Find South Carolina Released Inmates
South Carolina released inmates are tracked through official state databases that anyone can search online at no charge. The South Carolina Department of Corrections maintains the SCDC Released Inmate List, which allows you to search by county and release date for people discharged from state prisons. SLED keeps statewide criminal history records through the CATCH portal. The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services also maintains records for people under community supervision. This page connects you to the right official sources for searching South Carolina released inmate records across all 46 counties.
South Carolina Released Inmates Quick Facts
The SCDC Released Inmate List
The South Carolina Department of Corrections operates the main database for released inmates in the state. This tool is the SCDC Released Inmate List and it is available free on the SCDC website. You do not need an account or any login to use it. Search by choosing a county from the dropdown menu and entering a release date range. All 46 South Carolina counties appear in the selection menu.
Search results appear in groups of ten. Each result shows the inmate name, SCDC number, release date, and county of commitment. The county of commitment is where the criminal case was filed, not necessarily where the person currently lives. Results cover people who have been fully discharged from SCDC custody. An optional sex offender checkbox filters results to show only registered offenders if needed.
The official SCDC Released Inmate Search at public.doc.state.sc.us/released-inmate-list is the starting point for most released inmate searches in South Carolina.
The database holds records going back several years. If someone was recently discharged from a South Carolina state prison, their name and release information will appear in this system.
Current Inmates vs. Released Inmates in South Carolina
SCDC runs two separate search tools. One finds current inmates. The other finds released inmates. They do not share the same database.
The SCDC main website at doc.sc.gov serves as the main portal for all inmate searches and Department of Corrections resources in South Carolina. From here you can navigate to both the current inmate search and the released inmate list. The site also has information about SCDC facilities, visitation rules, victim services, and legal information including FOIA requests sent to FOIA@doc.sc.gov. The department operates approximately 21 correctional institutions and employs around 5,000 staff members across the state.
The current inmate search at public.doc.state.sc.us/scdc-public shows people still serving state sentences. It displays photos and basic booking information. Data is updated as of midnight the previous day. This tool does not show released inmates, people held in county jails, or those under parole or probation supervision.
County jails hold pre-trial defendants and people serving short misdemeanor sentences. Those records are kept at the county level and are not part of the SCDC system.
Note: Use the released inmate list for discharged state inmates and the current search for those still incarcerated in a South Carolina state prison.
SLED Criminal History for Released Inmates
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division serves as the central repository for all criminal history information in the state. SLED keeps records of arrests, convictions, and charges from every agency in South Carolina. Released inmates have records in this system. You can run a name-based search through the CATCH portal online.
The SLED main website at sled.sc.gov is where you find background check tools, the Sex Offender Registry, and other law enforcement services for South Carolina. SLED headquarters is located at 4400 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210. The phone number is (803) 737-9000. The Public Dissemination Unit handles questions about background check results at (803) 896-1443.
SLED's CATCH (Citizens Access To Criminal Histories) system charges $25 per search with a $1 online convenience fee. You need the exact last name, first initial, and date of birth for a result. Social Security Number may also help narrow results when provided. The system shows conviction data, arrests within the last three years, and pending charges. It does not include juvenile records, expunged cases, or certain sealed information.
The SLED CATCH portal at catch.sled.sc.gov provides criminal history records for released inmates and others in South Carolina. Results are available immediately after payment. You can also mail a request to SLED Records Department, PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221-1398.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-40, criminal records must be destroyed if a charge was dismissed or the person was found not guilty. Not every arrest results in a permanent record in South Carolina.
South Carolina Sex Offender Registry
South Carolina maintains a separate public Sex Offender Registry for convicted sex offenders. SLED operates this registry. Every person convicted of a qualifying sex offense and released must register. The registry shows current address, conviction offense, and photo.
The South Carolina Sex Offender Registry at scor.sled.sc.gov lets you search by name, city, county, or zip code. An advanced geographic search is also available. Contact information for the registry is: SLED, PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29210, phone (803) 896-2601, email sor@sled.sc.gov.
Most registered offenders must update their registration every year. Those with more serious offenses or predator designations must check in every 90 days. Sheriffs are authorized to charge up to $150 annually for registration. People listed on the Sex Offender Registry who served time in state prison will also appear in the SCDC Released Inmate List if they were discharged from SCDC custody.
