Florence Recent Bookings Database
Florence is the largest city in Florence County and a regional hub in the Pee Dee area of South Carolina. The Florence Police Department handles arrests inside city limits, and detainees who do not bond out are moved to the Florence County Detention Center. The Florence County Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate search that covers recent bookings from the city. You can also request records directly from the Florence Police Department Records Unit or the Florence County Sheriff's Office. This page explains each option.
Florence Quick Facts
Florence Police Department Records Unit
The Florence Police Department is located at 324 West Evans Street, Florence, SC 29501. The Records Unit is in Room 105 on the first floor of the City Center Administrative Services Division. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and the unit is closed on holidays. Call (843) 665-3191 to reach the Records Unit with questions or to start a request before you come in.
For accident reports, in-person requests cost $3.00 for subjects of cause or uninvolved parties. Mailed, faxed, or emailed requests for the same reports cost $4.00. Victims of accidents receive copies at no charge. For requests involving videos or extensive materials, you must submit a Florence County FOIA Request Form, which you can get at the Records Unit or download from the city's website.
Mail requests to the Florence Police Department, Records Unit, Room 105, 324 West Evans Street, Florence, SC 29501. Include a copy of your current photo ID, the accident case number if you have it, the date, and the location. Make payment by money order or check for $4.00. For requests sent by mail, that amount covers uninvolved parties and subjects of cause.
Florence Recent Bookings and Inmate Search
The Florence County Sheriff's Office maintains a free online inmate search that covers current and recent bookings at the Florence County Detention Center. The database updates daily and includes charges and bond amounts for people currently in custody. This is the primary tool for checking Florence recent bookings at the county level.
The Florence County Detention Center inmate search is accessible through the Sheriff's Office website. The Florence County Sheriff's Office is located at 6719 Friendfield Road, Effingham, SC 29541, and can be reached at 843-665-2121. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. In-person records requests require a completed request form, valid government-issued photo ID, and payment of applicable fees. Fees typically run $10 to $25 per record, and processing takes five to ten business days.
Mailed requests to the Florence County Sheriff's Office follow the same process. Download and complete a records request form, include a copy of your government-issued photo ID, enclose a check or money order, and include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail to the Records Division at the Effingham address above.
Note: Under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30(D), crime reports from the past 14 days and names of people confined at the Florence County Detention Center for the past three months are available without a written request during normal business hours.
Free Records Access for Florence Bookings
Several free options exist for researching Florence arrest records and recent bookings beyond the online inmate search.
The Florence County Clerk of Court at 180 N. Irby Street, Room 104, Florence, SC 29501, provides public access terminals where anyone can search court records at no charge. The phone number is 843-665-3031, and the office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. This is a good resource for finding case status and disposition information tied to Florence arrests.
The Florence County Public Library at 509 S. Dargan Street, Florence, SC 29506 (phone 843-662-8424) also provides computer access that can be used to search online public records databases. Local newspapers publish police blotters with recent Florence arrest information as another no-cost option.
Under the South Carolina FOIA at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10, citizens may request to inspect public records during normal business hours without charge. Copy fees may apply but the inspection itself is free.
Florence Arrest Record Retention
Florence County maintains arrest-related records on the following schedule: arrest reports are kept permanently, as are fingerprint cards, mugshot photographs, and criminal history records. Arrest warrants are retained for 10 years after execution or expiration. Booking reports stay on file for 10 years from the date of booking. Incident reports are kept for five years from the date of the incident.
Mugshots taken during Florence bookings are official photographs maintained by the Florence County Sheriff's Office, local police departments, and SLED. To obtain a mugshot, submit a public records request to the Florence County Sheriff's Office Records Division. Booking photos of current inmates may also appear in the online inmate search. The typical fee is $5 to $15 per photograph.
Juvenile arrest records and mugshots are generally not public in Florence. Expunged records are removed from public access. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-1-60, any commercial use of booking photos to solicit payment for removal is prohibited in South Carolina and carries criminal penalties.
State Resources for Florence Booking Records
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division provides statewide criminal history checks through its CATCH portal for $25 per search. Results include convictions and arrests across all South Carolina jurisdictions. Mail-in requests go to SLED Records Department, P.O. Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221-1398.
For cases that have moved to state prison, the South Carolina Department of Corrections inmate search at doc.sc.gov covers people currently serving sentences. That database updates daily and is separate from the county detention system. VINE at vinelink.com provides free custody status alerts for Florence County Detention Center inmates.
Florence County Recent Bookings
Florence city arrests are processed through the Florence County Detention Center. For county-level booking resources, the Sheriff's Office contact information, and the full scope of county records, visit the Florence County page.