Richland County Criminal Records
What Is Richland County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Richland County, South Carolina, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state, each capturing a distinct phase of the criminal process.
A fundamental distinction exists between arrest records and conviction records. An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of law, either through a guilty plea, a no-contest plea, or a jury or bench verdict. Under § 17-1-40 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, certain arrest records that did not result in conviction may be eligible for expungement, underscoring the legal significance of this distinction.
Richland County criminal records are further categorized by offense severity. Felony offenses are the most serious class, carrying potential sentences of more than one year of incarceration, while misdemeanor offenses are less severe and typically result in shorter sentences or fines. Juvenile records occupy a separate legal category: under South Carolina law, records involving individuals adjudicated as juveniles are generally sealed and not accessible to the general public, protecting minors from the long-term consequences of youthful offenses.
Additional record types include active warrant records, which reflect outstanding judicial orders for an individual's arrest, and historical records, which document past charges and dispositions regardless of current status. The full lifecycle of a criminal case captured in these records encompasses charges filed, arraignments, pleas entered, trial proceedings, sentencing, and any subsequent probation or parole supervision.
The principal agencies responsible for maintaining Richland County criminal records are:
- Richland County Sheriff's Department — maintains arrest records, booking data, and jail records
- Richland County Fifth Judicial Circuit Court — maintains case filings, court proceedings, and final dispositions
- South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) — maintains statewide criminal history records
- Columbia Police Department — maintains arrest records for incidents occurring within the City of Columbia
Richland County Sheriff's Department 5623 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC 29223 (803) 576-3000 Richland County Sheriff's Department
Richland County Fifth Judicial Circuit Court (Clerk of Court) 1701 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 576-1750 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Richland County Clerk of Court
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) 4400 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210 (803) 737-9000 South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
Are Criminal Records Public In Richland County
Adult criminal records in Richland County are generally accessible to the public pursuant to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at § 30-4-10 et seq. of the South Carolina Code of Laws. This statute establishes that public records maintained by government bodies are presumptively open to inspection and copying by any person, and that the burden of justifying nondisclosure rests with the agency withholding the record.
Records that are currently available to the public include:
- Adult conviction records and court dispositions
- Arrest logs and booking information
- Court dockets, case filings, and hearing schedules
- Sentencing orders and probation terms entered into the public record
Certain categories of records are restricted from public disclosure under state and federal law:
- Juvenile adjudication records, which are sealed by operation of law
- Ongoing criminal investigation files, which are exempt from disclosure to protect investigative integrity
- Sealed court records, including those expunged pursuant to court order
- Victim identifying information in cases involving sexual offenses or domestic violence
- Mental health and substance abuse evaluation records submitted to the court under protective order
Members of the public seeking records should be aware that expungement orders, when granted, legally remove qualifying records from public access. Information regarding the expungement and pardons process in South Carolina is administered separately from the standard public records request process.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Richland County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Richland County criminal records through several official channels, depending on the type of record sought and the level of detail required.
Step 1 — Identify the Correct Agency Determine which agency holds the record. Arrest and booking records are held by the arresting law enforcement agency (Sheriff's Department or Columbia Police Department). Court case records and dispositions are held by the Richland County Clerk of Court. Statewide criminal history records are maintained by SLED.
Step 2 — Submit a Public Records Request For records held by the Richland County Sheriff's Department or Clerk of Court, members of the public may submit a written FOIA request in person, by mail, or by email. Requests must reasonably describe the record sought and include the requester's contact information. Under § 30-4-30 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, agencies are required to respond within ten business days.
Step 3 — Request a SLED Criminal Background Check For a comprehensive statewide criminal history, individuals may request a name-based or fingerprint-based background check through SLED. Fingerprint-based checks provide the most accurate results and are required for certain employment and licensing purposes.
Step 4 — Pay Applicable Fees Agencies may charge reasonable fees for search, duplication, and certification of records. Fee schedules are available at each agency's public counter.
Step 5 — Receive and Review Records Upon fulfillment of the request, records are provided in the format specified (paper copies, certified copies, or electronic files where available).