Probation, Parole, and Pardon Records
Many former inmates in South Carolina serve part of their sentence under supervised release rather than behind bars. The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services handles community supervision for these individuals. This agency tracks both parolees and probationers statewide.
The SCDPPPS at dppps.sc.gov maintains a searchable database of people currently under community supervision in South Carolina. You can search by last name, first name, state ID number, or birth year. The main office is at 2221 Devine Street, Suite 600, Columbia, SC 29250. Regular hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at (803) 734-9220. An after-hours emergency line is available at (800) 263-7191.
Parole and pardon hearings are finalized approximately 30 days before the hearing date. Both victims and supporters may attend. Pardon records are searchable online for hearings held after July 7, 2021. An online fee payment system handles probation fees and restitution.
Note: Someone appearing in the SCDPPPS offender search is still under supervision and has not fully completed their sentence in South Carolina.
South Carolina Released Inmate Laws
South Carolina statutes set out how inmates are released and what rights the public has to access those records. These laws are found in Title 24 and Title 30 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 24-13-710, SCDC runs a supervised furlough program that allows carefully screened inmates to be released before their parole eligibility date. Participants are placed under state probation agent supervision. Eligibility excludes violent crimes, no-parole offenses, and certain sex offenses. Participants must allow warrantless searches of their person, vehicle, and possessions by probation agents or law enforcement. They must also notify dwelling owners of this search authority.
Section 24-13-210 covers parole. Before SCDC may release an inmate on parole, the inmate must agree in writing to be subject to warrantless search and seizure. Law enforcement must verify parole status before conducting a warrantless search, and all such searches must be reported monthly to SCDPPPS. Release dates are calculated under SCDC Policy PS-10.01, which governs time served and earned work credits.
The FOIA statute page at scstatehouse.gov/code/t30c004.php sets out public rights to inspect government records in South Carolina, including jail and prison records going back three months.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30, documents identifying persons confined in jail, detention center, or prison for the preceding three months are public records. Names and release information are open to anyone. This right does not extend to people currently incarcerated but it does apply once they are released. Public bodies may impose reasonable rules for access but cannot deny the right to inspect these records.
The inmate release statute page at scstatehouse.gov/code/t24c013.php covers supervised furlough conditions, parole requirements, and other South Carolina release procedures in full.
VINELink Victim Notification System
South Carolina participates in the VINELink system. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. It lets victims and concerned citizens sign up for automatic alerts when an inmate's custody status changes in South Carolina.
The VINELink service at vinelink.com covers South Carolina Department of Corrections facilities and many county jails statewide. You register using the offender's name or ID number. When that person is released, transferred, escapes, or dies, you receive a notification by phone, email, text, or TTY.
The service is free and available around the clock. Registration is confidential. The offender cannot discover who has signed up. VINE covers both state prison releases and many county-level releases in South Carolina.
Federal Inmates with South Carolina Connections
Some South Carolina residents serve federal sentences rather than state sentences. Federal cases are prosecuted in U.S. District Courts and result in placement in federal prisons across the country.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc covers people sentenced in federal court, including South Carolinians held in federal custody. Search by name or BOP register number. The tool shows current facility location, projected release date, and offense information for active federal inmates. It also includes historical data for people already released from federal custody.
This is a separate system from SCDC. A person in federal custody will not show up in the South Carolina released inmate list. Use both databases if you are not sure whether the person was held in a state prison or a federal facility.
South Carolina Court Records for Former Offenders
The South Carolina Judicial Branch keeps court records for every criminal case filed in the state. These records cover Circuit Court, Family Court, Magistrate Court, and Municipal Court cases across all 46 counties. Court records show what charges were filed, the sentencing, and whether the case led to a prison term.
You can search the South Carolina Public Index by name, case number, or filing date. Select the county from the dropdown and search by party name to find criminal cases. Basic case information is free. Certified copies of case documents must be obtained from the Clerk of Court in the county where the case was heard. The database is updated regularly with new filings and case dispositions from all 46 South Carolina counties.
Browse South Carolina Released Inmates by County
Each county in South Carolina has its own Sheriff's Office and detention center for local inmates. The SCDC Released Inmate List lets you filter by county. Pick a county below for local resources and released inmate information specific to that area.
Released Inmates in Major South Carolina Cities
Residents of major cities are booked at county detention centers when arrested. Select a city below for released inmate resources in that area.