Florence People Search
Florence is the county seat of Florence County and the hub of the Pee Dee region in eastern South Carolina. A people search in Florence uses records from the Florence County court system along with statewide databases maintained by SLED. The city has about 40,000 residents and serves as a regional center for the surrounding area. Florence County sits in the 12th Judicial Circuit, and the city has its own police department and municipal court. SLED maintains a regional office in the Pee Dee area at (843) 662-6245 to support local law enforcement.
Florence Quick Facts
Florence Police Department Records
The Florence Police Department handles law enforcement within the city. The department maintains incident reports, arrest records, and other police files that are part of the public record under South Carolina law. Visit cityofflorence.com/police-department for information on requesting records from the department. Police reports and arrest records are available through FOIA requests directed to the department.
The Florence Police Department submits all arrest data to SLED, which adds it to the statewide criminal history database. This means any arrest made by Florence police will show up in a SLED CATCH background check. The department also works with the Florence County Sheriff's Office on cases that cross city and county boundaries.
Note: Active investigation files may be withheld from public release until the case is closed under FOIA exemptions for law enforcement records.
Florence Municipal Court Records
The Florence Municipal Court hears cases involving city ordinance violations and minor criminal offenses within city limits. Municipal courts in South Carolina can handle cases with a maximum penalty of $500 in fines or 30 days in jail. Some cases may be transferred from General Sessions Court if the punishment does not exceed $5,000 or one year. The court at cityofflorence.com/municipal-court provides details on court procedures and how to access case information.
Some Florence Municipal Court records may appear in the statewide Public Index if the court participates in the online system. For records not found online, contact the municipal court directly. The court handles traffic violations, misdemeanor offenses, and city code violations. Case records include the citation number, charge details, court dates, fines, and payment status.
Florence Criminal Background Checks
SLED CATCH is the primary tool for running a criminal background check on someone in Florence. It searches all arrest records across South Carolina using the person's name and date of birth. Each search costs $25 and returns results right away when done online at catch.sled.sc.gov. The system is name-based and requires a "starts with" match on last name, first name, and date of birth.
Mail-in requests go to SLED Records Department, PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221. Send a business check, certified check, or money order. Personal checks are not accepted. SLED processed over 553,000 online checks in 2019. The Public Dissemination Unit takes calls at 803-896-1443 on weekdays from 9 AM to 4:30 PM.
SLED CATCH does not include sex offender data or wanted person information. Those are maintained in separate systems. A Social Security Number helps narrow results but is not required to run a search.
Florence Court Records Search
The South Carolina Judicial Branch provides free online access to Florence County court records at sccourts.org/caseSearch. Select Florence County from the dropdown to search the 12th Judicial Circuit. The system covers Circuit Court in both General Sessions and Common Pleas, Family Court, and Magistrate Court records. Search by party name, case number, or date to find what you need.
Results show case numbers, filing dates, parties, charges, and case status. The system is available 24 hours a day and requires no payment for basic searches. For certified copies, contact the Florence County Clerk of Court. Some older records may not be in the online system and need to be requested in person or by mail.
For appellate cases, use the Appellate Court Management System at sccourts.org/ACMS. This system covers cases filed with the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Search by case number, participant name, or SCDC inmate number.
Florence Inmate and Offender Search
The South Carolina Department of Corrections runs an online inmate search for anyone serving a state prison sentence. Go to the SCDC public search to look up people from Florence by name or inmate number. The system shows photos, charges, sentences, facility locations, and projected release dates. SCDC also accepts FOIA requests at FOIA@doc.sc.gov for more detailed inmate records.
The SLED Sex Offender Registry at scor.sled.sc.gov tracks over 10,000 registered offenders across South Carolina. Search by name or enter a Florence ZIP code to see a map of nearby offenders. The SORT system shows photos, addresses, and aliases. Free email alerts are available when an offender moves into your area.
Note: Using sex offender registry data to harass or intimidate anyone on the list is a crime in South Carolina with penalties that include both fines and imprisonment.
Florence Public Records and Vital Records
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act under Title 30, Chapter 4 gives you the right to request records from any public agency in Florence. This includes city departments, the county government, and the school district. Requests must be in writing. The agency has 10 business days to respond for recent records and 20 business days for older records.
Fees cannot exceed the actual cost of search, retrieval, and copying. Electronic records are provided at no charge for the transmission itself. A deposit of up to 25% may be required before work begins on large requests.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health at 2600 Bull Street in Columbia maintains vital records for the entire state. Key dates for record availability are:
- Birth and death records: from January 1, 1915
- Marriage records: July 1950 through December 2021
- Divorce records: July 1962 through December 2014
- Certified copies: $12 first copy, $3 each additional
For older records, check with the Florence County Probate Court or the Clerk of Court. Professional license verification is available through the LLR Licensee Lookup at verify.llronline.com, which covers over 40 license types in South Carolina.
Florence County People Search
Florence is the county seat of Florence County. All major court filings, property transfers, and probate matters for the city run through the Florence County system. The county Clerk of Court maintains criminal, civil, and family court records at the county courthouse.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Residents of nearby cities can access similar people search tools through their own county systems. Choose a city below for specific details.