The Greenville County Sheriff's Office and city police departments create arrest records for every suspect that enters their custody via an arrest. These records become part of Greenville County court records when individuals are charged in court and prosecuted. Local law enforcement agents are also obligated by law to transmit fingerprints and booking data to theSouth Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which then forms part of the statewide criminal history records. Local, state, and federal correctional agencies also maintain some arrest information for inmates in their custody.
Arrest records are useful for criminal proceedings, police work, and public transparency. Members of the public can review the records to locate their loved ones, and individuals with arrest histories can use the records to apply for expungement.
Are Arrest Records Public in Greenville County?
Yes, arrest records generated in Greenville County are generally treated as public records.South Carolina's Freedom of Information Lawinstructs public bodies to make official records available for public inspection or reproduction unless a record is restricted by law.
Restricted arrest records include the following:
- Information related to ongoing investigations where disclosure may interfere with police work
- Identifying information of confidential informants, witnesses, and victims
- Expunged and sealed records
- Certain juvenile arrest and criminal information
- Records specifically exempted from public access by federal and state law
What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?
Public arrest records in South Carolina include the following:
Personal information:
- Full name
- Address
- Birth date
- Age
- Contact details
- Photograph (mugshot)
- Fingerprints
- Height
- Weight
- Race
- Eye color
- Hair color
Arrest details
- Arrest date and time
- Location of arrest
- Arresting officer or agency
- Bail amount (if applicable)
Crime details
- Charges
- Classification of charges
Greenville County Crime Rate
Out of the eight index offense categories identified and reported in the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division's2022 Crime Report, larceny (9,936) was the highest recorded offense in Greenville County in 2022, a 5.07% decrease from the number in 2021 (9,432). Aggravated assault rose 5.69% from 1,824 in 2021 to 1,928 in 2022. Meanwhile, robbery saw a sharp decline (by 24.10%) from 332 in 2021 to 252 in 2022.
Greenville County Arrest Statistics
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's 2022 crime report showed that law enforcement agencies in Greenville County made 22,591 arrests in 2022, a 1.39% (309) increase from the total arrests in 2021 (22,282). Drug law violations accounted for the most arrests, with 4,579 reported apprehensions. The county had an arrest rate of 412.28 per 100,000 population.
Find Grenville County Arrest Records
There are different options for finding Greenville County arrest records, from approaching state and federal agencies to using local government resources.
Greenville Department of Public Safety (DPS)
TheGreenville Department of Public Safetyruns different divisions that consolidate functions between the Greenville County Sheriff's Office and the City of Greenville Police Department, including records management and detention.
- Greenville Detention Center
The DPS Detention Center operates anonline inmate search systemwhere individuals can find people arrested by the Sheriff's Office, Greenville Police Department, and other county law enforcement. The system also contains details of inmates serving jail time.
To start a search, one should enter the detainee's last name. The inmate's first name (optional) can also be entered to narrow the results. The system disseminates information such as an inmate's name, age, and booking date.
Selecting an inmate displays their arrest details, such as the arresting agency, charge(s), charge date, name, address, physical description, photograph, and bond details. The page also displays sentencing information if the inmate has been tried and convicted.
- Records Management Services Division
This division is the central records repository for the Greenville City Police Department and the County Sheriff's Office. It maintains arrest records, police reports, and inmate records (including medical information) from the Greenville Detention Center. Individuals can complete the division'sFOIA form, indicating the record they want to obtain, and send it topublicrecords@greenvillecounty.org.
The U.S Bureau of Prisons
The federal bureau operates afree inmate search toolthat allows individuals to locate arrested persons in federal custody using their names or federal identification numbers. Users will see information, such as the person's ID and detainment facility.
They can then use those details to submitFOIA requeststo obtain federal arrest information.
Free Arrest Record Search in Greenville County
Free resources for finding arrest records include online arrest search tools provided by the BOP and Greenville DPS. However, anyone making a formal request to an agency may need to pay specific fees.
It is worth noting that several private businesses run online databases that allow individuals to search for Greenville County arrest records at no cost. These systems often eliminate the need to search for a person's arrest records in multiple states and federal agencies, as a single search query can pool information from different sources.
However, these entities may charge users to obtain records. Individuals may have to pay per search or purchase subscriptions.
Get Greenville County Criminal Records
Criminal records include arrest details, case documents, disposition information, and sentencing and incarceration details created and collected during and after an individual's prosecution. Individuals can obtain these records from courts and various state agencies.
Greenville Courts
Individuals can view and obtain records of criminal court cases handled by the Greenville County General Sessions, Summary, and Municipal Courts.
- General Sessions Court
The General Sessions Court handles felony cases and more serious criminal matters. Members of the public can use the public terminal at theGreenville County Clerk of Court's officeto review such records. The office also maintains an index of convictions handed down by the court, which is available to the public during business hours.
Additionally, individuals can search theGreenville County 13th Judicial Circuit Public Index systemfor criminal cases heard in the General Sessions Court. One should select Circuit Court under "Court Type" and Greenville General Sessions next to "Court Agency". Users can narrow search results using the "Case Type" function.
- Magistrate (Summary) Court
Magistrates generally preside over criminal trials for offenses punishable by fines up to $500 or jail time up to 30 days. They also handle bail, preliminary hearings, and issue warrants.
Individuals can visit the magistrate court where a case was handled to view case information. They can also use the online Public Index system, select Summary Court, and choose the specific summary court where the case was heard to begin their search.
- Municipal Court
Municipal courts generally handle cases relating to municipal ordinance violations and offenses punishable by fines up to $500 or jail time not exceeding 30 days within the municipality. However, they can allow for certain cases to be heard in magistrate courts.
