Orangeburg Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Orangeburg, South Carolina?
Arrest records are public documents in Orangeburg, 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 made available for public inspection and copying. The Orangeburg Department of Public Safety and the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office maintain arrest records as part of their official duties and responsibilities to the community. These records serve multiple public interests, including:
- Promoting transparency in law enforcement operations
- Enabling citizens to monitor governmental activities
- Supporting public safety through awareness of criminal activity
- Facilitating background checks for employment and housing purposes
- Assisting researchers and journalists in analyzing crime patterns
Members of the public should note that while arrest records are generally accessible, certain information may be redacted to protect ongoing investigations, juvenile records, or personal identifying information as specified under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40.
How to Look Up Orangeburg Arrest Records in 2025
Multiple official channels exist for accessing arrest records in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Pursuant to established procedures, interested parties may utilize the following methods to obtain arrest information:
In-Person Requests: The primary agencies maintaining arrest records accept in-person requests during regular business hours:
Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office
1520 Ellis Avenue
Orangeburg, SC 29115
Phone: (803) 531-4647
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Orangeburg Department of Public Safety
1320 Middleton Street
Orangeburg, SC 29115
Phone: (803) 533-5900
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Online Access: The Orangeburg County Judicial System maintains a searchable database of court records, including information related to arrests. Users may search by name, case number, or date range. Access requires registration and may involve nominal fees for certain detailed reports.
Written Requests: Written requests for arrest records may be submitted via certified mail to either law enforcement agency listed above. Requests must include:
- Full name of the subject
- Date of birth (if known)
- Approximate date of arrest (if known)
- Requestor's contact information
- Notarized signature (for third-party requests)
Fees for record retrieval are established pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30(B) and typically range from $10-25 per record, depending on the complexity of the search and reproduction costs.
Contents of an Orangeburg Arrest Record
Arrest records maintained by Orangeburg law enforcement agencies contain standardized information as required by South Carolina Criminal Justice Information System protocols. Standard arrest records include the following components:
Subject identification information:
- Full legal name
- Known aliases or nicknames
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Race/ethnicity
- Physical descriptors (height, weight, identifying marks)
- Residential address at time of arrest
- State identification number (SID)
Arrest details:
- Date and time of arrest
- Location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Booking number
- Charges filed (including statute citations)
- Weapon information (if applicable)
- Incident report number
Case processing information:
- Bond amount and status
- Court docket number
- Initial appearance date
- Disposition of charges (if resolved)
- Detention facility information
Supplemental documentation:
- Booking photograph ("mugshot")
- Fingerprint classification
- Property inventory
- Medical screening information
Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-120, all arrest fingerprint records are forwarded to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for inclusion in the state's central criminal history repository.
Expungement of Arrest Records in Orangeburg
The expungement process in Orangeburg County operates under the authority of S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-910 through § 17-22-950. Expungement provides a legal mechanism for the removal of arrest records from public access under specific circumstances. The Orangeburg County Solicitor's Office processes expungement applications for eligible cases.
Eligibility Criteria: South Carolina law permits expungement of arrest records under the following circumstances:
- Charges that were dismissed, nolle prossed, or resulted in not guilty verdicts
- First offense convictions for certain misdemeanors after completion of sentence and specified waiting periods
- Successful completion of Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) programs
- Successful completion of conditional discharge for first-offense drug possession
- Certain first-time youthful offender convictions
Application Process: Individuals seeking expungement must:
- Obtain and complete the appropriate expungement application from the Orangeburg County Solicitor's Office
- Submit the application with required documentation to:
Orangeburg County Solicitor's Office
151 Docket Street
Orangeburg, SC 29115
Phone: (803) 533-6260
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
- Pay applicable filing fees (currently $310 for most expungements)
- Await verification and processing (typically 90-120 days)
Upon approval, the Clerk of Court distributes expungement orders to all relevant agencies, including SLED, local law enforcement, and detention facilities. These agencies must then remove the records from public access systems within 30 days of receiving the order, pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-950.
Individuals should note that expunged records remain accessible to law enforcement agencies and courts for specific purposes, including subsequent offense prosecution and sentencing considerations.
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