Spartanburg Criminal Court Records
Spartanburg criminal court records are held by the Spartanburg County Clerk of Court and the Spartanburg Municipal Court. As the county seat of Spartanburg County, the city sits at the center of the 7th Judicial Circuit and is a major hub for criminal case filings in the Upstate region. Cases originating in Spartanburg range from minor city violations heard at the municipal level to serious felony charges processed through the General Sessions Court. This page covers how to find and access Spartanburg criminal court records online or in person.
Spartanburg Quick Facts
Criminal Court Records for Spartanburg Residents
Spartanburg is the seat of the 7th Judicial Circuit, one of the busiest circuits in the state. The circuit covers Spartanburg and Cherokee counties. Because Spartanburg is the county seat, the circuit courthouse is located in the city. Criminal cases from across Spartanburg County flow into this court, making it a significant repository of criminal court records for the entire Upstate region.
The Spartanburg County Clerk of Court is the official keeper of circuit court criminal records. This office holds case files for felony matters originating in Spartanburg City and the county. Files contain charging documents, warrants, bond orders, plea records, sentencing orders, and all docket entries. South Carolina law presumes these records are open to the public, with narrow exceptions for sealed files, juvenile matters, and certain victim-related documents.
The 7th Circuit Solicitor's Office prosecutes all felony cases in Spartanburg County. The solicitor's office works with law enforcement and handles cases from the time charges are filed through trial or plea. Victim services are available through the solicitor and through the SC Attorney General's office.
How to Search Spartanburg Criminal Court Records
The South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index is the best starting point for any Spartanburg criminal court records search. You can reach the Spartanburg County index at publicindex.sccourts.org/Spartanburg/. Search by name or case number at no charge. The system returns charge descriptions, filing dates, court dates, and case outcomes. It is available online at all hours and does not require an account to use.
When you need more than what the online index provides, visit the Spartanburg County Clerk of Court in person. Staff can locate case files, pull documents, and make copies. Certified copies are available and carry the court seal. These are often required for legal processes or official background checks. The clerk's office can confirm the current fee schedule and what you need to bring when requesting records.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch links to all county Public Index portals and provides guidance on using the Public Index to search Spartanburg criminal court records.
The SC Judicial Branch website links to all county Public Index portals and provides guidance on using the system. For statewide criminal history data maintained by law enforcement, visit sled.sc.gov/CriminalRecords. SLED pulls information from courts, jails, and law enforcement agencies across South Carolina.
Note: The Public Index shows circuit court cases. Spartanburg Municipal Court cases are tracked separately and require a direct inquiry with the municipal court office.
Spartanburg Municipal Court Records
The Spartanburg Municipal Court handles misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, and city ordinance violations within Spartanburg city limits. It also conducts preliminary hearings for felony cases and sets bond for people who have been arrested. These hearings create an early record before a case moves to the circuit level. All municipal court records are available for public inspection during business hours.
Traffic ticket payments in Spartanburg can be made online or in person at the municipal court office. The court keeps a record of every citation, every scheduled appearance, and every case result. If you are looking for documentation on a minor offense handled within the city, the municipal court is where that record lives. For cases that moved to Spartanburg County circuit court, those files are kept by the county clerk.
Spartanburg Police Department Records
The Spartanburg Police Department maintains arrest records and incident reports for law enforcement activity in the city. The Records Bureau handles public requests for these documents. Arrest records and court records are different things. An arrest record shows that police took action. A court record shows what the court did after that point. Both may be relevant depending on your reason for searching.
Submit your records request to the Spartanburg Police Records Bureau. You will typically need the name of the subject, the incident date, and any report number you have. The police department works in coordination with the Spartanburg Municipal Court and the Spartanburg County circuit court throughout the criminal process. Incident reports are generally public records in South Carolina. Parts of active investigations may be withheld, but most completed reports are accessible under the state's Freedom of Information Act.
Note: The police department and the court clerk are two separate agencies. A search of police records alone does not give you a complete picture of a criminal case in Spartanburg.
What Spartanburg Criminal Court Records Include
Spartanburg criminal court records at the circuit level include a structured set of documents that together cover the full lifecycle of a case. The file typically begins with the indictment or charging information, followed by any warrants issued, bond orders from early hearings, and a docket sheet that logs every court action in the case. Plea records or trial records come next, followed by the judge's sentencing order. Any appeals, post-conviction motions, or modifications to the original sentence are also part of the record.
South Carolina criminal procedure is governed by Title 17 of the SC Code of Laws. These statutes set the rules for how records are created, maintained, and accessed. The law establishes that most adult criminal records are open to the public, with specific exceptions carved out for sealed cases, juvenile records, and certain victim information. The Spartanburg County Clerk of Court follows these rules when responding to records requests.
The South Carolina Attorney General's victim services section provides information and support for victims of crimes connected to Spartanburg criminal court records.
Victim services information and rights documentation are available through the SC Attorney General's office at scag.gov/crime-victims/. Victims of crimes in Spartanburg can access notification services, case status updates, and referrals to local support programs through this resource.
Public Records Access in Spartanburg
Criminal court records in Spartanburg are public records under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act. The Spartanburg County Clerk of Court and the Spartanburg Municipal Court are both subject to this law. You have the right to inspect records and get copies without explaining your purpose. You only need to describe the records clearly enough for staff to locate them. A name and approximate date range usually works for most requests.
For downloadable request forms and guidance on accessing court records throughout South Carolina, use sccourts.org/forms/. For SLED criminal history background checks that go beyond individual court records, visit sled.sc.gov/CriminalRecords. These two tools together give you the most complete view of a person's criminal court history in Spartanburg and statewide.
Expungement Options for Spartanburg Residents
Spartanburg residents may qualify to expunge certain criminal records under South Carolina law. Expungement removes a record from the Public Index and prompts SLED to update its statewide database. The outcome is that the expunged charge no longer appears on standard public background checks. Qualifying situations typically include cases that were dismissed, charges that resulted in a not-guilty verdict, and first-offense convictions for certain minor crimes.
The process starts with a petition filed through the Spartanburg County Clerk of Court. The petition is then sent to the 7th Circuit Solicitor's Office for review. A circuit court judge makes the final decision on whether to grant or deny the expungement. The SC Judicial Branch expungement page has a current list of eligible offenses, the required petition forms, and the full step-by-step process. Serious felonies, violent crimes, and cases with multiple prior convictions are generally not eligible for expungement.
If expungement is granted, the clerk's office removes the record from the index and notifies SLED. The timeline from petition to final removal varies depending on the solicitor's review period and court scheduling. Plan ahead if you need the record cleared within a specific timeframe.
Spartanburg County Criminal Court Records
Spartanburg city is part of Spartanburg County, and all circuit-level criminal cases originating in the city are filed through the county court system. For the full county court overview, including the Public Index, fee schedules, and court resources, visit the Spartanburg County criminal court records page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Cities near Spartanburg each have their own county court systems. Choose a city below to learn about criminal court records in that community.