Criminal Court Records in Union County

Union County criminal court records are filed and maintained by the Clerk of Court at the Union County Courthouse. Located in the Upstate region of South Carolina, Union County is served by the 16th Judicial Circuit. The Court of General Sessions handles felony cases and serious misdemeanors for the county. You can search Union County criminal court records online through the South Carolina Public Index or by contacting the Clerk of Court in person. Both approaches provide access to case history, charges, and court dispositions for cases filed in Union County.

Union County Clerk of Court Records

The Union County Clerk of Court maintains the official record of all criminal cases heard in the county. This includes every case that passes through the Court of General Sessions. The Clerk's office files charging documents, tracks hearing dates, records plea entries, and stores sentencing orders. Staff are available to help members of the public search for and obtain criminal court records. The office is located at 210 West Main Street in Union, SC.

Public access to Union County criminal court records is available at the courthouse. You can view case files in person during regular office hours. Certified copies of court documents are available for a fee. Records include both recent filings and older historical cases. For general office information and contact details, visit unioncounty.org/clerk-of-court.

The Clerk's office also manages jury selection and court scheduling for criminal trials held in Union County. These administrative functions support the smooth operation of the Court of General Sessions in the 16th Judicial Circuit.

How to Search Union County Criminal Court Records

There are two main ways to search for criminal court records in Union County. Online access through the South Carolina Public Index is the quickest starting point. In-person searches at the courthouse give you more detail and allow you to request certified copies on the spot. The right method depends on what you are looking for and how you plan to use the information.

The South Carolina Public Index is available at publicindex.sccourts.org/union/. This free online system lets you search Union County criminal cases by defendant name. Results show the charges filed, court dates, case status, and final disposition. The system is updated regularly by the Clerk of Court staff. For broader court resources and statewide information, the South Carolina Judicial Branch site at sccourts.org is a helpful starting point.

In-person requests at the Union County Courthouse allow you to review physical case files. You will need a valid photo ID. The Clerk of Court staff can search by name or case number and pull records for your review. For older cases, calling ahead gives staff time to locate files before your visit.

Note: The Public Index does not always include scanned document images. For actual copies of court documents from Union County, contact the Clerk of Court office directly.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division maintains a statewide criminal records database separate from court records. Visit sled.sc.gov/CriminalRecords for background check information that spans all counties, including Union County.

SLED provides a statewide criminal history database that includes arrest and conviction records from Union County law enforcement and courts.

SLED criminal records reflect statewide history and are commonly used for background checks involving individuals with ties to Union County and surrounding areas in the 16th Circuit.

What Union County Criminal Records Include

Criminal court records in Union County contain a wide range of documents that reflect each step of the court process. From the initial arrest warrant to the final sentencing order, each document is filed with the Clerk of Court and becomes part of the public record. Knowing what these records contain helps you understand what to request and where to look.

Union County criminal court records may include arrest warrants, grand jury indictments, bond hearing records, pre-trial motion filings, plea agreements, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and probation conditions. The defendant's name, date of birth, charge description, and case outcome are typically part of the public file. Cases involving juveniles are handled differently and are not open to the general public.

South Carolina criminal procedure is governed by Title 17 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. This statute sets out the rules for how criminal cases move through the court system. It also covers record retention requirements for criminal court records in Union County and throughout the state.

Union County Court of General Sessions

The Court of General Sessions is the felony trial court for Union County. It handles all charges that carry potential sentences beyond the jurisdiction of magistrate or municipal courts. The 16th Judicial Circuit, which includes both Union and York counties, provides the judges who preside over General Sessions cases in Union County. Judges rotate between counties on a schedule set by the South Carolina Supreme Court.

Grand jury proceedings in Union County take place within the General Sessions framework. A grand jury reviews evidence presented by the solicitor to determine whether a formal indictment should be issued. If the grand jury returns a true bill, the case proceeds. Each stage of this process produces records that are filed with the Union County Clerk of Court. Trial dates, continuances, and final orders are all part of the criminal case file.

Union County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The Union County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for unincorporated areas of Union County and operates the county jail. Arrest records are generated by the Sheriff's Office when individuals are taken into custody. These records are separate from court records but often form the basis for criminal cases filed in General Sessions.

The Union County Sheriff's Office maintains records of arrests made by its deputies. You can contact the agency to request arrest records or incident reports for events that occurred in Union County. The office also handles inmate records for the county jail, where individuals awaiting trial may be held. For law enforcement records and services, visit unioncounty.org/sheriff.

For a broader criminal history search that goes beyond Union County, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division at sled.sc.gov/CriminalRecords provides access to statewide criminal records. SLED records include information from law enforcement agencies across all 46 South Carolina counties.

16th Circuit Solicitor and Union County Prosecutions

The 16th Circuit Solicitor's Office is responsible for prosecuting all criminal cases in Union County's Court of General Sessions. The solicitor reviews charges brought by law enforcement and decides how to proceed. This includes deciding whether to seek an indictment, what plea offers to make, and whether a case goes to trial. The Solicitor's Office works closely with the Union County Sheriff, Jonesville Police Department, and other local agencies.

Victims of crimes in Union County are served by advocates in the 16th Circuit Solicitor's Office. These advocates help victims navigate the court process, understand their rights, and participate in hearings. The South Carolina Attorney General's office also provides victim support resources at scag.gov/crime-victims/. Pre-trial intervention programs may be available for first-time offenders in some Union County cases, allowing eligible defendants to avoid a criminal conviction by completing program requirements.

Note: The 16th Circuit covers both Union and York counties. The Solicitor's Office handles cases from both counties and maintains offices accessible to residents of Union County.

Expungement of Union County Criminal Records

Some Union County criminal records may be eligible for expungement under South Carolina law. Expungement removes a record from public view, though it does not always erase the record entirely from law enforcement databases. Qualifying circumstances include arrests where charges were dropped, cases that ended in acquittal, and certain first-offense convictions where all conditions of the sentence have been met.

To begin the expungement process in Union County, you file a petition with the Clerk of Court. The Solicitor's Office reviews the petition and may object or consent. If there is no objection, the court can grant the expungement without a formal hearing. If the solicitor objects, a hearing is scheduled before a circuit court judge. Once granted, the record is removed from the Public Index and is no longer available through standard public records searches in Union County.

The South Carolina Judicial Branch provides expungement forms and guidance at sccourts.org/courts/expungement.cfm. Standard court forms needed for the petition are available at sccourts.org/forms/. Consulting an attorney familiar with 16th Circuit procedures can help you determine whether your Union County record qualifies.

Nearby Counties

Union County is bordered by several other South Carolina counties in the Upstate region. Criminal court records are filed in the county where the offense occurred. If you are unsure which county holds the case you are looking for, check the location of the alleged offense or where the defendant lived at the time of arrest.

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