What are Dillon County Public Records?
Per the provisions of the South Carolina FOIA, the Dillon County public records are available to any person wishing to view or obtain copies. These records include but are not limited to, birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, property records, and arrest warrants. To obtain these records, interested persons may submit a Freedom of Information Act request form to the appropriate office.
While most public records are available to the general public, some exceptions exist. For example, documents pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations or that would threaten national security may not be released. Additionally, some states have laws that protect the privacy of certain types of information, such as medical records or financial information. As a result, it is always best to check with the appropriate office before submitting a FOIA request to ensure that the documents being sought are available to the public.
FOIA request forms can be obtained from the Dillon County clerk's office or online through the South Carolina FOIA website. Once the form is completed, it must be submitted to the appropriate office along with any applicable fees. The request will then be processed and, if approved, the records will be made available to the requester.
In addition to government agencies, some public records may also be accessible 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. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Are Dillon County Criminal Records Public?
Yes, Dillon county criminal records are public information unless otherwise specified by judicial order.
The Dillon County Sheriff's office serves as the county's primary law enforcement agency and is tasked with maintaining the criminal history information of county residents. These records are also maintained by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which serves as the central repository of South Carolina criminal history information.
Requests for Dillon county criminal records may be made to the county Sheriff's office at:
Dillon County Judicial Center
1033 Old Latta Highway
P.O. Box 627
Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: (843) 774-1432
Fax: (843) 841-3229
South Carolina criminal record requests can also be made through the SLED CATCH. The database allows requestors to conduct name-based criminal record searches online. Requestors will be required to pay a non-refundable $25 fee for this service and an additional $1 convenience fee for credit card payments.
Mail requests can be made by completing and submitting the Criminal Records Check Request Form. Request forms should be mailed to:
SLED Records Department,
P.O. Box 21398
Columbia SC 29221-1398
Phone: (803) 737-9000
How to Obtain Dillon County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
Dillon county police reports are maintained by the county Sheriff's office and contain details on criminal activities dedicated in the county. These reports typically include information on traffic mishaps, citations, and other criminal occurrences within county limits.
To obtain a police report from Dillon County, interested persons may contact the Records Division of the Dillon County Sheriff's Office. The requestor may do so in person, by mail, or online. Similarly, Dillon county arrest records are public records containing information on persons jailed within the county's judicial district. The records also include charges, bail quantities, and other details related to the arrest.
To obtain these records, requestors may send a written request to the county Sheriff's office or query the office in person. Typically requests must contain the requestor's name, address, and telephone number, as well as information regarding the records of interest. They will also require to include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Dillon County.
Interested members of the general public may find Dillon county sex offender information through the county Sheriff's office. The office maintains an online searchable database comprising offenders' names, addresses, photos, and offense information.
To access the database, go to the Dillon County Sheriff's Office site and select the "Sex Offender registry" link under the "Additional Information" heading. On the site the user is redirected to, they can narrow the search by name, address, or city. Users might also use the interactive map to locate sex offenders in their location.
How to Find Dillon County Inmate Records
Interested members of the general public might find Dillon county prisoner records by querying the Dillon County Detention Center. The office preserves a database of inmate-related information, which is available for public access. The database is upgraded regularly and consists of mugshots, charges submitted, sentencing information, and more. Users may search the database using the name, race, gender, and arrest date of the inmate and even more filtered down by the arresting agency.
To obtain prisoner records from the Dillon County Sheriff's Office in person or via mail, members of the general public may submit a written request. The request should contain the details needed to facilitate the record search, and once completed, it must be submitted to the office along with a legitimate photo I.D and any indicated fees. Queries may be addressed to:
Dillon County Detention Center
1027 Old Latta Highway
Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: (843) 774-1435
How to Visit an Inmate in Dillon County Jail
Persons who plan on visiting inmates in Dillon County must be on the authorized visitor list to get into the center. Visitors can apply to be added to the list by submitting a Visitor Application form, which can be acquired from the Dillon County Sheriff's Office website or at the jail.
After being approved, visitors will require to comply with the visitation schedule. Visitation hours vary depending on the day and the inmate's housing unit, so visitors are advised to view the schedule in advance. The visitor will be required to bring a valid I.D., such as a driver's license or passport, during their visit.
After arriving at the prison for a visit, the visitor must undergo a security screening. This may consist of a metal detector and pat-down search. After being cleared for entry, the visitor will then be escorted to the visitation location, where they can spend time with their loved ones.
Interested persons may also schedule video visitation if applicable to the inmate.
