Choose the court level before you start searching
Greenville County criminal records are split among several systems. General Sessions records are maintained by the Greenville County Clerk of Court, lower-level Magistrate and Municipal matters use Summary Court systems, recent jail information comes from the Greenville County Detention Center, local background searches are handled through Greenville County Public Records, and statewide South Carolina criminal-history reports are provided by SLED. Using the wrong database can make a real record look as if it does not exist.
Greenville County does not keep every criminal record in one place
The correct search depends on whether you want the filed court case, a local arrest/background history, a jail record, a statewide criminal-history report or a correctional record.
General Sessions
Warrants, indictments, sentence sheets, bond papers and other filed records for felony and higher-level criminal cases.
Magistrate cases
Lower-level criminal matters and many misdemeanors are handled outside the General Sessions Clerk’s criminal-record collection.
Local background search
Greenville County offers a separate local background search based on qualifying fingerprinted charges from the Sheriff’s Office and Greenville City Police.
Statewide criminal history
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division CATCH searches statewide South Carolina criminal-history data.
Current county custody
Use Greenville County’s inmate search for people currently held in the county detention system.
State prison
Use South Carolina Department of Corrections for people currently sentenced to and incarcerated in SCDC.
Search Greenville County criminal cases through the Public Index
The official Greenville County Public Index is part of the 13th Judicial Circuit public-record system. It can be used to locate Greenville County General Sessions criminal cases and other searchable court matters.
Open Greenville County Public IndexThe General Sessions Public Index can display information such as:
- case number
- defendant name
- filing date
- case status
- assigned judge
- disposition
- disposition date
- attorneys and other parties
- court roster information
- filing history
How far back does the online criminal index go?
The Clerk of Court currently states that its online General Sessions records go back to 1984. Older or off-site files may require direct assistance from the Clerk’s office.
How to search the Greenville Public Index step by step
Open the Greenville County Public Index
Start with the official county/13th Judicial Circuit system rather than a commercial records website.
Search the defendant’s name
Enter the full name as accurately as possible. A middle name or initial can help separate people who share common names.
Compare year of birth and case details
Public Index results can show identifying details such as year of birth. Do not rely only on a matching first and last name.
Open the case record
Review status, filed date, parties, disposition, court roster and available filing entries.
Save the case number
The Clerk notes that the arrest warrant number appears as the case number in the Public Index.
Request documents when necessary
Use the case number and/or indictment number when asking the Criminal Records Department for copies of specific filings.
How to read a Greenville criminal case correctly
| Field | What it tells you | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| Case Number | Official identifier used to locate the matter. | A matching name without matching case details does not prove identity. |
| Pending | The case has not reached a final disposition. | Pending does not mean convicted. |
| Disposition | How the matter was resolved. | Different charges can have different outcomes. |
| Indictment Number | Identifier associated with an indictment. | An indictment is an accusation, not proof of guilt. |
| Court Roster | Scheduling or appearance information. | A scheduled appearance is not a final result. |
| Sentence Sheet | Filed sentencing information after a qualifying disposition. | Request the actual document when formal proof is needed. |
Do not miss Magistrate and Summary Court criminal records
This is one of the most important Greenville County details. The Clerk of Court specifically states that its General Sessions criminal-record collection does not include charges that are within Magistrate Court jurisdiction.
Magistrate courts are commonly called Summary Courts in South Carolina and handle many lower-level criminal matters as well as traffic and other cases.
Greenville County maintains Summary Court dockets and court-contact information. Some Summary Court cases can also appear in the Greenville Public Index.
Greenville Summary Court docketsNeed a certified Magistrate disposition?
Greenville County Public Records states that it provides certified court disposition printouts for Magistrate-level charges. General Sessions indictment/sentencing records, by contrast, must be obtained from the Criminal Records Office at the County Courthouse.
How to get actual Greenville County criminal court documents
The Clerk of Court’s Criminal Records Department maintains filed General Sessions records. Public records that are not sealed or legally exempt can be requested.
Two current request methods
Criminal Records Department
Greenville County CourthouseSuite 228
305 East North Street
Greenville, SC 29601
Request criminal copies
coccriminalrecords@greenvillecounty.org
Include the case/warrant number, indictment number when available, and a clear list of the documents you need.
Current criminal-record copy fees
| Service | Current fee | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary court copy | $0.25 per page | For ordinary copies of eligible public documents. |
| Certified copy | $10 per certification | Includes the Clerk’s certification/seal. |
| Exemplification | $10 | Use only when that form of authentication is specifically required. |
| FOIA research/redaction | $18/hour after first 15 minutes | Prorated in 15-minute increments where applicable. |
Some older files are held in off-site retention facilities. The Clerk says those files are generally made available for courthouse viewing within a couple of business days after the request.
Greenville County’s local background search is a different product
Greenville County Public Safety’s Records Management Services Division offers a local background search.
