What are Greenville Public Records?
Under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, Greenville public records are materials maintained, created or updated by a public agency about a public activity. For this reason, public documents may exist as symbols, charters, maps, notes, memoranda, audio or video files, SMS, books, and emails. Furthermore, not all public records are accessible to the public. The state law redacts portions of public records if the disclosure jeopardizes the confidentiality or safety of concerned parties. That said, the state law exempts the following documents or records from public view:
- Attorney-client communications;
- Personnel data and similar files, such as salary information and investigations of employee misconduct (if the charges are untrue after due investigations);
- Architectural and official building plans;
- Criminal offender information;
- Medical records;
- Minutes of the meeting of public entities closed to the public;
- Voted registration information containing a voter's email address, home address, and phone number;
- Public documents containing information about the identity of informants in a law enforcement investigation;
- Information security records that may reveal vulnerabilities to a public agency's information technology system;
- Voters’ registration information, such as email address, home address, and other identifying information;
- Information about attorney-client privilege;
- Law enforcement agencies’ investigatory files and procedures;
- Preliminary notes, drafts, inter or intra-agency memoranda which are not used or retained by a public agency in decision-making;
- Juvenile records and information are compiled by law enforcement agencies;
- Trade secrets or negotiations filed with a public agency for licensing purposes;
- Data about pending litigation that involves a public agency or entity.
Public city records may also be accessible from third-party websites. Record seekers may use these non-governmental platforms to search for a specific record or multiple city records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search, such as:
- The address of the requestor;
- A case number or file number (if known);
- The location of the document or person involved;
- The name of the subject involved in the record (not juvenile);
- The last known or current address of the registrant.
Government agencies do not sponsor third-party sites. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Greenville Crime Statistics
The Greenville Police Department collates every arrest and criminal activity documented by law enforcement personnel. It utilizes the collated data to create an annual crime statistics report, and sends the report to the FBI Uniform Crime Report platform. According to the FBI UCR, Greenville recorded 3,207 in 2019. The overall figure consists of 402 violence and 2,805 property-related crimes. Furthermore, the 2019 report covers these index crimes: four murders, 44 rapes, 82 robberies, 272 aggravated assaults, 352 burglaries, 2,236 larceny thefts, 217 motor vehicle thefts, and one arson.
Meanwhile, Greenville city reported 3,222 in 2016. In comparison, there was no noticeable difference between crime rates within three years (2016 to 2019).
Are Greenville Criminal Records Public?
Per the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, access to Greenville criminal records varies, depending on the type of record. Not all Greenville criminal records are publicly accessible. The state law exempts the following criminal records and information from public access:
- Sealed and expunged criminal records;
- Juvenile criminal documents and information;
- Data on crime victims, witnesses, and complainants.
The Greenville County Clerk of Court is the custodian of all bond papers, sentence sheets, indictments, and warrants filed with the General Sessions Court. Therefore, interested public members can find Greenville criminal records by contacting the County Clerk's Office at:
305 East North Street
# 202
Greenville, SC 29601.
Phone: (864) 467-8551
On the other hand, the Greenville County 13th Judicial Circuit's public index enables record seekers to find online Greenville criminal records by filling out these data:
- Court type;
- Case type;
- Record subject's name;
- Party type;
- CDR code.
How to Obtain Greenville Police Reports and Arrest Records
Law enforcement agencies in Greenville County are responsible for maintaining and issuing police reports and arrest records. Persons or entities interested in obtaining Greenville City police reports or arrest records must contact the Public Records Division at (864) 467-5257. When the police report or arrest record is ready, requesters may pick up the documents at any of these locations:
Greenville County Sheriff's Office
4 McGee Street
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 271-5210
Phone: (800) 828-1206 (Toll-Free)
Greenville Police Department
4 McGee Street
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 271-5333
SC Highway Patrol
Patrol Troop Three Headquarters
211 Century Drive
Suite 210-C
Greenville, SC 29607
Phone: (864) 241-5026
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Greenville
The Greenville County Sheriff's Office, together with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, provides public access to sex offender information via a sex offenders registry. Record seekers can search for sex offenders on the online registry using these options:
How to Find Greenville Inmate Records
Greenville County hosts an online database for all inmates incarcerated in the county's detention centers. Record seekers can search for Greenville inmates by inputting the inmate's first and last name on the online platform. On the other hand, the South Carolina Department of Corrections maintains a statewide online repository of all current and past inmates in Greenville City. Record seekers may conduct a basic or advanced search for Greenville inmates on the online database.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Greenville City Jail
The Greenville County Detention Center allows onsite visitation for professional and non-professional (families and friends) of inmates at:
20 McGee Street
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 467-2330
Inmates at the detention center are eligible for two 30-minute visits per week. Note that the visitation type is dependent on the inmate's location in the Detention Center. Thus, visitors may call (864) 467-2330 to find where the inmates are housed. To gain entrance into the jail facility, visitors must present a valid photo ID to the jail officials. Furthermore, visitors must wear conservative clothing during visitation.
