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  1. Horry County Court
  2. Horry County Arrest Records

Horry County, South Carolina Arrest Records

Horry County arrest records are official, law-enforcement records that detail a person’s arrest and incarceration. They are created every time a person is taken into custody for offenses, capturing the facts of the arrest, the personal data of the apprehended, and incarceration information. While they do not indicate guilt, arrest records show that a person was taken into custody by law enforcement for a certain reason.

The law enforcement agency that made the arrest is responsible for the ensuing arrest record, which is created at the time of arrest and booking. Law enforcement agencies maintain arrest records primarily to document law enforcement activities and promote openness, transparency, and public oversight.

The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) classifies arrest records as a “public record," making them publicly accessible. According to FOIA (section 30-4-20(c)), a “public record” includes books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, or other documentary materials regardless of physical form or characteristics prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public body. Law enforcement agencies are public bodies.

The creation, maintenance, and release of criminal offender information by SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division) through CATCH (Citizens' Access to Criminal Histories) are governed by Article 3 (Criminal Information and Communication System) of the South Carolina Code of Laws Title 23.

The Horry County Sheriff's Office is the custodian of the county’s arrest records. Nevertheless, police departments may maintain arrest records. The two biggest police departments in the county are the Horry County Police Department and the Myrtle Beach Police Department. 

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Horry County, South Carolina?

Yes. Arrest records are public information in Horry County under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified in the South Carolina Code of Laws § 30-4-10 et seq. According to the FOIA, records created and maintained by public bodies, such as law enforcement agencies, are public records, and a person has a right to inspect, copy, or receive them, except as otherwise provided by the law. To this effect, law enforcement agencies in Horry County are required to provide inspections and copies of public arrest records and booking information to South Carolina citizens upon request (South Carolina Code of Laws 30-4-15).

The general conditions for certain access include:

  • South Carolina citizenship
  • An ID 
  • Applicable fees

Note that law enforcement agencies reserve the right to deny records requests from non-citizens of South Carolina.

What Do Public Horry County Arrest Records Contain?

A public arrest record in Horry County typically contains:

  • Full name of the arrestee
  • DOB, gender, and physical description of the arrestee (such as height and weight)
  • Date and time of arrest
  • Arresting agency
  • Filed criminal charges
  • Booking information, such as date, time, and number
  • Custody status
  • Detention facility
  • Release date
  • Mugshot

While most arrest records are subject to disclosure, some may be withheld or released with redacted portions under statutory exemptions, court orders, or privacy concerns. Per Section 30-4-40 of the FOIA, disclosure of law enforcement data and arrest records may be withheld if their disclosure would:

  • Interfere with a prospective law enforcement proceeding
  • Deprive a person of the right to a fair trial
  • Constitute an invasion of personal privacy
  • Disclose the identity of a confidential source
  • Endanger the life or physical safety of any individual

Examples of commonly withheld or redacted arrest data include juvenile arrest records, bank account details,  SSNs, medical information, and records/information sealed or expunged by a court order.

Horry County, South Carolina Arrest Search

The following state law enforcement and federal resources help any interested person to find arrest information in Horry County:

  • SLED CATCH—The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) operates CATCH, a Citizens Access to Criminal Histories system, which allows individuals to view and print statewide arrest records/reports and criminal history information maintained by SLED using a name-based search. SLED charges a non-refundable $25 fee for a criminal record check.
  • SCDC Inmate Search—The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) “Inmate Search” provides public access to photographs and information on arrested individuals currently incarcerated in SCDC. The search criteria include SCDC ID, SID (State Identification), first name, and last name. The SCDC internet “Inmate Search" feature is free to use and is available to all.
  • Federal BOP Inmate Locator—The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) maintains an online inmate locator for finding arrested individuals in federal custody. The inmate locator can be searched by name or number (i.e., BOP Register Number, DCDC Number, FBI Number, and INS Number).
  • FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)—The CJIS provides arrest records encompassing local, state, and federal. However, this is limited to persons requesting their own records. The fee is $18.

Horry County Inmate Locator

The Horry County Sheriff's Office maintains a Booking & Releases portal that contains information about individuals who were arrested and booked into custody in the county. The portal, while searchable, lists all incarcerated and released arrestees. Any interested party can access the portal to look up Horry County arrest records or find an individual's arrest data. Users can search the portal by name, booking date, and release date. Available information includes the inmate/arrestee’s name, ethnicity/sex, age, booking date and number, incarceration status (or release date), arresting agency, alleged offense, court status (e.g., pretrial, discharged, or sentenced), bond amount, and mugshot.

To obtain official arrest records, interested persons should submit a FOIA request to the law enforcement agency that made the arrest, such as the Horry County Sheriff’s Office, Horry County PD, Myrtle Beach PD, and Conway PD. For example, requesters can submit a FOIA request for arrest records to the sheriff’s office online, by mail, or in person at: 

Horry County Sheriff’s Office

1301 Second Avenue

Conway, SC 29526

Phone: (843) 915-5450

Fax: (843) 915-6451

Email: hcg.SheriffsOffice@horrycountysc.gov

Mailing

P.O. Box 380

Attn: Brennan Cavanagh

1301 Second Avenue

Conway, SC 29528

Active Warrant Search in Horry County

An arrest warrant is a legal document that authorizes law enforcement officers to arrest a named individual. It gives law enforcement the authority to seek out and arrest a person for committing a crime. Under South Carolina law, arrest warrants are issued by magistrates and judges when a law enforcement officer or prosecutor has established or demonstrated probable cause—a reasonable ground to believe the named individual has committed or is committing a crime.

