Dorchester County, South Carolina Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Dorchester County, South Carolina?
Arrest records in Dorchester County, South Carolina are classified as public information pursuant to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq. Members of the public maintain the legal right to access these documents, which are created and maintained by county law enforcement agencies including the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments within the jurisdiction. The South Carolina Public Records Act establishes that government records, including those documenting arrests, are presumptively open for public inspection unless specifically exempted by statute.
Public access to arrest records serves multiple governmental and societal functions, including:
• Promoting transparency in the criminal justice system • Enabling community awareness of law enforcement activities • Facilitating background checks for employment and housing purposes • Supporting journalistic reporting on matters of public interest • Allowing individuals to verify the accuracy of their own records
Requesters should note that while arrest records are public, certain information within these records may be redacted in accordance with S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40, which protects personal privacy and ongoing investigations.
Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Dorchester County?
Digital access to Dorchester County arrest records is available through several official online platforms maintained by county and state agencies. The Dorchester County Sheriff's Office provides a public-facing inmate search function that displays current detention status and basic arrest information. Additionally, the South Carolina Judicial Branch maintains the Public Index, which contains searchable court records related to arrests and subsequent case proceedings.
Online accessibility of arrest records is subject to the following conditions:
• Records may not be immediately available online following an arrest • Complete arrest documentation typically requires a formal records request • Some historical records may not be digitized and require in-person retrieval • Certain sensitive information is redacted from online versions of arrest records • Technical limitations may occasionally affect system availability
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) also maintains a fee-based criminal history search portal that provides arrest record information for the entire state, including Dorchester County, pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115.
How to Look Up Dorchester County Arrest Records in 2025
Individuals seeking Dorchester County arrest records in 2025 may utilize multiple official channels to obtain this information. The county has implemented several methods to facilitate public access to these records in compliance with state transparency laws.
Dorchester County Sheriff's Office Records Division 212 Deming Way Summerville, SC 29483 Phone: (843) 832-0300 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM https://www.dorchestercountysheriff.org
The Records Division processes requests for arrest records with the following procedures:
• Requesters must complete a standard FOIA request form • Valid identification must be presented for in-person requests • A reasonable fee may be charged for search, retrieval, and copying services • Processing time varies based on the age and complexity of the requested records • Records may be delivered electronically or in hard copy format
Dorchester County Clerk of Court 5200 East Jim Bilton Boulevard St. George, SC 29477 Phone: (843) 563-0181 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM https://www.dorchestercountysc.gov/government/clerk-of-court
The Clerk's Office maintains court records related to arrests, including:
• Case dockets • Charging documents • Bond information • Court proceedings • Case dispositions
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) 4400 Broad River Road Columbia, SC 29210 Phone: (803) 737-9000 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM http://www.sled.sc.gov
SLED provides statewide criminal history information, including Dorchester County arrests, for a statutory fee of $25 per record search pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115.
Contents of a Dorchester County Arrest Record
Dorchester County arrest records contain standardized information documenting the apprehension and processing of individuals by law enforcement agencies. These records are created in accordance with South Carolina Criminal Procedure statutes and local record-keeping protocols.
Standard information contained in Dorchester County arrest records includes:
• Subject identification data:
- Full legal name and any known aliases
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Physical descriptors (height, weight, eye and hair color, identifying marks)
- Residential address
- Government-issued identification numbers (redacted in public versions)
• Arrest details:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Statutory charges with South Carolina Code references
- Arrest circumstances and probable cause summary
- Weapon involvement (if applicable)
• Processing information:
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Fingerprint classification
- Property inventory
- Medical screening results (limited information)
- Bond determination and amount
• Case disposition:
- Court assignment
- Hearing dates
- Case status (pending, dismissed, diverted, convicted)
- Sentencing information (if applicable)
The comprehensiveness of arrest records may vary based on the nature of the offense, the arresting agency's protocols, and the stage of the criminal justice process at which the record is accessed.
Expungement of Arrest Records in Dorchester County
Dorchester County follows South Carolina's statutory framework for expungement of arrest records as established in S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-910 through § 17-22-950. Expungement is the legal process by which arrest records are removed from public access, providing eligible individuals with relief from the collateral consequences of an arrest.
Eligibility criteria for expungement in Dorchester County include:
• Charges that were dismissed, nolle prossed, or resulted in not guilty verdicts • First-offense convictions for certain misdemeanors after completion of sentence and waiting period • Successful completion of Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI), Alcohol Education Program (AEP), or similar diversion programs • Juvenile records meeting specific statutory requirements • Certain first-time drug offenses after probation completion
The expungement process requires:
Filing an application with the Dorchester County Solicitor's Office 5 County Office Building 101 Ridge Street St. George, SC 29477 Phone: (843) 871-2640 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Payment of applicable fees: • $310 for standard expungements • $510 for drug-related expungements • Fee waivers available for indigent applicants
Verification of eligibility by the Solicitor's Office
Judicial review and order issuance by the First Judicial Circuit Court
Distribution of expungement orders to all agencies maintaining the records
Upon successful expungement, all public records of the arrest are sealed or destroyed pursuant to court order. Agencies are prohibited from acknowledging the existence of expunged records except in limited circumstances defined by statute.
Search Arrest Records in Dorchester County
• Dorchester County Sheriff's Office inmate search • Dorchester County government records portal • South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index • First Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office case lookup • South Carolina Law Enforcement Division criminal records check
