>Lexington County Arrest Records Online

Lexington County, South Carolina Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Lexington County, South Carolina?

Arrest records are public in Lexington 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 records created, maintained, or controlled by public bodies, including law enforcement agencies, shall be available for public inspection and copying. The public accessibility of arrest records serves to maintain transparency in the criminal justice system and allows citizens to monitor governmental activities.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) maintains a central repository of criminal history information, including arrest records, which is accessible to the public with certain limitations as prescribed by S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-110 through § 23-3-160. Individuals seeking arrest records may encounter redactions of sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, juvenile information, and victim identifiers in accordance with privacy protections outlined in state statutes.

Lexington County Sheriff's Department 521 Gibson Road Lexington, SC 29072 Phone: (803) 785-8230 Lexington County Sheriff's Department

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Lexington County?

Lexington County arrest records can be accessed online through several official channels. The Lexington County Clerk of Court maintains electronic records of court proceedings related to arrests, which are available through the Public Index system. Additionally, the South Carolina Judicial Department provides a statewide search function for court records, including those from Lexington County.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division offers an online criminal history search service for a nominal fee, as authorized by S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115. This service provides access to arrest records and disposition information for cases processed through the South Carolina criminal justice system, including those from Lexington County.

Users should be aware that online records may not always be comprehensive or current. Some records may be subject to restricted access based on statutory provisions or court orders. The completeness of online records depends on the timely updating of information by the respective agencies.

Lexington County Clerk of Court 205 East Main Street Lexington, SC 29072 Phone: (803) 785-8212 County of Lexington Clerk of Court

How to Look Up Lexington County Arrest Records in 2025

To obtain Lexington County arrest records in 2025, multiple official resources are available to members of the public. The following methods provide lawful access to these records:

Online Database Searches: The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) maintains a comprehensive database of criminal history information, including arrest records. Citizens may conduct searches through the SLED website for a fee of $25 per record check, as established by S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115(A).
Lexington County Public Index: The Eleventh Judicial Circuit Public Index provides online access to court records related to arrests in Lexington County. This resource is maintained by the South Carolina Judicial Department and is available at no cost.
In-Person Requests: Individuals may visit the Lexington County Sheriff's Department Records Division during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM) to request arrest records. Proper identification is required, and fees may apply in accordance with the department's fee schedule.
Written Requests: Written requests for arrest records may be submitted to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department Records Division. Requests must include the subject's full name, date of birth, and case number (if known). A fee of $10 per record applies, payable by check or money order.
Lexington County Detention Center: Information about current inmates, including arrest details, may be obtained from the Detention Center's inmate lookup system or by contacting the facility directly.

Lexington County Detention Center 521 Gibson Road Lexington, SC 29072 Phone: (803) 785-2728 Lexington County Detention Center

Contents of a Lexington County Arrest Record

Lexington County arrest records contain standardized information as mandated by South Carolina law enforcement protocols and the County of Lexington record-keeping requirements. These records typically include the following elements:

Biographical Information: Full legal name, aliases or nicknames, date of birth, gender, race, height, weight, eye and hair color, and identifying marks such as scars or tattoos.
Arrest Details: Date, time, and location of arrest; arresting agency; name and badge number of arresting officer(s); and circumstances leading to the arrest.
Criminal Charges: Specific charges filed, including statute numbers and offense descriptions as defined in the South Carolina Code of Laws.
Booking Information: Booking number, date and time of booking, fingerprints, and mugshot photographs taken during the booking process.
Custody Status: Information regarding bail or bond amounts, release conditions, or detention status.
Case Disposition: Court proceedings, hearing dates, and final disposition of charges (if available).
Agency Information: Identification of the law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest and contact information for further inquiries.

Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40, certain information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records, including Social Security numbers, home addresses of victims, and information related to ongoing investigations that would interfere with law enforcement proceedings if disclosed.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Lexington County

Expungement of arrest records in Lexington County follows procedures established by South Carolina law, specifically S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-910 through § 17-22-950. Expungement is the legal process by which arrest records and related documentation are removed from public access and, in some cases, destroyed.

Eligibility for expungement in Lexington County is determined by several factors:

Disposition of Charges: Cases resulting in dismissal, nolle prosequi, not guilty verdicts, or other favorable dispositions may qualify for expungement under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-40.
First-Time Offenders: Individuals who have completed pretrial intervention programs, conditional discharge programs, or certain first-offense programs may be eligible for expungement under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-150, § 44-53-450, and § 22-5-910.
Waiting Periods: Some offenses require waiting periods before expungement can be requested. For example, first-offense simple possession of marijuana requires a three-year waiting period from the date of conviction, provided there are no subsequent convictions.
Excluded Offenses: Certain offenses are statutorily excluded from expungement eligibility, including most violent crimes as defined in S.C. Code Ann. § 16-1-60 and offenses requiring sex offender registration.

The expungement process in Lexington County requires filing a petition with the Lexington County Magistrate Court or the Lexington County Courthouse, depending on the court of original jurisdiction. The petition must be accompanied by a $310 filing fee, which includes a $250 administrative fee, a $25 filing fee, and a $35 SLED verification fee. Fee waivers may be available for indigent petitioners upon proper showing of financial hardship.

Lexington County Magistrate Court 605 West Main Street Lexington, SC 29072 Phone: (803) 785-8400 Magistrate Court Services

Lexington County Courthouse 205 East Main Street Lexington, SC 29072 Phone: (803) 785-8212 South Carolina Judicial Branch - Courthouse Search

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