Find Kershaw County Arrest Records
Kershaw County arrest records are available through the Sheriff's Office and the court system in Camden. This Midlands county sits northeast of Columbia and covers a mix of rural land and growing suburbs. The Clerk of Court holds criminal case files that stem from arrests made across Kershaw County. You can search online through the state court index or visit the courthouse in person. Booking data from the detention center tracks recent arrests, while court files give you the full case history. Public access to these records is protected by South Carolina law.
Kershaw County Quick Facts
Kershaw County Sheriff Arrest Reports
The Kershaw County Sheriff's Office makes the most arrests in the county. Deputies cover all areas outside city limits. When they arrest someone, a booking record is created at the Kershaw County Detention Center. That record lists the person's name, date of birth, charges, bond amount, and the arresting officer.
Camden has its own police department, and the towns of Elgin and Lugoff also have law enforcement. All arrests in these areas still go through the Kershaw County court system. The detention center in Camden houses inmates from every agency in the county. Call the Sheriff's Office to ask about a specific booking or to confirm if someone is in custody at the Kershaw County jail.
Note: Booking records at the detention center reflect the charges at the time of arrest, which may change as the case moves through Kershaw County courts.
Arrest Records in Kershaw County Courts
The Clerk of Court in Kershaw County maintains all criminal case files at the courthouse in Camden. Once an arrest leads to formal charges, the case enters the court system. The file includes arrest warrants, charging documents, motions, and final orders. Under S.C. Code 30-4-10, these records are open to the public.
Below is a view of the South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index, where you can search Kershaw County criminal court records online.
The Kershaw County Public Index is free to search. Enter a name or case number to pull up results. Each entry shows the charges, hearing schedule, and current status of the case. For copies of actual documents, contact the Clerk of Court in Camden. S.C. Code 30-4-30(d) allows the county to charge a fee for producing copies of arrest records and court files.
How to Look Up Kershaw County Arrests
There are several ways to find arrest records in Kershaw County. The best method depends on how old the record is and what details you need.
For recent arrests, contact the Kershaw County Detention Center. Staff can confirm if someone is booked and share basic charge information. This works best within the first day or two after an arrest. If you need court-level data, switch to the Public Index. That tool covers all criminal cases filed in Kershaw County going back many years.
The South Carolina courts case search is a statewide tool that includes Kershaw County. It works the same as the local public index but lets you search across all 46 counties at once. This is helpful when you are not sure where an arrest took place.
SLED's CATCH system provides a formal criminal history check. It pulls data from every law enforcement agency in the state. If someone was arrested in Kershaw County, that arrest will show up in a CATCH report. There is a fee for this service, but it is the most complete option for a criminal record check.
You can also go to the courthouse in Camden. Bring your ID and ask the Clerk's staff to search by name or case number. They will print copies for a small fee. This is a good option for older Kershaw County arrest records that may not be fully digitized yet.
Kershaw County Criminal Record Contents
Arrest records from Kershaw County contain specific data points. The person's full name and date of birth come first. The booking date and time are listed. Each charge includes a statute number and a brief description. The arresting agency and officer are named in the file.
Court files add details beyond the initial arrest. They include:
- Bond amount and any conditions set by the judge
- Names of the defense attorney and prosecutor
- Dates of all scheduled hearings
- Motions filed by either side
- Final disposition of each charge
If the case ended in a guilty plea or conviction, the sentence is part of the record. Kershaw County records also show if the person was placed on probation. The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services tracks people under supervision through their offender search tool.
Note: Some records in Kershaw County may be sealed by court order, which limits what appears in public search results.
Kershaw County Arrest Expungement
South Carolina lets certain people remove arrest records from public view through expungement. The rules in S.C. Code 22-5-910 cover first offense misdemeanors. Other statutes handle drug charges and cases that ended in dismissal or acquittal. Not every arrest in Kershaw County will qualify.
To start the process, you file a petition with the Kershaw County court. A judge reviews the request and checks if the charge and outcome meet the legal requirements. If approved, SLED removes the record from statewide databases. The SC Legal Services expungement page has more details on eligibility. You can also check S.C. Code 17-1-40 for rules on arrest record destruction in South Carolina.
Victim Resources for Kershaw County
If you are a victim of a crime in Kershaw County, VINELink lets you track the custody status of the person who was arrested. This free service sends alerts by phone, text, or email when an inmate is released or moved. It covers all jails in South Carolina, including the Kershaw County Detention Center.
The South Carolina Sex Offender Registry is a separate tool. It lets you search for registered sex offenders living in Kershaw County. The registry is public and free. It lists the person's name, address, photo, and conviction details.
The Department of Corrections inmate search covers people in state prison. If an arrest in Kershaw County led to a prison sentence, the record will appear in that database with details about the facility and release date.
Nearby Counties
Kershaw County is surrounded by several other counties in the Midlands region. If you need arrest records from a neighboring area, check the links below. Where the arrest took place determines which county holds the records.