York County Criminal History in Rock Hill and Fort Mill

York County Clerk of Court

The Honorable Angie M. Bryant serves as the York County Clerk of Court and Register of Deeds. Clerk Bryant is a lifelong York County resident who graduated from York Comprehensive High School in 1986 and attended Winthrop University. She began her legal career as a paralegal in 1991, joined the Clerk of Court's office in 2003, and was promoted to Chief Deputy Clerk in 2008. Governor Henry McMaster appointed her in July 2023 to fulfill an unexpired term, making her the first female Clerk of Court in York County history. She oversees operations at three courthouses: the Historical Courthouse, the Joseph R. Moss Justice Center, and the York County Family Court Courthouse.

The Clerk's office maintains General Sessions criminal cases, Common Pleas civil cases, Family Court records, juvenile records (restricted), adoption records (sealed), foreclosure records, judgment rolls, and grand jury records. As Register of Deeds, Clerk Bryant also records nearly 60,000 documents annually, with land records dating to the 1700s. York County also operates a Passport Acceptance Facility at the Clerk's office processing over 14,000 applications per year.

Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard copies, $5.00 plus $0.25 per additional page for certified copies, and $10.00 plus $0.25 per additional page for exemplified copies. Cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card are accepted. The Clerk's office does not provide research services; come prepared with a case number or the name of the person you need to research. The Public Index online can help you identify case numbers before visiting.

Note: York County's rapid population growth means the Clerk's office handles an increasing volume of criminal history records each year.

York County Criminal Records and Court Locations

Criminal records in York County are generated at multiple levels. General Sessions court handles felony-level criminal history at the circuit court level. The York County Bond Court is located at the Moss Justice Center and handles initial bond hearings. Magistrate courts serve various areas of the county; contact the Clerk of Court at (803) 628-3036 for specific magistrate court locations and contacts.

York County has municipal courts in Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Clover, and the town of York. Each handles city ordinance violations and traffic cases within their jurisdictions. The York County courthouse directory on the SC Courts website lists all court locations and their contact details. For cases that may have been heard in a specific municipality, contact that city's municipal court directly for docket information.

The Public Index for York County is at publicindex.sccourts.org/york/publicindex/. It allows searching by defendant or plaintiff name, case number in YYYY-GS-XX-XXXX format, date range, and case type including General Sessions, Common Pleas, Family Court, and Magistrate Court records. Results display charges with statute citations, plea and disposition information, court dates, judge and attorney assignments, and bond amounts. The system is updated daily and is available at no cost around the clock.

York County Sheriff's Office Arrest Records

The York County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Tony Breeden, is at 1675-2A York Highway, York, SC 29745. The main phone number is (803) 628-3059. The Records Division is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The York County Sheriff's Office has earned CALEA re-accreditation six times since 2008, reflecting its high standards for law enforcement professionalism and transparency.

The Sheriff's Office Divisions include Patrol, Criminal Investigations, the Detention Center, Records, Narcotics, Special Operations including SWAT, Mounted Patrol, and Victim Services. The YCSO SWAT Team took first place at the 2026 South Carolina SWAT Challenge. The office also runs Project Lifesaver for locating missing individuals. The Records Division handles incident reports, accident reports, arrest records, warrant information, background check referrals, and civil process information.

To request records from the York County Sheriff's Office, visit the Records Division in person during business hours with a valid photo ID. Provide the incident date, location, and the names of those involved. Allow 3 to 5 business days for processing. Applicable copy fees apply. The York County Detention Center is at 1675-4A York Highway, York, at (803) 628-3064. An online inmate search is available on the Sheriff's website. For state prison inmates, use the SC DOC Inmate Search.

SLED Criminal History Search for York County

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division maintains the most comprehensive criminal history database in the state. A single SLED CATCH search covers York County along with all other South Carolina counties. The CATCH system at catch.sled.sc.gov charges $25 per name-based search plus a $1 convenience fee. Pay by credit or debit card for immediate results. Given York County's size and its many residents who commute to and from Charlotte, a statewide SLED search is especially valuable for capturing criminal history across county lines.

The search is name-based and may return records for people with similar names. Always confirm identity before relying on results. 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 to in-person visits since December 15, 2008. The free SLED Sex Offender Registry (SORT) covers all York County registrants alongside those statewide.

Under SC Code Section 23-3-115, SLED is authorized to release public criminal history records. For offenders under state supervision, see the SC Probation, Parole and Pardon Services website.

FOIA and York County Criminal Records Access

South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at SC Code Section 30-4-30 governs public access to records held by York County agencies. Written FOIA requests for Sheriff's Office records should be sent to the Records Division at 1675-2A York Highway, York, SC 29745. For court records, direct requests to the Clerk of Court at 1675 York Highway. Include in your request a description of the records sought, your name and contact information, and your preferred delivery format. Label the subject line "Freedom of Information Act Request."

York County 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 the final determination. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page. Search and retrieval costs are billed at the actual hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee who can perform the search. Electronic records in digital form are provided at no charge. Open investigation records, juvenile records, and sealed court records are exempt from FOIA disclosure.

Expungement of York County Criminal Records

Expungement removes a criminal record from public access under SC Code Section 17-1-40. When a York County circuit court signs an expungement order, the Clerk of Court removes the case from the Public Index and notifies SLED to purge it from the statewide criminal history database. After completion, the record does not appear in any public search including the Public Index or SLED CATCH.

Cases eligible for expungement include not-guilty verdicts, dismissed charges, nolle prossed cases, and certain first-offense convictions after applicable waiting periods. The Solicitor's Office for the 16th Judicial Circuit, which covers both York and Union counties, reviews petitions before they go to a judge. The Clerk of Court at (803) 628-3036 can provide local forms and procedural guidance. Processing typically takes several months. An attorney with 16th Circuit experience can assess eligibility for a specific record and help prepare the petition efficiently.

Note: York County's large and growing population means the expungement caseload is substantial; file early and plan for the time required.

Cities in York County

Rock Hill and Fort Mill are the largest cities in York County, both with active municipal courts and significant populations.

Nearby Counties

York County borders Lancaster, Chester, Union, and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina, as well as North Carolina to the north.

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