Aiken People Search
Aiken is a city of about 31,000 residents in Aiken County, South Carolina. A people search in Aiken can help you find court records, criminal history data, property filings, and other public files linked to a person. The city sits in the western part of the state near the Georgia border. Aiken County holds most of the records that tie back to city residents through its Clerk of Court, Register of Deeds, and Sheriff's Office. This guide covers each tool and office so you can run a people search in Aiken from home or in person at the county seat.
Aiken Quick Facts
Aiken People Search Court Records
Court records are one of the best ways to find details about a person in Aiken. The South Carolina Judicial Branch runs a statewide Public Index that covers all courts in Aiken County. You can search by name, case number, or filing date. Results show the case type, parties, filing date, status, and any charges or sentence data. The tool is free and does not need a login. Visit sccourts.org/caseSearch and pick Aiken County from the dropdown to start your search.
The Public Index holds records from Circuit Court, Family Court, Magistrate Court, and some Municipal Court cases. Criminal matters in General Sessions show arrest details and charge data. Civil suits in Common Pleas show filed complaints, motions, and judgments. Family Court covers divorce, custody, and support cases, though some records for minors are sealed by law.
If you need certified copies of court files from Aiken, contact the Aiken County Clerk of Court. The office is at 109 Park Avenue SE, Aiken, SC 29801. Call ahead for current fees and hours. Older case files may be stored off-site and can take a few days to pull.
Note: Home address data no longer shows on the Public Index for new or old cases as of January 1, 2026.
Criminal History Search in Aiken
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division runs the CATCH system for statewide criminal history checks. CATCH stands for Citizens Access to Criminal Histories. You can use it to search for anyone in Aiken or anywhere else in the state. The cost is $25 per search plus a $1 online fee. You need the person's last name, first name, and date of birth. Results show arrests, charges, and case outcomes from all 46 South Carolina counties.
To run a CATCH search for an Aiken resident, go to catch.sled.sc.gov and create an account. Pay with a credit or debit card. Results come back right away for online searches. Mail-in requests take 7 to 10 business days. Send those to the SLED Records Department at PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221. CATCH does not include sex offender data or info on wanted persons.
The SLED CATCH system processed more than 553,000 background checks online in a single year. It is a name-based search only. Fingerprint checks are more reliable but are only done when a specific South Carolina law requires them.
Contact the SLED Public Dissemination Unit at 803-896-1443 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays if you have questions about your results or the search process.
Aiken Sex Offender People Search
The South Carolina Sex Offender Registry lets you search for registered offenders living in or near Aiken. The system is called SORT, which stands for Sex Offender Registry Tracking. It is free and open to the public. You can search by name or by ZIP code. Results show photos, home addresses, aliases, and a map of each offender's location.
SORT is run by SLED with help from the U.S. Department of Justice. You can sign up for email alerts when a new offender moves into your area. The Aiken County Sheriff's Office also helps keep the registry current. Visit scor.sled.sc.gov to start your search. South Carolina law makes it a crime to use this data to threaten or harass anyone on the list. A misdemeanor offense can bring up to $1,000 in extra fines and six more months in jail.
Registry laws are found in S.C. Code of Laws Title 23, Chapter 3, Article 7. SLED tracks more than 10,000 actively registered sex offenders across the state.
Finding Inmates from Aiken
If you need to find someone held in a state prison who was arrested in Aiken, use the South Carolina Department of Corrections inmate search. The tool at public.doc.state.sc.us/scdc-public is free and covers all state inmates. Search by name, SCDC number, or State ID. Results show the inmate's photo, location, offenses, sentence, and release date.
For people held at the local Aiken County jail, contact the Aiken County Sheriff's Office. The detention center can confirm whether a person is in custody. Jail records are public under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. You may also request booking records through a FOIA request sent to the Sheriff's Office.
SCDC headquarters is at 4444 Broad River Road in Columbia. You can also email FOIA requests to FOIA@doc.sc.gov for records about state inmates from Aiken.
Note: The SCDC search only covers people sentenced to state prison, not those held in local or federal jails.
Aiken Professional License Lookup
You can verify whether a person in Aiken holds a valid professional license through the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The LLR Licensee Lookup tool covers more than 40 boards including contractors, real estate agents, nurses, doctors, and many others. Search by name or license number at verify.llronline.com.
Results show the license status, which can be active, inactive, suspended, or expired. The tool also shows any disciplinary actions or enforcement records tied to the license holder. This is a useful part of any Aiken people search when you want to check credentials before hiring a professional.
The LLR main office is in Columbia. Call 803-896-4300 for help with the lookup tool or questions about a specific board.
Vital Records for Aiken People Search
The South Carolina Department of Public Health keeps birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for the entire state, including Aiken. Birth and death records go back to January 1, 1915. Marriage records cover July 1950 through December 2021. Divorce records cover July 1962 through December 2014. The DPH took over from DHEC on July 1, 2024.
Certified copies cost $12 for the first copy and $3 for each extra copy. Birth records become public after 100 years, and death records after 50 years. Until then, only close family members and legal representatives can request them. Order online through VitalChek at dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records or mail your request to the Vital Records Office at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201.
For marriage records before 1950, check the Aiken County Probate Court. That office keeps older marriage license files that predate the state system.
Public Records Requests in Aiken
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to request public records from any city or county office in Aiken. Under S.C. Code Title 30, Chapter 4, a public record includes any document made, owned, or kept by a government body. You do not need to say why you want a record.
To make a request, send a written description of the records you need to the office that holds them. The office has 10 business days to respond for records less than 24 months old. Older records get a 20-day window. Fees may apply for search, copy, and staff time. The rate is based on the lowest paid worker who can fill the request. Copy fees follow the going commercial rate. Electronic copies sent by email have no copy fee.
- Police arrest reports from the Aiken Department of Public Safety
- Court filings from the Aiken County Clerk of Court
- Property records from the Aiken County Register of Deeds
- Jail booking data from the Aiken County Sheriff's Office
- Meeting minutes from the City of Aiken
The law bars anyone from using public records for commercial mailings aimed at people in South Carolina. That offense is a misdemeanor under S.C. Code of Laws with fines up to $500 or up to one year in jail.
Note: Some records are exempt from FOIA, including active criminal investigation files and materials that would cause an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy.
Appellate Court Records for Aiken
If a case from Aiken was appealed to a higher court, you can find it in the South Carolina Appellate Court Management System. This tool covers cases filed with the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. Search by case number, participant name, or SCDC inmate number at sccourts.org/ACMS. The system shows events, documents, and basic case details for most appellate matters.
Published opinions from both courts are also available on the site. Sealed or confidential cases do not show up in the system. This is a free tool that updates on a daily cycle.
Aiken County People Search Records
Aiken is located in Aiken County. All court filings, property records, and jail data for the city run through Aiken County offices. For full details on county-level search tools, fee lists, and office locations, visit the Aiken County people search page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
People in nearby cities can also search for records through their own county offices. Pick a city below to learn about people search options in that area.