Richland County Criminal History Records in Columbia

Richland County Clerk of Court

Jeanette W. McBride serves as the Richland County Clerk of Court. Her office is located at the Richland County Judicial Center, 1701 Main Street, Room 205, Columbia, SC 29201. The mailing address is PO Box 2766, Columbia, SC 29202. The main number is (803) 576-1947, with a dedicated criminal records line at (803) 576-1950. Family Court can be reached at (803) 576-3320. The fax number is (803) 576-1785. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Richland County Clerk of Court office is divided into two main areas: Circuit Court, which handles civil and criminal cases, and Family Court, which handles juvenile and domestic matters. Court is held 46 weeks per year in Richland County. The scale of this operation makes Richland County one of the largest court systems in South Carolina. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 plus $0.25 per additional page. Exemplified copies are $10.00 plus $0.25 per additional page. Payment by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card is accepted.

To access Richland County criminal history files at the Clerk's office, visit in person with a valid government-issued photo ID. Provide the case number or the full name of the party you are researching. Staff will locate the file. The office does not perform research on your behalf. Richland County also offers passport services by appointment through the Clerk's office. Juvenile records are restricted, and adoption records are sealed.

Note: The Family Court office is located on the 1st Floor West Wing of the same building at 1701 Main Street. A $150 filing fee applies to start any new Family Court case.

Richland County Criminal Records and Circuit Court

Criminal records in Richland County span several court levels. General Sessions court handles all felony cases and serious misdemeanors for the 5th Judicial Circuit. Magistrate courts handle traffic infractions, minor misdemeanors, and bond hearings. Richland County has magistrate locations at Dutch Square, Decker Boulevard, and Two Notch Road. Each maintains its own docket.

Municipal courts in Columbia, Forest Acres, Irmo, Cayce, Arcadia Lakes, and Eastover handle city ordinance violations and certain traffic matters within their respective city limits. Columbia Municipal Court is located at 811 Washington Street, Columbia, at (803) 545-3150. Contact the Clerk of Court for referrals to other court locations if you are uncertain where a particular case was heard.

Richland County Public Index and Online Court Records

The Richland County Public Index is a free online court records tool provided by the SC Judicial Branch. It allows searches by case number, party name, or attorney name for General Sessions and Common Pleas cases. The system provides access to criminal and civil court records 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with real-time docket updates and case document availability indicators. It is one of the most comprehensive county-level Public Index systems in the state.

The 5th Judicial Circuit also has a dedicated circuit index accessible through the SC Judicial Branch case records search. Online access shows case dockets, charge information, court dates, and case status but does not provide actual court documents. For certified copies, you must visit the Clerk's office or submit a written request. Expunged and sealed records are excluded from the Public Index display.

Richland County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The Richland County Sheriff's Department (RCSD) provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas and operates the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. The main RCSD office is at 5623 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC 29223. The main phone is (803) 576-3000. Non-emergency calls go to (803) 252-3200. For warrant and civil process inquiries, call (803) 576-3151. For recent arrest information, call (803) 576-3238 or (803) 576-3239.

The RCSD Criminal Investigations Division handles felony crimes and includes a Cold Case Unit, a Forensic Sciences Laboratory, and a missing persons program. The Records Division processes incident reports, accident reports, arrest records, warrant information, and civil process records. Visit the Records Division in person with valid ID to request reports. Processing time and fees vary by report type. An anonymous tip line is available at 888-CRIME-SC.

The Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center is at 201 John Mark Dial Drive, Columbia, SC 29209, reachable at (803) 896-8900. An online inmate search is available through the county's website. Video visitation is offered. For inmates housed in state prison facilities, use the separate SC DOC Inmate Search.

SLED Background Check for Richland County

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division maintains the statewide criminal history database. A SLED search covers all 46 counties, including Richland, in one transaction. Given the volume of cases processed in Richland County each year, a SLED CATCH search is especially valuable when you need to confirm whether someone has prior criminal history in this county or elsewhere in the state.

The SLED CATCH system costs $25 per name search plus a $1 online convenience fee. Pay by credit or debit card and get results immediately. The search is name-based. Results for common names may include records for multiple individuals, so confirm identity before drawing conclusions. The SLED Public Dissemination Unit handles questions at 803.896.1443, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. SLED has been closed for in-person visits since December 15, 2008.

Under SC Code Section 23-3-115, SLED is authorized to share criminal history records with the public through the CATCH system. The SLED Sex Offender Registry (SORT) is free and covers all registered sex offenders in Richland County and across the state. The SC Probation, Parole and Pardon Services website provides information about individuals on probation or parole statewide.

FOIA and Richland County Public Records Law

South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at SC Code Section 30-4-30 governs access to public records held by Richland County agencies. FOIA requests for RCSD records should be directed in writing to the Sheriff's Department at 5623 Two Notch Road. For court records, contact the Clerk of Court at 1701 Main Street.

Agencies must respond within 10 business days for records under 24 months old and 20 business days for older records. Documents must be produced within 30 calendar days of final determination. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page. Search and retrieval costs are charged at the actual hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of fulfilling the request. Electronic records that already exist in digital form are provided at no charge. Open investigation records, sealed court records, and juvenile records are all exempt from public FOIA disclosure.

Expungement of Richland County Criminal Records

Expungement removes a Richland County criminal record from public view. The process is governed by SC Code Section 17-1-40. Eligible cases include not-guilty verdicts, dismissed charges, nolle prossed cases, and certain first-offense convictions after the applicable waiting period. The Solicitor's Office for the 5th Judicial Circuit reviews each petition before it goes to a judge. Once an expungement order is signed, the Clerk of Court removes the case from the Public Index and sends notice to SLED to purge the record from the statewide database.

Given the volume of cases processed in Richland County each year, the expungement process may take several months from filing to completion. The Clerk of Court at (803) 576-1950 can direct you to the appropriate forms and procedures. Legal assistance from an attorney familiar with 5th Circuit practice can help ensure the petition is correctly filed and that all eligible records are included in the request.

Note: After an expungement is complete, the record does not appear in the Public Index or in a SLED CATCH search, and the Clerk's office will not confirm its existence.

Cities in Richland County

Columbia is the county seat and largest city in Richland County. Several smaller communities also have their own municipal courts.

Nearby Counties

Richland County is at the center of South Carolina and borders several counties. Each has its own court system and public records process.

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