What are Chester County Arrest Records?
Chester County arrest records are documents that provide information on individual arrests that occurred within the county's jurisdiction. The county's law enforcement agencies maintain and disseminate these arrest records. Interested persons can obtain copies by contacting the Chester County Sheriff's Office at:
Chester County Sheriff's Office
2740 Dawson Drive
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 581-5131
Fax: (803) 581-5552
Chester County Crime Statistics
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) publishes annual statistical reports that provide information about crime statistics in South Carolina. The reports are compilations of information on crime provided by the various local law enforcement agencies.
In 2018, Chester County reported a total number of 1,121 crimes. It included 194 violent crimes and 927 property crimes.
Violent crimes included 3 murders, 10 rapes, 15 robberies, and 166 aggravated assaults. On the other hand, for property crimes, there were 199 burglaries, 674 larcenies, 52 motor vehicle thefts, and two arsons.
Between 2013 and 2018, there was a marked decrease in both violent and property crime rates in Chester County. A breakdown of violent crime rates over those five years showed murder (-50%), rape (-47%), robbery (-29%), and aggravated assaults (-13%). Property crime decreased as well, with burglary (-32%), larceny (-2%), and arson (-30%).
What are Chester County Criminal Records?
Chester County criminal records are official documents that provide details about crime-related activity individuals within the county have engaged in. Criminal records primarily provide information about misdemeanors and felonies. They are documentation of the information supplied by law enforcement agencies, courts, prosecutors, and incarceration centers.
How Do I Get Chester County Criminal Records?
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) allows name-based and fingerprint-based criminal record searches in South Carolina. While name-based searches provide some necessary information, fingerprint-based criminal searches produce more reliable results.
Name-based searches are carried out through the SLED Citizens Access to Criminal Histories (SLED CATCH), either online or by mail. To conduct online criminal history searches, use the CATCH portal and provide the subject's first and last name, date of birth, and Social Security Number (if provided).
Mail requests are made by filling out the Criminal Records Check form. The requestor should specify if notarized or certified results are preferred. The filled-out form, evidence of payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope should be mailed to:
SLED Records Department
P.O. Box 21398
Columbia, SC 29221-1398
(803) 737-9000
A $25 non-refundable fee is required for a criminal history search. There is an additional fee of $1 for online searches, which may be paid for with credit/debit cards.
For mail requests, available payment methods are business checks, certified checks, cashier's checks, or money orders. Cash and personal checks are not accepted. Further queries about criminal records, especially fingerprint-based records check, may be made to (803) 737-9000.
How to Find Chester County Sex Offender Information?
The South Carolina Sex Offender Registry provides information about registered sex offenders. The registry is a publicly accessible online database. To locate a registered sex offender in Chester County, search the registry by providing information like the offender's name, street address, or zip code. For more information on sex offenders in Chester County, call the Sheriff's Office at (803) 581-5131.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Chester County Jail?
To visit an inmate at the Chester County Detention Center, interested persons may contact the detention center with the address and contact information provided below:
Chester County Detention Center
2740 Dawson Drive
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 581-2602
Phone: (803) 385-2606
Fax: (803) 581-0713
Fax: (803) 377-1812
Where and How to Find Chester County Inmate Information?
The Sheriff's Office allows residents and the general public to carry out Inmate Search to get information about inmates in the detention center. It is a roster that organizes inmate details alphabetically by the last name. It can be searched using the inmate's first or last name.
What are Chester County Court Records?
The Chester County Clerk of Court maintains the court records of the Chester County Circuit and Family Courts. Chester County court records can be viewed online by using Chester County Sixth Judicial Circuit Public Index. To obtain court records, contact or visit the Clerk's office at:
Chester County Clerk of Court
140 Main Street
P.O. Box 580
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 385-2605
Location of all Courts in Chester County
Chester County has one Circuit Court, one Family Court, one Probate Court, one Magistrate Court, and three Municipal Courts. Their addresses and contact information are as follows:
Chester County Circuit Court
140 Main Street
P.O. Box 580
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 385-2605
Fax: (855) 946-0423 (Civil)
Fax: (855) 935-3708 (Criminal)
Chester County Family Court
126 Wylie Street
P.O. Box 580
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 377-7156
Fax: (855) 932-2202
Chester County Probate Court
1476 J.A. Cochran Bypass
P.O. Box 580
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 385-2604
Fax: (855) 932-9283
Chester County Magistrate Court
Law Enforcement Center
2740 Dawson Drive
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 581-5136 (Traffic)
Fax: (803) 581-5552 (Traffic)
Phone: (803) 377-6170 (Criminal Domestic)
Fax: (855) 946-0443 (Criminal Domestic)
Chester Municipal Court
2740 Dawson Drive
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 581-2133
Fort Lawn Municipal Court
510 Municipal Drive
P.O. Box 37
Fort Lawn, SC 29714
Phone: (803) 872-4724
Fax: (803) 872-4802
Great Falls Municipal Court
810 Dearborn Street
P.O. Box 177
Great Falls, SC 29055
Phone: (803) 482-2055
What are Chester County Vital Records?
Chester County vital records are official documents containing information regarding the occurrence of life events within the county. Chester County vital records include birth, marriage, divorce, and death records. These records are considered confidential, and there is restricted access to them. Only the record owner(s), immediate family members, and other authorized persons can access a Chester County vital record.
The Clerk of Court keeps records of divorces, while marriage records are in the custody of the Probate Court. State marriage, divorce, birth, and death records are with the Vital Records Office of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC).
Where and How to Get Chester County Divorce Records?
The Chester County Clerk of Court provides access to Chester County divorce records. Chester County residents can contact the Clerk's Office with the information required to facilitate the search, including the record-holder's names and relevant divorce information.
Alternatively, the Vital Records Office of the SCDHEC provides divorce records for interested persons at the state level. To get copies of Chester County divorce records, fill out the Vital Records Marriage/Divorce Application Form. The completed form, a money order for $12, and a valid photo ID should be mailed or submitted in person to:
DHEC Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 898-3630
Vital Records is open for walk-in requests from Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. In-person requests take 45 minutes to be processed. Mail requests are processed between 2 - 4 weeks.
Where and How to Get Chester County Marriage Records?
The Probate Court keeps Chester County marriage records. A marriage record costs $5 at the Probate Court. To obtain copies of marriage records, make an in-person request to the Probate Court at:
Chester County Probate Court
1476 J.A. Cochran Bypass
P.O. Box 580
Chester, SC 29706
Phone: (803) 385-2604
Fax: (855) 932-9283
Marriage records are also available at the Vital Records Office of the SCDHEC. However, access to marriage records is restricted to:
- Either of the married couple
- Their adult descendants
- Their legal representative
- The former spouse of either of the married persons
In-person or mail requests for a marriage record are made by filling out the Vital Records Marriage/Divorce Application Form. The filled-out form, a valid photo ID, and a $12 non-refundable search fee (and $3 for each additional copy) should be submitted in person or by mail.
Where and How to Get Chester County Birth Records?
The Vital Records Office of the SCDHEC processes in-person and mail requests for birth records. To apply for a birth record, complete the Vital Records Birth Application Form and submit it in person or by mail.
The completed form should be submitted with a payment of $12 and a valid photo ID. However, the SCDHEC charges $3 for each additional copy requested simultaneously. Birth record requests may be submitted in person at one of the regional vital records offices.
Where and How to Get Chester County Death Records?
An eligible person may request copies of death records from the Vital Records Office of the SCDHEC. To obtain Chester county death records, requestors may complete the Vital Records Death Application Form and submit it to the office, along with the payment of $12 and a valid photo ID.
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