According to the County, that search contains criminal charges that:
- resulted in the person being fingerprinted
- came from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office or Greenville City Police Department
- resulted in a conviction or remain pending
The County says its local background search does not list:
- dismissed charges
- nolle prossed charges
- not-guilty outcomes
- traffic charges
- civil offenses
Current local background-check fees
| Search period | Current county fee |
|---|---|
| 5-year local background search | $5 |
| 10-year local background search | $10 |
| Beyond 10 years | $15 |
| Additional arrest data | $3 per every five charges |
The County says background searches can be requested online, by mail or in person. The subject’s full name and date of birth are required, and the requester must provide identification.
Greenville County Local Background SearchUse SLED CATCH for a statewide South Carolina criminal-history check
For statewide South Carolina criminal-history information, use the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Citizens Access to Criminal Histories (CATCH).
Open SLED CATCHSLED CATCH is a name-based search and covers South Carolina criminal-history information only. SLED says fingerprint-based searches are more reliable than name searches, but SLED conducts fingerprint-based checks only when authorized or required by law.
Current SLED CATCH fee
The criminal-record check itself is currently $25. Effective July 1, 2026, SLED’s current notice says online customers are also responsible for a $1.43 service fee on each $25 CATCH report.
How SLED searches names
SLED states that CATCH uses a “starts with” match for:
- last name
- first name
- date of birth
- Social Security number when voluntarily supplied and searchable
Mail-in SLED request
SLED also accepts criminal-record-check requests by mail. The current instructions require the Criminal Records Check form, appropriate payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Personal checks and cash are not accepted.
SLED Records DepartmentP.O. Box 21398
Columbia, SC 29221-1398
Search current Greenville County Detention Center inmates
Greenville County maintains an official online search for people currently incarcerated in the county detention system.
Greenville County Inmate SearchThe County cautions that inmate information changes quickly and may not reflect the person’s current status at the exact moment you search.
Greenville County’s Detention Center FAQ says the inmate search can display individual charge bond amounts. Housing-location information may require contacting the Detention Center directly because housing assignments can change.
Need an old booking or jail record instead of a current inmate search?
Greenville County Public Records manages records for the Greenville County Detention Center, including booking-related record requests.
| Detention record | Current fee |
|---|---|
| Jail-time verification letter | $6 |
| Electronic booking jail record | $3 |
| Paper inmate booking report | $6 |
| Daily media jail arrest docket / bulletin | $5 |
| Black-and-white mug shot | $3 |
| Color mug shot | $6 |
Greenville County notes that some detention information can be redacted for privacy or security reasons.
Greenville County warrants: know whether you need a record or an active-warrant check
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Services Division receives active warrants and maintains original warrants for service.
Contact Warrant Services
Phone: (864) 467-5241
The Sheriff’s Office says the warrant-office phones are answered during business hours.
Use the Clerk
Search the Public Index for the case number, then request a public warrant copy from the Clerk of Court when the document is public and available.
Police reports and court records are separate
Greenville County Public Safety’s Records Management Services Division is a centralized record operation for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and Greenville City Police Department.
If you need an initial incident or police report rather than the criminal court case, use the County Public Records process.
Current incident-report fees
- basic incident report up to 2 pages: $3
- traffic incident report up to 2 pages: $3
- additional pages: $0.25 per page
The County also states that juvenile information is not released through its ordinary incident-report process.
Use a Greenville County FOIA request for records that are not available through a standard form
Public Safety accepts South Carolina Freedom of Information Act requests for records maintained by the Sheriff’s Office, Greenville City Police and the Detention Center where disclosure is permitted.
Completed Public Safety FOIA forms can currently be sent to: publicrecords@greenvillecounty.org.
Greenville County’s general FOIA guidance says a requester must provide a reasonable description of the records sought.
Fees can apply for searching, reviewing, redacting and copying records, and advance payment may be required depending on the request.
Who schedules Greenville County General Sessions court dates?
The Clerk of Court does not schedule General Sessions criminal court dates. Greenville County states that the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office handles General Sessions scheduling.
For General Sessions scheduling questions, the Clerk currently directs users to the Solicitor’s Office at:
Phone: (864) 467-8647
Greenville County sex-offender records use a separate registry
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and county sheriffs maintain the state’s public sex-offender registry system.
Registry information can include:
- name and aliases
- photographs
- reported address
- map information
- qualifying registered offenses
- community-notification options
Use SCDC for South Carolina state-prison records
The South Carolina Department of Corrections provides an official inmate search for people currently sentenced to and incarcerated in SCDC.
South Carolina DOC Inmate SearchSCDC states that its search does not provide information for:
- people already released from SCDC
- people sentenced only to county detention facilities
- people solely on parole or probation/community supervision
- juvenile offenders housed by the agency
- current SCDC fugitives
Check South Carolina appellate records if the criminal case was appealed
Appeals from South Carolina General Sessions cases can appear in the Judicial Branch’s C-Track Public Access system for the South Carolina Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
South Carolina Appellate Case SearchC-Track provides case events and, in many cases, public filed documents. The Judicial Branch says appellate information is generally available for matters pending or filed on or after May 1, 2012.
Federal criminal cases in Greenville require PACER
Federal prosecutions are not Greenville County General Sessions cases. They are filed in the United States District Court system and searched through PACER.
Greenville is served by the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.
