>Chesterfield County Arrest Records Online

Chesterfield County, South Carolina Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Chesterfield County, South Carolina?

Arrest records are public documents in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, pursuant to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq. This legislation establishes that government records, including those maintained by law enforcement agencies, must be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute. The South Carolina FOIA operates under the presumption that government records should be available for public inspection and copying to ensure transparency in governmental operations.

Members of the public seeking arrest records should be aware that certain information within these documents may be redacted in accordance with privacy protections outlined in S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40. Such protected information typically includes Social Security numbers, personal identifying information of victims, and details related to ongoing investigations that might compromise law enforcement activities if disclosed.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) maintains the central repository of criminal history information for the state and provides guidance on public access to arrest records in accordance with state regulations.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Chesterfield County?

Arrest records for Chesterfield County are available through various authorized online platforms. The digital accessibility of these records is part of South Carolina's commitment to government transparency and public information access as mandated by S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30(A)(1), which states that public records must be made available for public inspection and copying during normal business hours.

The South Carolina Judicial Branch maintains an online public index that allows citizens to search for court records, including those related to arrests and subsequent court proceedings. This system provides case information for all counties in South Carolina, including Chesterfield County.

Additionally, the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office provides limited arrest information through their official website. For comprehensive criminal history information, the public may utilize the services provided by SLED through their Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system, which requires payment of statutory fees as outlined in S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115.

Online access to these records is subject to the same exemptions and redactions that apply to physical records, in accordance with S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40.

How to Look Up Chesterfield County Arrest Records in 2025

Individuals seeking Chesterfield County arrest records have several official channels available for their search:

Visit the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office: Records may be requested in person during regular business hours.

Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office
200 West Main Street
Chesterfield, SC 29709
(843) 623-2101
Official Website

Chesterfield County Courthouse: The Clerk of Court maintains records of arrests that have resulted in court proceedings.

Chesterfield County Courthouse
200 West Main Street
Chesterfield, SC 29709
(843) 623-2571
South Carolina Judicial Branch - Chesterfield County

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED): For comprehensive criminal history checks, individuals may submit requests to SLED.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
4400 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 737-9000
SLED Criminal Records Check

Online Public Index: The South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index provides case information searchable by name or case number.

Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30(B), agencies may establish and collect reasonable fees not to exceed the actual cost of searching for or making copies of records. Requestors should be prepared to provide proper identification and, in some cases, pay applicable fees for record retrieval and copying.

Contents of a Chesterfield County Arrest Record

Chesterfield County arrest records contain standardized information as required by South Carolina law enforcement protocols. These records typically include:

Full legal name and any known aliases of the arrested individual
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, and race
Physical description including height, weight, and identifying marks
Date, time, and location of the arrest
Arresting agency and officer information
Specific charges filed, including statute numbers and offense descriptions
Booking information and assigned case numbers
Fingerprint data collected at the time of booking
Photographic identification (mugshot)
Custody status and bail/bond information if applicable
Court appearance dates and preliminary hearing information

The comprehensiveness of arrest records is governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-120, which establishes requirements for the collection and maintenance of criminal history information by law enforcement agencies throughout South Carolina.

It should be noted that pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40(a)(3), certain information may be redacted from public arrest records if its disclosure would constitute an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy or might impede ongoing law enforcement proceedings.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Chesterfield County

The expungement process in Chesterfield County allows for the removal of arrest records from public access under specific circumstances as provided by South Carolina law. Expungement eligibility is primarily governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-910 through § 17-22-950.

Individuals may qualify for expungement in the following situations:

Charges that were dismissed, nolle prossed, or resulted in not guilty verdicts
First-offense convictions for certain minor crimes after completion of sentence and a waiting period
Successful completion of Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI), Alcohol Education Program (AEP), or similar diversion programs
Juvenile records meeting specific statutory requirements
First-time simple possession of marijuana or other qualified drug offenses after successful completion of sentence requirements

The expungement application process requires:

Submission of an expungement application to the solicitor's office in the circuit where the arrest occurred
Payment of applicable filing fees (currently $310 for standard expungements)
Verification of eligibility by the solicitor's office
Judicial review and approval
Distribution of expungement orders to all relevant agencies

The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services can provide additional guidance on expungement eligibility and procedures.

Expunged records are removed from public access but may still be available to law enforcement agencies for specific purposes as outlined in S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-950(B).