Florence Criminal History Records
Florence is the largest city in the Pee Dee region and serves as the county seat of Florence County. Criminal history tied to Florence passes through the Florence Police Department for city-level arrests, the Florence County Clerk of Court for case filings, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for statewide checks. This guide explains how each resource works, what records are available to the public, and how to request them under South Carolina law.
Florence Quick Facts
Florence Police Department Criminal Records
The Florence Police Department is located at 324 W. Evans Street, Florence, SC 29501. The non-emergency line is (843) 665-3191. The department's website is at cityofflorence.com/police.
Records requests for incident reports and accident reports are accepted in person or by mail. You will need to provide specific details including the date of the incident and the names of those involved. The department processes requests in line with state public records law. Copies may carry a per-page fee.
Florence Police records cover arrests and incidents that happened within the city. They are a first step when researching criminal history in Florence, but they do not reflect county or state records. Use the county court system and SLED for a more complete picture.
Searching Criminal History in Florence
The SLED CATCH system provides statewide name-based criminal history searches. The portal is at catch.sled.sc.gov. The fee is $25 per search. You get a record of arrests and convictions across South Carolina, compiled from reporting agencies that include the Florence Police Department and Florence County courts.
CATCH results depend on what agencies have reported to SLED. Some older or lower-level records may be incomplete. To supplement a SLED search with Florence-specific court data, use the Florence County Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/florence. This free search tool shows cases by name or number and includes charges and case outcomes.
The SC DOC Inmate Search at public.doc.state.sc.us is another resource for finding people currently or formerly incarcerated in the state prison system as a result of Florence criminal cases.
FOIA and Public Records in Florence
The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act at S.C. Code Ann. Title 30, Chapter 4 gives the public the right to request records from public agencies. FOIA requests for the City of Florence can be submitted to 324 W. Evans Street, Florence, SC 29501. The city's general number is (843) 665-3100.
Agencies must respond within ten business days. They may charge for copying and staff time. Records related to open criminal investigations, juvenile records, and confidential informant information are generally exempt. Denials must explain the specific exemption used.
A written request is always the best approach. Be as specific as possible about the record type, date range, and the individuals involved. Florence residents can also use the Public Index to access court records directly without filing a FOIA request, since those records are already available online.
County Court Criminal Records for Florence Residents
The Florence County Clerk of Court handles all General Sessions and circuit court filings for Florence. The clerk's office is at 181 N. Irby Street MSC-E, Florence, SC 29501. Call (843) 665-3031 for information. The clerk's website is at florencecounty.org/clerk-of-court.
General Sessions handles felony and serious misdemeanor cases. All indictments, plea agreements, verdicts, and sentencing orders are filed there. Copies of documents require a written request and payment of the applicable copy fee.
The Florence County Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/florence is the fastest way to look up criminal cases. It is free and searchable by name or case number. Expunged records will not appear. For municipal court records from Florence Municipal Court at 324 W. Evans Street, contact the court directly at (843) 665-3191.
Criminal History Statutes and Florence
S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-115 is the law that authorizes SLED to gather and distribute criminal records from agencies across South Carolina. The Florence Police Department and Florence County courts report to SLED under this statute. When you run a CATCH search for Florence criminal history, the results come from this reporting framework.
The Freedom of Information Act at Title 30, Chapter 4 governs public records access. Florence city departments and Florence County offices must follow its procedures when you submit a request. The act applies whether you want police reports, court records, or other government documents.
Expungement under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-40 removes qualifying records from all public sources. If you are reviewing criminal history in Florence and certain records seem missing, expungement may account for the gap. The Florence County Clerk can advise on whether a specific case was filed and later expunged.
Expungement in Florence
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-40, qualifying individuals can petition to have their criminal records destroyed. Eligibility includes arrests that did not result in conviction, pretrial intervention completions, and certain first offenses after the required waiting period has passed.
The petition is filed at the Florence County Clerk of Court. The fee is $250. Once the court grants the petition, it directs law enforcement agencies to destroy the records. This includes records held by the Florence Police Department and SLED. After destruction, the record will not appear in any public search of Florence criminal history.
The expungement statute sets out specific steps and criteria. Not every offense qualifies. If someone you are researching has a gap in their Florence criminal history, expungement is one possible reason. An attorney familiar with South Carolina criminal law can help evaluate whether a particular record is eligible.
Florence County Criminal History
As the county seat, Florence is at the center of the Florence County court system. The county handles all criminal filings for residents throughout the county. For detailed information about county court resources, the Public Index, and related criminal history records, visit the Florence County page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Other cities in the Pee Dee region have their own criminal history resources. Choose a city below to get started.