Columbia Police Department 1 Justice Square, Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 545-3500 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Columbia Police Department
How To Find Criminal Records in Richland County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Richland County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index The South Carolina Judicial Branch maintains a statewide online case search system that allows members of the public to search court records by name, case number, or attorney. The portal includes case filings, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions for cases processed through the state court system. South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index
Columbia Municipal Court Case Information Richland County maintains all records for Columbia Municipal Court cases. Members of the public may view Columbia Municipal Court case information online by selecting the Columbia Municipal Court option in the search portal. This system contains case numbers, charges, hearing dates, and disposition information for municipal-level offenses.
SLED CATCH — Citizens Access to Criminal Histories The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division operates the CATCH (Citizens Access to Criminal Histories) portal, which allows members of the public to view and print South Carolina criminal records using a name-based search. This system provides statewide criminal history information and is available online for a nominal fee.
Richland County Detention Center Inmate Search The Richland County Sheriff's Department maintains a current inmate roster for the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, searchable online by name. This portal reflects individuals currently in custody and includes booking charges and bond information.
Most online portals do not require user registration for basic name searches. However, the SLED CATCH system requires payment processing, and certified copies of court records must be obtained in person or by mail from the Clerk of Court.
Can You Search Richland County Criminal Records for Free?
State law does not mandate entirely free access to all criminal records; however, inspection of public records without copying is generally available at no charge. Under § 30-4-30 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, agencies may charge fees for search time and duplication but may not charge for the right to inspect records in person.
The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index — free name-based court case searches statewide, including Richland County cases
- Columbia Municipal Court online portal — free access to municipal court case information
- Richland County Detention Center inmate roster — free online search of current inmates
- In-person inspection at the Clerk of Court — members of the public may inspect court records at the public counter without charge during business hours
Fees are assessed for the following services:
- Printed or certified copies of court records (per-page fees apply)
- SLED CATCH name-based criminal history searches (fee per search)
- Fingerprint-based background checks through SLED (fee per submission)
- Certified copies of arrest records from law enforcement agencies
What's Included in a Richland County Criminal Record?
A complete Richland County criminal record may contain several categories of information, depending on the source agency and the nature of the case.
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
- Photograph (mugshot) taken at booking
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) assigned by SLED
- FBI Number assigned for federal tracking purposes
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Booking number and facility (e.g., Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center)
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set and conditions imposed
Court Case Information
- Case number and assigned court or jurisdiction
- Filing date and docket entries
- Charges as formally filed, including applicable statutes and offense classification (felony or misdemeanor, with class designation)
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest, Alford plea)
- Attorney of record (defense and prosecution)
Disposition Information
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, nolle prosequi)
- Conviction date where applicable
- Sentencing details: type of sentence (incarceration, probation, suspended sentence), length, fines, restitution ordered, and special conditions
- Appeals filed and outcomes
- Probation or parole supervision terms and supervising agency
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI/DWI adjudications
- Traffic violations processed through criminal court
- Pending charges not yet adjudicated
How Long Does Richland County Criminal Records Are Kept?
Richland County and the State of South Carolina maintain criminal records according to established retention schedules that vary by record type and agency.
- Felony conviction records — retained permanently by the Clerk of Court and SLED
- Misdemeanor conviction records — retained permanently in most circumstances
- Arrest records without conviction — retained for a minimum period; may be eligible for expungement under § 17-1-40 of the South Carolina Code of Laws
- Juvenile adjudication records — sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood; retention periods governed by the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice
- Booking and jail records — retained by the Sheriff's Department in accordance with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History records retention schedules
- Court case files — retained by the Clerk of Court pursuant to the South Carolina Judicial Department Records Retention Schedule, with permanent retention for felony cases and extended retention for misdemeanor cases
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History establishes baseline retention requirements for all county government records. Agencies are prohibited from destroying records before the minimum retention period has elapsed, and certain categories of criminal justice records are designated for permanent preservation.
South Carolina Department of Archives and History 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223 (803) 896-6100 South Carolina Department of Archives and History