history data reported by all South Carolina law enforcement agencies, including Newberry County. It is the most comprehensive tool for reviewing an individual's full statewide criminal record. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-120, all agencies must report criminal data to SLED. The fee for a SLED criminal history search is $25.00 under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115, plus $1.00 for online submissions.
SLED also maintains the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry as a free public resource. The SCDC inmate search covers individuals currently or formerly incarcerated in South Carolina state correctional facilities.
What Newberry County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal records from Newberry County courts 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 charges. Magistrate Court handles misdemeanors and minor traffic violations. Each case file reflects current status, including pending, disposed, or appealed designations. Case outcomes documented in Newberry County criminal records include guilty pleas, jury verdicts, sentences, fines, probation terms, and dismissals.
Cases that result in dismissal or acquittal may qualify for record destruction under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-40, which governs how non-conviction records are handled and protects individuals from the lasting effects of charges that did not result in a conviction. Juvenile records in Newberry County are confidential under S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-2010. They are accessible only to the juvenile, parents or guardians, legal counsel, and the court, and do not appear in standard public records searches.
Note: Some older Newberry County case files not yet digitized may require an in-person visit to the Clerk of Court for access.
Expungement of Newberry County Criminal Records
South Carolina's expungement statute at S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-910 allows eligible individuals to have qualifying criminal records removed from public access. When a Newberry 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 designated records. After expungement, those records no longer appear in the Public Index, the CATCH portal, or other public searches.
Eligibility in Newberry County depends on the charge type, the case outcome, and the time elapsed since resolution. First-offense misdemeanors dismissed or resolved in acquittal are often 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 8th Circuit Solicitor before a judge issues a final ruling. Full statute details are at scstatehouse.gov/code/t17c022.php.
Newberry County Criminal Records and Public Records Law
South Carolina's FOIA 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 Newberry County Clerk of Court. The full FOIA text is at scstatehouse.gov/code/t30c004.php. Exemptions under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40 apply to active investigation files, confidential informant records, and materials sealed by court order. When only a portion of a document is exempt, the non-exempt portions must still be provided.
Statewide resources include SLED and the SC Courts case records search. Title 23 provisions governing law enforcement reporting are at scstatehouse.gov/code/t23c003.php.
Nearby Counties
Looking for criminal records in neighboring counties? The following counties border or are near Newberry County.