Under South Carolina law, a valid arrest warrant must specify the name and address of the person to be arrested (or their physical description), the description of the offense, the date the warrant was issued, the warrant number, and the name & signature of the issuing authority.

The Warrants Division of the Horry County Sheriff’s Office handles warrants issued in Horry County. The division works with the FBI, ICE, U.S. Marshal’s Service, and other federal, state, and local agencies to execute outstanding warrants. 

To inquire about active or outstanding warrants in Horry County, interested persons should contact the Warrant Division at (843) 915-8347. 

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Horry County

Interested persons should use the public Booking & Releases portal maintained by the sheriff’s office to find arrest records for free in Horry County. The portal allows any member of the public to search and/or view the records of individuals who were arrested and booked into the county’s detention facility. It is updated daily and contains arrest data, such as the name of the arrested person, ethnicity/sex, age, arresting agency, charges, booking date and number, release status/date,  bond amount, and mugshot.

While the free booking & releases portal contains information about individuals booked into custody in the county, it may not provide older arrest/booking records. Individuals seeking older arrest records should call the booking office directly at 843-915-6911 or submit a FOIA request online, by mail, or in person to the sheriff’s department (public information office). 

Note the sheriff’s office reserves the right to deny public record requests from those who are not citizens of South Carolina. The office also reserves the right to charge fees for searching and copying.  Alternatively, individuals can use third-party sites providing free lookups to find arrest records.

Horry County Arrest Report

In Horry County, arrest reports are different from arrest records. Also referred to as an “incident report," an arrest report is a document prepared by the arresting officer in the aftermath of an arrest. It provides the arresting officer’s narrative of the arrest, covering the details such as who, what, when, where, and why. 

In contrast, an arrest record is a comprehensive log or summary of arrest and booking events. It is prepared by the arresting agency rather than the arresting officer. It lists charges, booking dates, photographs, and court-related information, such as hearing dates and bond amounts.

In summary, while arrest reports document a single law enforcement incident, arrest records document individuals taken into custody over time. Note that, like arrest records, arrest (or incident) reports can be requested via the South Carolina FOIA.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Horry County

Governed by the Uniform Expungement of Criminal Records Act (South Carolina Code of Laws §17-22-910 et seq.), expungement in South Carolina law places arrests, charges, or convictions under seal so they are no longer public records and are exempt from disclosure, except by court order.  Per South Carolina Code of Laws §17-1-40, when eligible individuals apply for expungement (under S.C. Code Ann. §17-22-910), their arrest and booking records, mug shots, associated warrants, and fingerprints must be destroyed, and no evidence of the record may be retained by any municipal, county, or state agency, provided, however, that law enforcement and prosecution agencies (plus detention and correctional facilities) retain the arrest and booking under seal.

Arrest records eligible for expungement include those with no filed charges, those dismissed, and those resulting in a ‘not guilty’ disposition (South Carolina Code of Laws 17-1-40). Other eligible cases include:

  • Juvenile cases
  • Offenders who completed a pretrial intervention program (South Carolina Code of Laws 17-22-150)
  • Youthful offenders convicted in the Court of General Sessions of a non-violent offense while under the age of 25, with no other conviction during the required 5-year waiting period (South Carolina Code of Laws 22-5-920)  
  • First offense convictions in a magistrate or municipal court (after a 3-year waiting period under South Carolina Code of Laws 22-5-910)
  • A first-offense misdemeanor fraudulent check (after a 1-year waiting period under South Carolina Code of Laws 34-11-90(e))
  • First offense of simple possession of marijuana (South Carolina Code of Laws 44-53-450(b))

Under South Carolina law, the expungement process, including eligibility checks, is managed by the Horry County Solicitor's Office. Individuals who want to expunge their records should contact the solicitor’s office or email a completed “Horry County Expungement Screening” form to bellh@horrycountysc.gov to start the process. 

How Do You Remove Horry County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Under South Carolina Code of Laws 17-22-950(A), a summary court (municipal court or magistrate court) issuing an 'order to expunge' the records of an individual found not guilty or whose charges were dismissed or nolle prossed typically provides copies of the order to all relevant agencies, including, but not limited to, the arresting law enforcement agency, the detention facility or jail, the solicitor's office, and the clerk of court to remove or seal the records (including from the internet). This process is usually automatic, with no effort on the part of the record subject. 

Additionally, per Section 7-22-950(E), criminal charges are automatically removed from all internet-based public records by relevant agencies no later than 30 days from the disposition date, regardless of whether the accused person applied to the summary court to expunge their record.

Notwithstanding, individuals can obtain and submit an expungement order directly to government agencies that have not automatically removed their expunged records. For records published on third-party sites, one can demand their removal by providing the relevant sites with a court-issued order to expunge.