What are Greenville Vital Records?
Greenville City’s vital records comprise government-generated materials on all life events within the city. Documented life events may include birth, marriage, death, and marriage records.
That said, Greenville’s vital records are under the purview of public agencies operating at the local and state level. Furthermore, the agencies may issue vital records via request methods like emails, mail, in-person and online platforms.
Also, the agencies may require record seekers to provide a means of identification to access confidential public documents. The Greenville County Clerk of Courts maintains records of all divorce events, while the Greenville County Probate Court handles all marriage records. Furthermore, the Greenville County Health Department, via the Vital Records Division, provides access to all birth and death records.
Where and How to Obtain Greenville Divorce Records
Residents and non-residents can obtain Greenville divorce records from the Greenville County Family Courts. To get Greenville divorce records from 1925 to April 1996, record seekers must visit the Greenville County Clerk's Circuit Court Office at:
305 East North Street
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 467-8551
Fax: (864) 467-8540
In contrast, divorce documents created after April 1996 are accessible to requesters at:
301 University Ridge
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 372-3267
Record seekers can also find and inspect divorce documents at the Greenville County Courthouse located at:
305 East North Street
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 467-8551
Fax: (864) 467-8540
Online copies of Greenville divorce documents are accessible via the Greenville County Public Index. Therefore, record seekers can conduct searches on the Public index by filling out these data:
- Court type;
- Case type;
- Record subject's name;
- Party type;
- CDR code.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control (DHEC) provides certified copies of Greenville divorce reports to interested applicants. Record seekers may apply for a divorce report at the DHEC using mail-in or in-person orders.
To receive a divorce report in person, applicants must present a completed request form, a $12 non-refundable search fee, and a valid photo ID to:
Greenville County
200 University Ridge
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 372-3267
DHEC State Vital Records Office
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 2920
Phone: (803) 898-3630
The DHEC provides divorce reports within 30 to 45 minutes of an in-person request. Most importantly, record seekers must visit the DHEC before 4 p.m. to receive the record on the same day.
For mailed requests, record seekers must include a request form, money order or check for the required fee, and a valid photo ID to:
DHEC Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201.
Where and How to Get Greenville Marriage Records
The Greenville County Probate Court is the custodian of all marriage events in Greenville City. Furthermore, through an online search platform, it issues copies of marriage records to interested applicants. To get copies of marriage documents online, fill out:
- Both applicant’s names;
- Marriage license year.
In addition, record seekers must pay the following fees online via credit/debit cards:
- $5.50 per certified copy for divorce records created within 1911 to 1970;
- $5.25 per certified copy for marriage records created from 1971 to the present.
Similarly, the DHEC provides access to Greenville marriage records created between July 1950 and December 2020. Record seekers may obtain the documents via mail or in-person requests. To get the Greenville marriage documents in-person, requesters must provide:
- A valid photo ID
- A completed request form;
- $12 non-refundable search fee and $3 for additional copies.
Record seekers may submit the necessary documents between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m to:
DHEC State Vital Records Office
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 2920
Phone: (803) 898-3630
For mailed requests, record seekers mail in a completed request form, a $12 non-refundable search fee, and a valid ID to:
DHEC Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201.
Where and How to Find Greenville Birth Records
The DHEC, via the Vital Records Division, maintains certified copies of Greenville birth certificates since 1915. Furthermore, the public agency will only give birth certificates to:
- The person named on the birth certificate;
- Parents listed on the birth certificate;
- Legal guardians
- Immediate family members;
- Legal representatives of the persons above.
Eligible applicants can request Greenville birth certificates from the DHEC in person or via mail. To use the in-person request method, applicants must present a completed request form, a $12 non-refundable search fee, and a valid photo ID to:
Greenville County
200 University Ridge
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 372-3267
DHEC State Vital Records Office
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 2920
Phone: (803) 898-3630
It takes 30 to 45 minutes for the DHEC to process in-person requests for birth certificates. Record seekers must visit the DHEC before 4 p.m. to receive the record on the same day. For mailed requests, record seekers must include a request form, money order or check for the required fee, and a valid photo ID to:
DHEC Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201.
Where and How to Find Greenville Death Records
The DHEC is the designated record custodian of Greenville death certificates. Only the deceased’s immediate family members or a legal representative of a family member can request and obtain certified copies of Greenville death certificates. In contrast, other applicants can receive an uncertified copy of a death certificate, provided they meet the DHEC’s requirements.
Interested applicants can find Greenville birth certificates in the custody of the DHEC via mail orders or in-person requests. To use the in-person request method, applicants must present a completed request form, a $12 non-refundable search fee, and a valid photo ID to:
Greenville County
200 University Ridge
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 372-3267
DHEC State Vital Records Office
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 2920
Phone: (803) 898-3630
It takes 30 to 45 minutes for the DHEC to process in-person requests for death certificates. Most importantly, record seekers must visit the DHEC before 4 p.m. to receive the record on the same day. For mailed requests, record seekers must include a request form, money order or check for the required fee, and a valid photo ID to:
DHEC Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201.