Federal courthouse in Greenville
Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. Courthouse250 East North Street
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 241-2700
If you do not know which federal court handled the matter, use the PACER Case Locator’s nationwide index.
Some Greenville criminal records may qualify for expungement
South Carolina permits expungement in specific situations. Greenville County’s Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor processes qualifying General Sessions expungement applications for offenses occurring in its jurisdiction.
Eligibility depends on the particular disposition, offense, prior record, statutory waiting period and other requirements.
Dismissed / Not Guilty
Some dismissed or not-guilty matters may qualify for expungement under South Carolina law, subject to the circumstances of the case.
Successful diversion
Certain successfully completed diversionary programs can create an expungement pathway.
Statutory eligibility
Some first or qualifying offenses may be eligible after statutory conditions and waiting periods are met.
The Solicitor’s office also warns that expungement of government records does not automatically erase copies that newspapers, websites, social media or private background-screening companies previously obtained.
Greenville County Expungement GuidanceGreenville County Courthouse criminal-record access
Greenville County Courthouse
305 East North StreetSuite 228
Greenville, SC 29601
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Closed weekends and County holidays.
Map to the Greenville County Courthouse
The Criminal Records Department for General Sessions court documents is located inside the Greenville County Courthouse at 305 East North Street.
Greenville County criminal-record search tips that save time
Do not search only General Sessions
Lower-level Magistrate/Summary Court charges are outside the Clerk’s General Sessions criminal collection.
Save the Public Index case number
The Clerk uses it to help identify filed warrants and other General Sessions documents.
Local check is not statewide
Greenville’s local background product is different from a SLED CATCH South Carolina search.
Know the arresting agency
Greenville County’s local background search specifically describes GCSO and Greenville City Police records.
Need an actual indictment?
The online criminal index gives file information; request the actual document from the Clerk.
Recent conviction?
Allow 2–3 business days after adjudication before expecting newly processed documents from the Clerk.
Old file unavailable?
The Clerk may need to retrieve older material from off-site record retention.
Current inmate is not a conviction
Greenville County specifically warns that most detention inmates are pretrial detainees.
Check the final disposition
A warrant, arrest or indictment should never be treated as the final outcome of the case.
Common questions about Greenville County criminal records
1. Can I search Greenville County criminal cases online for free?
Yes. Greenville County provides a Public Index for searchable court-case information. General Sessions criminal records can be located by searching the official public index, although actual criminal document images generally require a separate Clerk copy request.
2. Does Greenville County’s General Sessions search include misdemeanors?
Not all of them. The Clerk states that Magistrate/Summary Court matters are not maintained as part of its General Sessions criminal-record collection. Lower-level matters should also be checked through the relevant Summary Court record path.
3. How far back does the Greenville criminal Public Index go?
The Greenville County Clerk currently states that its online criminal records go back to 1984. Older files may require courthouse research or retrieval from off-site retention.
4. How much does a Greenville County certified criminal court copy cost?
The Clerk currently lists ordinary copies at $0.25 per page and certification at $10 per certification. Fees can change, so confirm the current Clerk schedule before submitting payment.
5. Is Greenville County’s local background check the same as SLED?
No. Greenville County’s local search covers qualifying records associated with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and Greenville City Police Department. SLED CATCH is a statewide South Carolina criminal-history search.
6. How much is a South Carolina SLED CATCH report?
The base SLED CATCH criminal-record-check fee is currently $25. SLED’s current notice states that an online $25 report also carries a $1.43 service fee effective July 1, 2026.
7. How do I find someone currently in the Greenville County jail?
Use Greenville County’s official Inmate Search. The County warns that custody information changes quickly and that an arrest does not establish a conviction.
8. How do I find an active Greenville County warrant?
Greenville County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Services handles active warrants. The current public contact number is 864-467-5241. Filed General Sessions warrant records can also be researched through the Public Index and Clerk when public.
9. Where can I get a certified Magistrate Court disposition?
Greenville County Public Records states that it provides certified disposition printouts for Magistrate-level charges. General Sessions indictment and sentencing records must instead be obtained from the Criminal Records Office in the Greenville County Courthouse.
10. What if the Greenville criminal case was appealed?
Use the South Carolina Judicial Branch C-Track Public Access system for Court of Appeals and Supreme Court cases. Federal criminal matters are separate and should be searched through PACER.
Official sources for verifying Greenville County records
- Greenville County 13th Judicial Circuit — Public Index
- Greenville County Clerk of Court — Criminal Record Checks
- Greenville County Clerk — General Sessions Record Copies
- Greenville County Public Records — Background Search
- Greenville County Public Records — Current Fees
- Greenville County — Certified Magistrate Court Dispositions
- Greenville County — Inmate Search
- Greenville County Sheriff’s Office — Warrant Services
- Greenville County Public Safety — FOIA Requests
- South Carolina Law Enforcement Division — SLED CATCH
- Greenville County / SLED — Sex Offender Registry
- South Carolina Department of Corrections — Inmate Search
- South Carolina Judicial Branch — Appellate Case Search
- 13th Circuit Solicitor — Expungements
- PACER — Federal Court Records