Search Orangeburg Court Records

OrangeburgCountyCourt.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports.
All searches conducted on OrangeburgCountyCourt.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.

  1. Orangeburg County Court
  2. Orangeburg County Arrest Records

Orangeburg County, South Carolina Arrest Records

Orangeburg County arrest records are created when a law enforcement agency detains a person on suspicion of a crime. These records generally take the form of a summary of the arrest and include basic information such as the arrestee's name, age, arrest/booking date, arresting agency, booking number, charges, bail details, and case/custody information.

In Orangeburg County, arrest records are maintained by theOrangeburg County Sheriff's Office and municipal departments, such as the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety (ODPS) and the Holly Hill Police Department.

Arrest records are generally considered public information under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. This means that the general public may inspect or copy records maintained by government agencies, including law enforcement arrest records, unless the record is restricted by law. A separate set of statutes governs the maintenance of criminal history record information. Title 23, Chapter 3 of the South Carolina Code establishes the Criminal Information and Communication system and sets up a statewide system for the collection, maintenance, and dissemination of criminal history information gathered by law enforcement.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Orangeburg, South Carolina?

Orangeburg County arrest records are typically considered public information. Access to these records is subject to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (S.C. Code §§ 30-4-10 through 30-4-165) and statutory restrictions that may permit law enforcement to withhold certain information. In particular, S.C. Code § 30-4-30 determines that any person may inspect, copy, or obtain electronic copies of any public record maintained by a government agency/body.

Record seekers may obtain public arrest records by submitting a freedom of information request to the appropriate law enforcement agency. While there is no residency requirement for making a public record request in South Carolina, agencies may request identification when requesting certain arrest information.

What Do Public Orangeburg County Arrest Records Contain?

Orangeburg County arrest records generally contain basic information about the arrested person and the arrest itself. A public arrest record may contain the following information.

  • Name of the arrested person
  • Physical description
  • Mugshots and fingerprints if available
  • Arresting agency/officers
  • Booking information, such as number, location, and time
  • Basic description of the offense, charges, and statutes they violate
  • Bond/Bail information
  • Case details

The exact information available depends on the type of record requested and the agency maintaining it. For example, basic arrest records will be less detailed than an officer's arrest report.

Not all arrest record information is open to the public; Section 30-4-40 of the Freedom of Information Act lists information that may be withheld by law. In particular, law enforcement may legally restrict or withhold certain information when it would violate privacy laws, jeopardize a fair trial, or endanger a person's safety.

Information that may be withheld from public access includes the following.

  • Juvenile arrest records or information concerning minors
  • Records that have been sealed or expunged by court order
  • Records that would identify a confidential source or undercover law enforcement
  • Information that would identify a witness or victim of a crime
  • Information that would interfere with a pending case or investigation
  • Information protected by state or federal privacy laws

Orangeburg County, South Carolina Arrest Search

Searches for Orangeburg County arrest records may be made using state and federal resources provided by the appropriate agencies.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) maintains the state's central repository of criminal history submitted by law enforcement and detention facilities statewide. The SLED CATCH (Citizens Access to Criminal Histories) system provides online, name-based searches for criminal histories for a fee. Record seekers may also contact SLED and request a fingerprint-based records search.

The South Carolina Department of Corrections provides access to inmate records and arrest information through its online Incarcerated Inmate Search and the toll-free inmate information line, 1(866)727-2846.

Federal sources to look up arrest and inmate information include the Inmate Locator found on the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) website and the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) database, where users may search for federal criminal case files, which may contain arrest information.

Record seekers may also use the FBI Identity History Summary Checks Review Portal to request copies of their own RAP sheet or criminal records online. A form is also available on the portal that may be printed to request a RAP sheet by mail. The complete form and a fingerprint card may be mailed to the FBI Criminal Justice Information Service at:

FBI CJIS Division - Record Request

1000 Custer Hollow Road

Clarksburg, WV 26306

Orangeburg County Inmate Locator

To locate inmates housed in Orangeburg County, interested parties may contact the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office or the Detention Center directly using the following contact information.

Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office

1520 Ellis Avenue

Orangeburg, SC 29115

Phone: (803) 531-4647

Inmate Status: (803) 531-4658

Orangeburg County Detention Center

Physical Address: 1520 Ellis Avenue, Orangeburg, SC 29118

Mailing Address: P.O. Drawer 9000, Orangeburg, SC 29116

Phone: (803) 539-2091, (803) 531-4139

Detention Center Fax / Secondary Line: (803)539-2090

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Orangeburg County

Record seekers may be able to obtain free Orangeburg County arrest records by contacting the local sheriff's office inmate status line or the detention center directly. Visitors to the sheriff's office may be able to view arrest logs and booking information for free. To access the records, it is necessary to provide information to assist with a search, such as names, date of birth, or case/booking numbers.

However, free record sources typically maintain recent records; accessing older or redacted records may require a search, which incurs a fee. Identification is also not required to request records, although some agencies may require it or contact details to access more sensitive records or physical copies.

Orangeburg County Arrest Report

Orangeburg County arrest reports and arrest records are related, but different law enforcement records cataloging an individual's arrest and detention. They mainly differ in their contents, use, and accessibility.

Arrest records are summarized entries in a law enforcement or court database. They typically contain information such as names, arresting agency, charges, booking information, and relevant dates, which are basic case details that are open to the public. Arrest records are used to track case information and register the individual's entry into the criminal justice system.

Arrest reports are comprehensive narratives written by the officers involved, telling the events that led to the arrest. They are typically very detailed and include officer observations, witness statements, evidence notes, action reports, and a timeline of the arrest. Arrest reports are generally more restricted than arrest records because they may contain personal information and investigative details that are exempt from public disclosure. They are used to provide probable cause for the arrest and provide support during court processes, such as filing charges.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Orangeburg County

Orangeburg County residents may apply for eligible records to be expunged under Titles 17 and 22 of South Carolina Law. The following statutes cover eligibility, processing, and sealing or deletion of records in South Carolina.

  • S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-40 covers the mandatory sealing or destruction of arrest records and booking information when the charges were dismissed, not prosecuted, or did not result in a not-guilty verdict. Applying for expungement under this statute is typically free of administrative charges.
  • S.C. Code Ann. § 22-5-910 regulates the expungement of eligible low-level misdemeanor convictions that carry a fine of $1,000 or a 30-day jail term, as well as certain first-offense weapon violations after a 3- to 5-year waiting period.
  • S.C. Code Ann. § 22-5-920 and 22-5-930 authorize expungement for specific first-time offender convictions, such as drug and traffic offenses.
  • S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22, Section 150 and Sections 910 through 960 govern the expungement of a record following the successful completion of diversion or intervention programs, such as Pre-trial Intervention programs.

Expungements in Orangeburg County are managed through the First Circuit Solicitor's Office. Applicants wishing to file for expungement may try the following steps.

  • Obtain a certified copy of the full final case disposition from the Orangeburg County Clerk of the Court or the specific municipal/magistrate court where the case was handled.
  • Obtain and fill out the expungement application.
  • The applicant must pay the following fees to the Solicitor by certified check or money order. A non-refundable $250 administrative fee payable to the Solicitor; a non-refundable $25 verification fee payable to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and a filing fee of $35 payable to the Orangeburg County Clerk of Court.
  • Submit the completed forms and payments to the Solicitor's Office. The Solicitor's Office sends the application to SLED to verify that the offense qualifies for expungement.
  • If approved by SLED, the solicitor will send the expungement order to all relevant parties, including the circuit court judges, for signing. After the order is signed, it is filed with the county clerk of courts.
  • Copies of the signed order will be distributed to the applicant and all pertinent agencies so they may update their records.

How Do You Remove Orangeburg County Arrest Records From the Internet?

The first step to removing an Orangeburg County arrest record from the internet is obtaining legal expungement or sealing through the First Solicitor's Office under South Carolina law. After the official court-ordered expungement is granted, government agencies and official public databases are legally required to destroy or remove these files, which blocks access to other online platforms. With the expungement order in hand, third-party sources that repost official records may be contacted for record removal. These sources may include public aggregator websites, news media, blogs, and search engines.

These unofficial record sites typically offer privacy or data-removal options; contact them and indicate the record to be removed. Provide the expungement documentation when prompted and follow up to ensure records have been removed. News websites may not agree to delete an article completely; instead, they may request an edit to the article showing that the records have been expunged.