Individuals can visit the municipal court in the municipality where an arrestee was detained for arrest records.
Greenville Department of Public Safety
The Greenville Department of Public Safety provides a criminal background search service for cases within Greenville County. The agency provides information on people whose fingerprints were taken and who have been convicted or have pending cases in Greenville County courts.
Individuals canrequest a background search online, by mail, or in person. Mail-in and in-person requests can be submitted to the department's records division.
The department does not run background searches for individuals whose cases were dismissed, who were found innocent, or who were never prosecuted. Members of the public can request different durations of background searches, such as 5-, 10-, and 15-year searches. They can also customize the time frame for an additional fee.
South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED)
Local law enforcement and correctional agencies in South Carolina are mandated by law (SC Code § 23-3-120) to send fingerprint records to the SLED after they execute arrests and book individuals. The division collects, maintains, and disseminates statewide criminal records, from arrest records to criminal case files and incarceration information.
The division allows members of the public to run criminal background checks on individuals online and by mail.
Individuals who want to search online must useSLED's Citizens Access to Criminal History (CATCH)portal. The platform allows users to search for background information by providing a subject's first and last name, date of birth, and gender. Optional search information includes a Social Security Number and Maiden Name.
Name searches must match the subject's name on record. Still, depending on the details supplied by the searches, the system can produce false positives and negatives. People can get exact matches when they run a fingerprint search instead.
Those requesting criminal history information by mail can download and fill out theCriminal Records Check Formand send it to the SLED Records Department, P.O. Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221-1398.
The service costs $25 per check, with an additional $1 convenience fee for online searches. Eligible charitable organizations can pay $8 instead.
Greenville County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records
Greenville County criminal and arrest records are comparable at some level, but they are fundamentally different.
An arrest record may start a person's criminal case, but it does not indicate guilt or involvement in a crime. It also may not reflect the charges filed against an individual.
Meanwhile, criminal records are broader and more significant, containing arrest details, case dispositions, incarceration details, and parole or probation information.
How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?
Indefinitely. For most cases filed after 2009, especially when the defendant was not charged, had their charges dismissed, or was found not guilty, the responsible court automatically expunges their arrest record. However, the courts cannot erase every record automatically, and affected people can apply for expungement as long as their cases qualify. Otherwise, an arrest will remain part of a person's record.
Expunge Greenville County Arrest Records
Expungement involves deleting one's arrest records from state and local databases. If an individual was convicted, they must apply for expungement of their criminal records to delete their arrest records.
However, they must be eligible for expungement to remove those records successfully. The following conditions qualify individuals seeking to expunge their records:
- The defendant was found not guilty, their case was never prosecuted, or they were acquitted.
- The defendant has completed a pretrial intervention, traffic education, Youth Challenge Academy and Jobs Challenge, or alcohol education program.
- The record being requested for expungement is a first-time misdemeanor offense under the Fraudulent Check Law, and the defendant has no additional criminal convictions within one year of violating said law.
- The defendant obtained a conditional discharge for a first offense of simple marijuana possession and has no prior drug convictions on their record.
- The person was convicted of a crime punishable by not more than 30 days in prison or a fine of $1,000 or less, has not been convicted of any crime for 3 years (5 years for domestic violence cases), the offense does not involve motor vehicles, and the individual has no pending criminal charges for more than 5 years.
- The defendant was convicted under the Youthful Offender Act but was not convicted of a violent crime or made to register as a sex offender. Also, they had no other convictions during their sentence and have gone 5 years after completing the sentence (including parole and probation) without committing another crime.
- The offender was convicted for a first-time failure to stop for a blue light (misdemeanor with no serious injury or death) and was fined $500 or more or jailed for 90 days to 3 years. Also, the person has no other major convictions 3 years after and has no pending charges for over 5 years
- The defendant has a first-time conviction for simple or unlawful possession of prescription drugs, has no other convictions for the past 3 years, and has no pending charges for over 5 years.
- The defendant was convicted of a first-offense possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and has no other convictions (excluding minor traffic offenses) within 20 years of completing the sentence (including probation and parole). Additionally, the defendant has no pending criminal charges unless they have been pending for over five years.
People who meet any of the above conditions can only expunge their records once in a lifetime. They are also expected to provide proof of completion of specific programs, payment of fees, and disposition documents.
Eligible individuals who were convicted can apply with the13th Judicial Circuit's Solicitorand pay therequired feesto expunge their cases.
If the individual was not charged, their case was dismissed, or they were found innocent of charges handled by municipal and magistrates courts, these courts will automatically expunge their records for free. However, they can also approach the court to confirm.
People whose cases went through the General Sessions Court can approach the Solicitor's office to have their records expunged for free.
Greenville County Arrest Warrants
Arrest warrants are issued by judges to sanction the arrest of suspects. Warrants are issued when law enforcement and prosecutors convince judges that people have committed crimes. Judges can also issue warrants for the arrest of individuals who disobey court orders, fail to appear in court, or violate their parole, probation, or court-ordered programs. Such warrants issued without complaints or affidavits from law enforcement are called bench warrants.
Greenville arrest warrants typically include the suspect's name and description, case number (if applicable), affidavit used to request the warrant, magistrate's/judge's signature, and affiant's (person who swore the affidavit) signature.
Greenville County Arrest Warrant Search
The primary custodians of arrest warrants are the courts and local law enforcement agencies charged with executing arrests. Individuals can approach these bodies to view and obtain warrant information. For example, one can filter theGreenville County 13th Judicial Circuit Public Index'ssearch parameters to show only warrants filed in specific courts.
Do Greenville County Arrest Warrants Expire?
No. Arrest warrants do not expire in Greenville County. These orders remain active until recalled by judges or executed by law enforcement.
