Florence SC Criminal Court Records
Florence criminal court records are kept by the Florence County Clerk of Court and the Florence Municipal Court. Florence is the county seat of Florence County and serves as the commercial and medical hub of the Pee Dee region. It sits within the 12th Judicial Circuit. Criminal cases in Florence span a range from city ordinance violations heard at the municipal level to felony charges prosecuted in the General Sessions Court. You can access Florence criminal court records online through the SC Public Index or in person at the courthouse.
Florence Quick Facts
Criminal Court Records for Florence Residents
Florence is the hub of the 12th Judicial Circuit, which covers Florence and Marion counties. Because Florence is the county seat, the circuit court is located in the city. This makes the Florence County courthouse the home for criminal court records covering a wide area of the Pee Dee region. Cases from city residents and those from the broader county are all processed through the same circuit court structure.
The Florence County Clerk of Court holds all official criminal case files for felony matters originating in Florence. These records are open to the public in most cases. The file for a criminal case typically includes the charging documents, all court orders, hearing records, plea or trial outcomes, and sentencing documents. Once a case is filed, each action taken by the court is added to the record and becomes part of the permanent file.
The 12th Circuit Solicitor's Office handles prosecution of felony cases from Florence and the surrounding county. This office also provides victim services for individuals connected to cases in the circuit. The solicitor reviews evidence, decides what charges to pursue, and represents the state in circuit court proceedings.
Note: Florence County criminal court records go back many decades. Older files may only be available in paper form at the courthouse, while more recent records can be searched online.
How to Search Florence Criminal Court Records
The South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index is the primary online tool for searching Florence criminal court records. Access the Florence County index at publicindex.sccourts.org/Florence/. The system is free and lets you search by the name of any party in a case or by case number. You can see charge information, filing dates, court dates, and current case status. This covers circuit court cases filed in Florence County.
For physical copies or documents not shown in the online index, visit the Florence County Clerk of Court. Staff can search by name, case number, or date range. Both plain copies and certified copies are available for a fee. Certified copies carry the court seal and are often required for legal or official purposes. The clerk's office can tell you the current copy fee schedule and what identification to bring.
The SC Judicial Branch website links to the Public Index and offers step-by-step guidance on how to read and interpret court records. For criminal history information maintained by state law enforcement, use the SLED database at sled.sc.gov/CriminalRecords. SLED records pull from law enforcement sources across the state and offer a broader view than the court index alone.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds older historical Florence criminal court records that predate the digital Public Index.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History at scdah.sc.gov holds older historical court records that predate the digital Public Index. For Florence criminal court records going back many decades, the state archives may be a useful resource.
Florence Municipal Court Records
The Florence Municipal Court handles misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, and city ordinance violations within Florence city limits. The court also conducts bond hearings and preliminary hearings for felony cases before they move to the circuit court level. Court records from municipal proceedings are available for public inspection during business hours at the municipal court office.
Traffic ticket payments in Florence can be made online, by phone, or in person. The municipal court maintains records for every citation issued, every scheduled court date, and every case outcome. If you need to verify a court result for a minor charge handled at the city level, the Florence Municipal Court is the right place to start. Cases that advanced to the Florence County circuit court are filed separately with the county clerk.
Municipal court proceedings in Florence follow the same general rules as other South Carolina municipal courts. The presiding judge has authority over local violations and can impose fines, community service, and limited jail terms within state-defined limits. All decisions are recorded and kept as official public documents.
Florence Police Department Records
The Florence Police Department maintains arrest records and incident reports for all law enforcement activity within the city. These records document police actions and are separate from court records, which track what happened after a case entered the court system. You may need both types of records to get a full view of a criminal matter in Florence.
Records requests can be submitted to the Florence Police Department's Records Division. Provide the name of the subject, the incident date, and a report number if you have one. Most incident reports are public records under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. However, information related to active investigations or victim-identifying details may be withheld. The department coordinates closely with the Florence Municipal Court and the Florence County circuit court system throughout the criminal process.
What Florence Criminal Court Records Contain
South Carolina Code Title 17 defines the criminal procedure rules that govern what gets recorded at each stage of a Florence criminal case.
South Carolina criminal procedure rules under Title 17 of the SC Code of Laws define what gets recorded at each stage of a criminal case. Florence criminal court records at the circuit level typically contain the indictment or charging information, arrest warrant records, bond orders, a docket sheet showing all court dates and filings, plea or trial records, the sentencing order, and any appeals or post-conviction motions.
Each entry in the case docket shows when something was filed, who filed it, and what action was taken. You can trace a case from the initial charge all the way to the final outcome. Dismissed cases, not-guilty verdicts, plea agreements, and full trial outcomes are all reflected in the court record. For most Florence criminal cases at the circuit level, the full file is open to the public at the county clerk's office.
Some documents may be restricted. Records sealed by court order, files involving juveniles, and documents identifying crime victims may not be accessible. The clerk's office can tell you what parts of a specific file are available and what requires a judge's authorization to view.
Public Records Access in Florence
Florence criminal court records are governed by South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act, which gives the public the right to inspect and copy government records. The Florence County Clerk of Court and the Florence Municipal Court both operate under this law. You do not need to give a reason for your request. You simply need to describe the records you want with enough detail for staff to locate them.
The clerk's office can search by name, date range, or case number. For records requests related to background checks, use the SLED system at sled.sc.gov/CriminalRecords. For downloadable court forms and request templates, visit sccourts.org/forms/. Victim services and rights information is available through scag.gov/crime-victims/.
Note: Requests for large batches of records or complex searches may take additional time. Contact the clerk's office in advance to plan your visit or submit your request in writing.
Expungement Options for Florence Residents
Florence residents may be eligible to expunge certain criminal records under South Carolina law. Expungement clears a record from public access and updates SLED's statewide database. Common qualifying situations include dismissed charges, not-guilty verdicts, and first-offense convictions for specific minor crimes. Repeat felony offenders and those convicted of serious violent crimes generally do not qualify under current law.
To pursue expungement in Florence, you file a petition through the Florence County Clerk of Court. The 12th Circuit Solicitor's Office reviews the application. A circuit court judge then approves or denies the petition. The SC Judicial Branch expungement page provides the full list of eligible offenses, required forms, and step-by-step instructions for applying. The forms you need are also available at sccourts.org/forms/.
After a successful expungement, the record is removed from the Public Index and SLED updates its records. This means a standard background check will no longer show the expunged offense. The process takes time, so plan accordingly if you need the record cleared by a specific date.
Florence County Criminal Court Records
Florence is the county seat of Florence County, and all circuit-level criminal cases from the city are part of the broader Florence County court system. For complete information on county court resources, the Public Index, fee schedules, and additional records, visit the Florence County criminal court records page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Criminal court records for cities near Florence are handled through their own county court systems. Select a city below to find information about criminal court records in that area.