Sumter County Criminal History and Background Check

Sumter County Clerk of Court

The Honorable James C. Campbell serves as the Sumter County Clerk of Court. Clerk Campbell received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Francis Marion University and a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Troy State University. He was elected Clerk of Court in November 2004, has served continuously since January 3, 2005, and was voted Clerk of the Year in 2022. He has served as Vice President and President of the SC Clerks of Courts and Register of Deeds Association and assisted with planning the county's judicial center.

The Clerk's office maintains General Sessions criminal cases, Common Pleas civil cases, Family Court records, judgment rolls, grand jury records, mental health commitment records, and bond records for Sumter County. Juvenile records are restricted by law, and adoption records are sealed. Standard copies are $0.25 per page, certified copies are $5.00 plus $0.25 per additional page, and exemplified copies are $10.00 plus $0.25 per additional page. Cash, check, and money order are accepted. Personal checks are not accepted for criminal fines. Turnaround is typically 24 hours for most requests.

When you visit the Clerk's office, bring a valid photo ID and either the case number or the full name of the person you are researching. The office does not provide research services. If you are unsure of a case number, use the Sumter County Public Index online before your visit to locate the correct case details.

The Sumter County government website provides general information about county services including links to the court system and public records resources available to residents and researchers.

Sumter County's official website serves as a central hub for accessing information about local government offices including the court system that handles General Sessions criminal cases for the 3rd Judicial Circuit.

Sumter County Criminal Records and Court System

Criminal records in Sumter County are generated at multiple levels of the justice system. General Sessions court handles felony charges and serious misdemeanors for the 3rd Judicial Circuit. Magistrate Court handles traffic violations, misdemeanor cases punishable by fines up to $500 or imprisonment up to 30 days, preliminary hearings for felony cases, bond hearings, emergency protective orders, and small claims up to $7,500. Contact the Clerk of Court at (803) 436-2227 for a referral to the specific magistrate court location if you need records from a lower-level case.

The Sumter Municipal Court handles city ordinance violations and traffic citations within Sumter city limits. For Sumter city cases, contact Sumter City Hall for the correct municipal court information. The Sumter County courthouse directory on the SC Courts website lists all court locations and contacts.

The Sumter County Public Index is a free online tool for searching General Sessions and Common Pleas records. Search by defendant or plaintiff name in last-first format, by case number in YYYY-GS-XX-XXXX format, by filing date range, or by case type. Results display case numbers, charges with statute citations, court dates, hearing schedules, case status, judge assignments, and attorney information. The system is updated daily. Actual court documents are not available online; visit the Clerk's office for certified copies.

Sumter County Sheriff's Office Arrest Records

The Sumter County Sheriff's Office is located at 1281 N. Main Street, Sumter, SC 29153. The main and non-emergency phone number is (803) 436-2040. The Records Division is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Sheriff's Office mission is to enforce state laws and county ordinances, deter criminal activity, and protect life and property.

Divisions of the Sumter County Sheriff's Office include Patrol, Criminal Investigations, the Detention Center, the Records Division, Narcotics, and Special Operations. The Records Division processes incident report requests, accident report requests, arrest records, warrant information, and background check referrals to SLED. To request records, submit your request in person at the Records Division. Bring valid photo identification and provide specific incident information including date, location, and names involved. Allow 3 to 5 business days for processing. Applicable copy fees apply.

The Sumter County Detention Center is at 1250 W. Liberty Street, Sumter, SC 29150, reachable at (803) 436-2180. An online inmate search is available through the county website. Visitation is by scheduled appointment. For state prison inmates, use the separate SC DOC Inmate Search.

Note: Active warrant information is limited for officer safety. You may request a general warrant inquiry at the Sheriff's Office front desk.

SLED Background Check for Sumter County

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division maintains the statewide criminal history database. A SLED search covers all 46 South Carolina counties, including Sumter, in a single transaction. Use the SLED CATCH online system at catch.sled.sc.gov for a name-based background check. The fee is $25 per search plus a $1 online convenience fee, payable by credit or debit card. Results are returned immediately after payment.

Under SC Code Section 23-3-115, SLED is authorized to release criminal history records to the public through the CATCH system. The search is name-based, so results for common names may include records for multiple individuals. Confirm identity before relying on any result. The SLED Public Dissemination Unit answers questions at 803.896.1443, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. SLED has not accepted in-person visits since December 15, 2008.

The free SLED Sex Offender Registry (SORT) lists all registered offenders in Sumter County and statewide. For individuals on probation or parole, see the SC Probation, Parole and Pardon Services website.

FOIA Requests and Sumter County Public Records Law

South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act is codified at SC Code Section 30-4-30. This law gives the public the right to inspect and copy records held by Sumter County government agencies. For Sheriff's Office records, submit a written FOIA request to the Records Division at 1281 N. Main Street. For court records, direct requests to the Clerk of Court at 215 North Harvin Street.

Your written request must describe the records sought and include your name, address, and contact information. Specify your preferred format. The agency has 10 business days to respond for records under 24 months old and 20 business days for older records. Documents must be produced within 30 calendar days of the final determination. Copy fees are $0.25 per page. Search and retrieval costs are based on the actual time of the lowest-paid employee capable of the task. Electronic records in digital form are free. Open investigation records, juvenile records, and sealed court records are exempt from FOIA disclosure.

Expungement of Sumter County Criminal Records

Expungement in South Carolina is governed by SC Code Section 17-1-40. A circuit court order in Sumter County directs the Clerk of Court to remove the case from the Public Index and instructs SLED to delete it from the statewide criminal history database. After expungement, the record does not appear in any public search.

Charges that resulted in a not-guilty verdict, dismissed charges, nolle prossed cases, and certain first-offense misdemeanor convictions after waiting periods may qualify for expungement. The Solicitor's Office for the 3rd Judicial Circuit reviews each petition before a judge signs the order. The Clerk's office at (803) 436-2227 can provide local forms and procedural guidance. Processing typically takes several months. The 3rd Judicial Circuit also covers Williamsburg and Lee counties, which share the same solicitor for expungement review purposes.

Note: If a petition is denied by the Solicitor's Office, you may have the right to ask a judge to review that denial depending on the grounds for refusal.

Cities in Sumter County

The city of Sumter is the county seat and the largest city in Sumter County. It has its own municipal court for local matters.

Nearby Counties

Sumter County is surrounded by several South Carolina counties that share similar court record processes through their own Clerk of Court offices.

View All 46 Counties