Dillon County Court Records
The Dillon County judicial structure comprises a circuit court, a family court, and a magistrate court. The circuit court is the county's trial court of general jurisdiction. It hears both civil and criminal cases. The family court has exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving marriage, divorce, child custody, and support. The magistrate court is a limited jurisdiction court that hears minor criminal cases and handles some civil matters such as small claims cases.
The Dillon County judicial structure is presided over by a chief judge who the county's judges elect to serve a four-year term. The chief judge appoints a clerk of court and a solicitor. The court clerk is responsible for maintaining the records of the county's courts. The solicitor is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases in the county's courts.
Location of All Courts in the County
Listed below are the addresses and contact information of all the courthouses in Dillon County, South Carolina:
Dillon County Circuit Court
301 West Main Street,
PO Drawer 1220,
Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: (843) 774-1425
Fax: (843) 841-3706
Dillon County Family Court
301 West Main Street,
PO Drawer 1220,
Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: (843) 774-1425
Fax: (843) 774-3706
Dillon County Probate Court
401 West Main Street,
P.O. Box 189,
Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: (843) 774-1423
Fax: (843) 841-3732
Dillon County Magistrate Court
1033 Old Latta Highway,
P.O. Box 1016,
Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: (843) 774-1406
Fax: (843) 774-1453
Dillon Municipal Court
City-County Complex Building
401 West Main Street,
PO Drawer 431,
Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: (843) 774-0049 ext. 1019
Fax: (843) 774-0184
Lake View Municipal Court
205 North Main Street,
P.O. Box 824,
Lake View, SC 29563
Phone: (843) 759-2861
Fax: (843) 759-0177
Latta Municipal Court
Latta City Hall
109 NW Railroad Avenue,
Latta, SC 29565
Phone: (843) 752-6110
Fax: (843) 752-4355
Are Dillon County Court Records Public?
Yes, according to the provisions of the South Carolina Public Records Act, court records are public details, and interested members of the general public may access them by querying the Dillon County Clerk of Court.
Court records contain details on legal cases heard before a law court. The information in a court record consists of the names of the parties involved with the case, the date and time of the hearing, the name of the administering judge, and transcripts of proceedings.
Where and How to Obtain Dillon County Court Case Records
The Dillon County Clerk of Courts maintains and provides public access to records of court cases heard by the county courts. To gain access to court records, members of the general public may query the office in person or request copies of records by mail, fax, or e-mail. There is a charge for copies of records, and the clerk's office accepts cash, check, or money order payments.
The requesting party will be required to provide any information required to facilitate the record search, including the case number, names of the parties, including plaintiffs and defendants, and the date of the court proceeding.
Certain kinds of court records might be sealed or restricted from public access. For instance, documents about adoption, juvenile offenders, mental health, and expunged records are not readily available to the public. To view these kinds of records, a court order is typically required.
Dillon county court record requests might be made to:
Clerk of Court, Register of Deeds
301 W Main St
PO Drawer 1220
Dillon, SC 29536
What are Dillon County Vital Records?
Vital records are documents containing information regarding important life events, such as births, marriages, and deaths. Dillon county vital records can be used to prove identity, citizenship, or family history.
In South Carolina, it is the primary responsibility of the Office of the County Register of Deeds to keep and provide access to all vital records for the county. The office likewise issues certified copies of these records to eligible requestors.
At state level, the Vital Records Unit of the South Carolina Department of Health keeps and processes requests for vital records. However, Dillon County divorce records are normally maintained by the County Clerks' office.
Where and How to Obtain Dillon County Divorce Records
Persons who need to obtain Dillon County divorce records might query the Dillon County Clerk of Court, which is the primary custodian of documents for the county.
To obtain copies of Dillon County divorce records, the requesting party must send out a written request containing the complete names of both the petitioner and the respondent, the case number, and the date of divorce. The request ought to also include a self-addressed stamped envelope. The request may be mailed or provided in person to:
Dillon County Clerk of Court
Dillon County Clerk of Court, Register of Deeds
301 W Main St
PO Drawer 1220
Dillon, SC 29536
Where and How to Obtain Dillon County Marriage Records, Birth Records, and Death Records
The South Carolina Department of Public Health processes requests for Dillon County birth records, Dillon county death records, and records of marriages that take place within county limits.
Per state law, birth certificates are not public records and may only be accessed by persons with substantial interest - i.e., the subject of the record, direct relatives of the subject, and individuals bearing legal permission to access the record.
On the other hand, both death and marriage certificates can be obtained by interested members of the public upon request.
To request any of these records, the requesting party might download and send any of the following applications:
The relevant application must be notarized and accompanied by the applicable payment and I.D. requirements and sent to:
South Carolina Department of Public Health
Vital Records Office
2600 Bull Street,
Columbia, SC 29201
