Florence County Criminal Court Records
Florence County criminal court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at the Florence County Judicial Center, 180 North Irby Street, Florence, South Carolina. As a major county in the Pee Dee region and part of the 12th Judicial Circuit, Florence County sees a significant volume of criminal court filings each year. The Court of General Sessions handles all felony cases, serious misdemeanors, and appeals from lower courts. You can search Florence County criminal court records online through the SC Public Index or visit the courthouse in person. The system allows searches by defendant name, case number, or attorney name.
Florence County Quick Facts
Florence County Clerk of Court
The Florence County Clerk of Court maintains all records for the Court of General Sessions and the Court of Common Pleas. The office is located inside the Florence County Judicial Center at 180 North Irby Street in Florence. This is the central repository for every criminal court record created in Florence County, covering felony cases, serious misdemeanor charges, and all related court orders and dispositions.
The Clerk's office provides public access terminals where visitors can search court records without staff assistance. Staff can also assist with searches by name or case number. Certified copies of criminal court documents are available upon request. Jury management services, including summoning and qualifying jurors, are coordinated through the Clerk of Court. The office also accepts payments for court fines, fees, and restitution as ordered by the courts in Florence County.
The Florence County Judicial Center brings the Clerk of Court, Circuit Court, and related offices under one roof. This makes it easier to access criminal court records, file documents, and interact with court staff during a single visit. Office hours are Monday through Friday during normal business hours.
| Office |
Florence County Clerk of Court 180 North Irby Street Florence, SC 29501 |
|---|---|
| Circuit | 12th Judicial Circuit |
| Online Search | publicindex.sccourts.org/florence/ |
How to Search Florence Criminal Court Records
Florence County provides comprehensive online access to criminal court records through the SC Public Index for Florence County. Users can search by defendant name, case number, or attorney. The system returns detailed case information including charges, scheduled hearings, and dispositions. Document images are available for many cases directly through the online system. The system is updated on a regular basis by Clerk of Court staff.
The Public Index is free to use and requires no account or login. Simply go to the Florence County portal and enter the name or case number you are looking for. For in-person access, visit the Florence County Judicial Center at 180 North Irby Street. Public access terminals are available for self-service searches. Staff can assist when a search returns unclear results or when you need documents that are not visible in the online system.
To get certified copies of criminal court records in Florence County, request them at the Clerk of Court counter. You will need to show a photo ID and pay any applicable copy fees. Older records not yet digitized may require a few days to retrieve from storage. For general guidance on court access, the South Carolina Judicial Branch website provides resources and links to all county portals.
Note: Document images in the Public Index are available for many Florence County cases, but some older filings or sealed matters may not appear. Contact the Clerk of Court if a specific document is not accessible online.
What Florence County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal court records in Florence County document every stage of a criminal case. From the initial indictment or arrest warrant through sentencing and beyond, each filing becomes part of the official court record. These records are held by the Clerk of Court and are available to the public in most cases. The Florence County Judicial Center has digitized a substantial portion of its records, making them accessible online.
A Florence County criminal court record typically includes the defendant's full name, the charges filed, the applicable criminal statutes, the date of arrest and filing, bond information, attorney names, all court hearing dates and outcomes, plea entered, verdict, and the sentence or disposition. Sentencing orders, probation terms, and restitution orders are also filed with the case record when the court issues them.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch provides the Public Index portal and court forms used across all 46 South Carolina counties, including Florence County.
The SC Judicial Branch website provides the Public Index portal and court forms used across all 46 South Carolina counties, including Florence County.
Florence County Court of General Sessions
The Court of General Sessions in Florence County handles all felony prosecutions and serious criminal matters in the 12th Judicial Circuit. This court convenes at the Florence County Judicial Center and processes a high volume of cases given the county's size and population. Cases enter the Court of General Sessions after a grand jury returns an indictment or when a defendant waives the indictment process. All proceedings, orders, and verdicts from these sessions become part of the permanent criminal court record maintained in Florence County.
The 12th Judicial Circuit covers Florence County, and circuit court judges rotate through on a schedule established by the South Carolina Supreme Court. The Clerk of Court manages the docket, tracks all filings, and coordinates scheduling for court terms throughout the year. Drug court and other specialized dockets may operate within the Florence County system, each generating its own set of criminal court records and participation records.
Florence County Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Florence County Sheriff's Office maintains comprehensive arrest records for all individuals taken into custody in the county. The Sheriff's Office operates the Florence County Detention Center, where individuals are held pending bond hearings and court proceedings. An online inmate search is available through the Sheriff's Office website, allowing users to check current custody status, charges, and bond information.
Arrest records can be requested through the Sheriff's Office Records Division online or in person. These documents show the date and location of arrest, the charges, the arresting officer, and initial detention details. Records requests may take several business days to process depending on the volume of requests. For a complete criminal history that may span multiple counties, use the SLED criminal records system, which compiles statewide law enforcement data.
Note: Arrest records document the fact of an arrest but do not indicate guilt. Court records held by the Florence County Clerk of Court show the outcome of any resulting charges.
12th Circuit Solicitor in Florence County
The 12th Circuit Solicitor's Office prosecutes all serious criminal cases in Florence County. The Solicitor's Office evaluates cases sent by law enforcement, decides which charges to pursue, and represents the state of South Carolina in Court of General Sessions proceedings. Victim services are a core function of the office, with staff dedicated to assisting crime victims through the process and connecting them with support resources. Learn more about victim support through SC victim services.
Pre-trial intervention programs are available through the 12th Circuit Solicitor's Office for eligible first-time or low-level offenders. Completion of the program can result in dismissal of charges and no criminal conviction on the defendant's record. The Solicitor also coordinates with Florence County law enforcement agencies to strengthen cases before they reach the Court of General Sessions. All charging decisions, plea agreements, and case outcomes are reflected in the Florence County criminal court records.
Expungement and Record Access in Florence County
South Carolina law allows certain criminal records to be expunged under specific circumstances. Qualifying events include arrests that did not lead to prosecution, charges that were dismissed, cases resulting in a not guilty verdict, and certain first-offense convictions after completion of probation. Expungement removes the record from public access and directs SLED to update its database. Full details on eligibility are available at sccourts.org/courts/expungement.cfm.
To begin the expungement process in Florence County, you file a petition with the Clerk of Court at the Florence County Judicial Center. The 12th Circuit Solicitor's Office must review and sign off on the petition before it goes to a judge. Standard forms for this process are available at sccourts.org/forms/. Once the judge signs the expungement order, the Clerk of Court sends notice to SLED and other agencies holding the record.
Under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, most criminal court records held by the Clerk of Court in Florence County are public documents. Written requests can be submitted to the Clerk of Court office. Criminal procedure statutes that govern record access, arrest, and court proceedings in Florence County are found in Title 17 of the South Carolina Code.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch forms page provides downloadable petitions and documents needed for expungement and other court processes in Florence County.
The SC Judicial Branch forms page provides downloadable petitions and documents needed for expungement and other court processes in Florence County.
Cities in Florence County
Florence County is the hub of the Pee Dee region. The city of Florence is the county seat and the largest city in the county. All criminal cases filed in Florence County courts are processed at the Florence County Judicial Center.
Florence is the county seat and home to the Florence County Judicial Center where all General Sessions criminal court records are maintained.
Nearby Counties
Florence County borders several counties in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. If you are looking for records involving cases that crossed county lines, check the neighboring county courts as well.