Aiken Criminal History Records
Aiken is the county seat of Aiken County and the largest city in the Central Savannah River Area region of South Carolina. Criminal history in Aiken flows through the Aiken Police Department for city-level arrests, the Aiken County Clerk of Court for court filings, and SLED for statewide criminal background records. This page explains how to access each source, what records are public, and how South Carolina law applies to criminal history searches in Aiken.
Aiken Quick Facts
Aiken Police Department Records
The Aiken Police Department is located at 133 Laurens Street NW, Aiken, SC 29801. The non-emergency line is (803) 642-7620. The department accepts records requests for incident and accident reports in person or by mail at that address.
You will need to supply the date of the incident, the type of report, and the names of those involved. Per-page copy fees may apply. Records from active investigations are not available until the investigation is closed. The department reports arrests to SLED, which means city-level Aiken arrests feed into the statewide criminal history database.
Aiken Police records cover only incidents within city limits. The Aiken County Sheriff's Office handles unincorporated areas of the county. For the most complete criminal history search in Aiken, also check county courts and SLED.
Searching Criminal History in Aiken
SLED operates the CATCH system at catch.sled.sc.gov for statewide name-based criminal history searches. The cost is $25. The system returns arrests and convictions reported by agencies across South Carolina, including Aiken Police and Aiken County courts. It is the most complete single source for statewide Aiken criminal history.
For court-specific records, use the Aiken County Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/aiken. That free tool shows case names, charges, and outcomes for General Sessions and circuit court cases. Searches can be done by name or case number.
The Aiken County Sheriff's website at aikencountysheriff.org provides additional agency information. The SC DOC Inmate Search at public.doc.state.sc.us lets you check incarceration status for persons with Aiken convictions.
FOIA and Public Records in Aiken
The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act at S.C. Code Ann. Title 30, Chapter 4 applies to the City of Aiken and Aiken County agencies. FOIA requests to the city go to 135 Laurens Street SW, Aiken, SC 29801. The city's main number is (803) 642-7600.
Agencies must respond within ten business days. They may charge for copying and the time staff spend locating records. Records exempt from disclosure include those tied to active investigations, records that could identify informants, and records of juveniles. Denials must cite a specific exemption.
For Aiken County records, FOIA requests go to the relevant county agency. The Aiken County website at aikencountysc.gov provides department contacts. Court records are already accessible through the Public Index without requiring a FOIA request.
County Court Criminal Records for Aiken Residents
The Aiken County Clerk of Court is at 109 Park Avenue SE, Aiken, SC 29801. The FOIA contact number is (803) 642-1690, and the main clerk number is (803) 642-7856. The Aiken County website is at aikencountysc.gov.
General Sessions handles all felony and serious misdemeanor cases from Aiken. All indictments, plea records, and sentencing documents are on file with the Clerk of Court. The Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/aiken provides free access to those records by name or case number.
Aiken Municipal Court at 135 Laurens Street SW handles lower-level matters. That court can be reached at (803) 642-7630. Municipal court records may not all appear in the Public Index, so contact the court directly when looking for municipal-level Aiken criminal history.
Criminal History Statutes and Aiken
S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115 directs SLED to compile and maintain criminal history records from law enforcement agencies across the state. Both the Aiken Police Department and the Aiken County courts feed data into the SLED system under this statute. CATCH search results for Aiken criminal history reflect this statewide reporting.
The Freedom of Information Act at Title 30, Chapter 4 establishes the rules for accessing records from Aiken city agencies and Aiken County government. It sets the ten-day response window and defines exempt categories. Any records request to a city or county office in Aiken is governed by this law.
S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-40 covers expungement. Records that qualify for expungement are physically destroyed, meaning they will not appear in the Public Index, SLED CATCH, or FOIA responses. If your search of Aiken criminal history turns up missing records, expungement is one possible explanation.
Expungement in Aiken
S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-40 provides the process for expunging criminal records in South Carolina. Eligible records include arrests without conviction, pretrial intervention completions, and some first-offense convictions after a waiting period. The list of qualifying offenses is specific.
In Aiken, the petition is filed with the Aiken County Clerk of Court at 109 Park Avenue SE. The filing fee is $250. Once the court grants the petition, it orders Aiken Police and SLED to destroy the records. The destruction is permanent and cannot be undone.
After expungement, no public search of Aiken criminal history will return those records. The Public Index will not show the case. SLED CATCH will not return results for it. The record is gone from the system entirely. For questions about eligibility or the petition process, contact the Aiken County Clerk at (803) 642-7856 or speak with an attorney.
Aiken County Criminal History
Aiken is the county seat of Aiken County, and the county court handles all criminal case filings for city residents and the surrounding area. For a complete view of Aiken County criminal history resources, visit the county page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Several cities near Aiken have their own criminal history resources. Select a city below to get started.