Myrtle Beach Criminal History Records

Myrtle Beach Police Department Records

The Myrtle Beach Police Department is headquartered at the Ted C. Collins Law Enforcement Center, 1101 North Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. The non-emergency number is (843) 918-1382. The Records Division at this location operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and is responsible for the creation, storage, retrieval, distribution, and retention of all police records. The Property and Evidence Section handles items from crime scenes.

Public copies of incident reports are available free of charge online through the MBPD website at police.cityofmyrtlebeach.com. Navigate to the Services tab and look for incident report access. This makes Myrtle Beach one of the most accessible police departments in South Carolina for obtaining incident records without a fee or formal request. In-person retrieval at the Records Department is also available during business hours. The department also publishes a monthly crime dashboard online.

The Myrtle Beach Detention Center phone number is (843) 918-1088. Inmate information is available through that line. Municipal Court is located at 1101 Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, and can be reached at (843) 918-1356. Municipal Court handles traffic violations, city ordinance violations, misdemeanor criminal cases, and bench warrant inquiries.

Myrtle Beach Police to Citizen and Online Records Tools

MBPD offers a Police to Citizen portal at myrtlebeach.policetocitizen.com. This tool provides self-service access to certain MBPD records and community information. It is a direct resource for residents and visitors seeking information about police activity, case status, and public safety data. The portal complements the free online incident reports available through the main police department website.

For a statewide criminal history search, SLED CATCH costs $25 per name-based query and covers arrests, charges, and convictions from across South Carolina. CATCH is especially useful when you want to look beyond Horry County or check whether a person has a record in another part of the state.

The free Horry County Public Index provides online access to circuit court case filings for Myrtle Beach and the rest of the county. Search by name or case number to view felony charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes. SLED's Sex Offender Registry at scor.sled.sc.gov is also free and searchable by city or ZIP code.

Note: Online incident reports from MBPD are for informational use. For certified copies of police records suitable for legal proceedings, contact the Records Division in person or through the FOIA process.

Myrtle Beach FOIA Requests for Criminal Records

MBPD's FOIA requests can be submitted through the online portal at myrtlebeachsc.justfoia.com/publicportal. This is the preferred method. You may also submit by email at FOIA@cityofmyrtlebeach.com, by fax to 843-918-1028, or by mail to P.O. Box 2468, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. Written requests submitted by letter, fax, or email are all accepted. South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at SC Code Title 30, Chapter 4 sets the legal framework.

Myrtle Beach must reply to FOIA requests within 10 working days and make a determination about release of the records within that same window. For voluminous or time-consuming requests, the city may charge fees. Those fees shall not exceed the actual cost of searching for and providing access to the records. If the scope of your request is large, you can ask for a fee estimate before the city begins work. A deposit may be required for extensive requests.

FOIA cannot be used for commercial solicitation purposes under SC Code 30-2-50(A). Personal information obtained through FOIA is subject to restrictions on commercial use. When submitting your request, include the subject's full name, date of birth, date of the incident, type of record sought, and any report or case numbers. Specific requests generate faster responses and lower fees.

Horry County Court Records for Myrtle Beach

The Horry County Clerk of Court is at 1301 Second Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. The phone number is (843) 915-5080. All felony criminal cases arising in Myrtle Beach are filed in Horry County Circuit Court, which this clerk's office administers. The clerk maintains records of all circuit court filings, including criminal matters, and provides certified copies for a fee.

The free Horry County Public Index gives online access to circuit court case records without requiring a courthouse visit. Search by defendant name to see all felony and serious criminal filings associated with a Myrtle Beach resident, including charge descriptions and case outcomes. For cases where you need official certified documents, contact the clerk's office directly.

The SC Judicial Branch's case records search page provides statewide coverage if you need to check court records in multiple counties. The courthouse directory will help identify the correct court for any specific matter if you are unsure whether it was handled at the county or municipal level.

Criminal Records Laws Affecting Myrtle Beach

SC Code Section 23-3-115 authorizes SLED to maintain South Carolina's statewide criminal history repository. MBPD reports arrests and dispositions to SLED, which makes those records accessible through CATCH. The statute defines permitted uses of criminal history data and restricts certain classes of requesters to specific information. Commercial misuse of SLED data is prohibited.

South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at Title 30, Chapter 4 governs access to Myrtle Beach city records. It requires the city to respond within statutory timeframes, caps fees at actual costs, and sets narrow grounds for withholding records. SC Code 30-2-50(A) further restricts the use of personal information obtained through FOIA, prohibiting commercial solicitation as a purpose for requests. The city must provide written justification for any denial.

SC Code Section 17-1-40 covers expungement for South Carolina residents. Qualifying Myrtle Beach residents file through the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office, which covers Horry County. The $250 filing fee is paid to the Clerk of Court. After the court issues an order, SLED, MBPD, and every other agency holding the record must destroy their copies.

Expungement Options in Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach residents with qualifying criminal records can petition for expungement under SC Code Section 17-1-40. Common qualifying situations include charges that were dismissed or resulted in a not-guilty verdict, certain first-offense misdemeanor convictions, drug diversion program completions, and some youthful offender dispositions. The charge type, disposition, and elapsed time all factor into eligibility.

The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office handles expungement petitions for Horry County matters. The $250 fee is paid to the Clerk of Court at the time of filing. Solicitor staff review the petition, confirm eligibility, and submit it to a circuit court judge. Once signed, the order is distributed to SLED, MBPD, and any other agency holding the record. All must destroy their copies. The process typically takes several months end to end.

After expungement, the charge is removed from SLED CATCH results, the Public Index, and most standard background checks. Federal background investigations, certain professional licensing boards, and law enforcement employers may retain access under specific statutory exceptions. A South Carolina attorney familiar with Horry County criminal practice can confirm whether a specific Myrtle Beach charge qualifies and walk you through the petition process.

Note: SC probation and parole records are maintained separately by the SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. Contact that agency directly for probation or parole status inquiries.

Myrtle Beach Horry County Criminal History

Felony cases filed against Myrtle Beach residents are heard in Horry County Circuit Court. The county clerk in Conway maintains those records and provides access through the Public Index portal.

View Horry County Criminal History

Nearby South Carolina Cities

Other South Carolina cities near Myrtle Beach with criminal history resources of their own are listed below.

View Major South Carolina Cities