Chester County Felony Records
Chester County felony records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at 140 Main Street in Chester. All felony cases in Chester County go through the General Sessions Court, part of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. The Clerk of Court is responsible for maintaining all court records, fulfilling reporting requirements, processing fines and fees, and providing a welcoming and supportive environment for public records access. Chester County felony records from 1990 forward are searchable online through the South Carolina Public Index at no cost.
Chester County Quick Facts
Chester County Clerk of Court
The Chester County Clerk of Court at 140 Main Street in Chester maintains all Circuit Court records for General Sessions criminal and Common Pleas civil matters. The office strives for optimal efficiency in maintaining and providing access to Chester County felony records. Circuit Court felony records from 1990 forward are available online through the Public Index. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.
The Chester County government website at chestercountysc.gov serves residents with the motto "For Business. For Life." and provides comprehensive county services including department listings, online access to public records, and contact information for all Chester County offices.
The Chester County official site lists all departments including the Clerk of Court at 140 Main Street, where Chester County felony records and all General Sessions Court case files are maintained. The county also promotes adventure recreation including rafting, skydiving, hiking, boating, and fishing as part of its Parks and Tourism offerings.
The Chester County Clerk of Court department page at chestercountysc.gov provides information on court services, record access procedures, and contact details for obtaining copies of Chester County felony case documents and court records.
The Chester County Clerk of Court page details services available to the public including General Sessions criminal records maintenance, fee processing, and access to Chester County felony case documents through in-person or public index searches.
| Address | 140 Main Street Chester, SC 29706 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (803) 385-2605 |
| Sheriff | 2740 Dawson Drive, Chester, SC 29706 (803) 385-2151 |
| Public Index | publicindex.sccourts.org/chester |
Sixth Circuit and Chester County Felony Prosecution
Chester County is part of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of South Carolina. The Sixth Circuit Solicitor, Randy E. Newman Jr., prosecutes all felony cases in General Sessions Court for Chester County. The Solicitor's mission is to uphold the Constitution and laws of South Carolina and seek justice in a fair, ethical, and timely manner. The vision of the Sixth Circuit Solicitor's Office is to become a model for efficiency in case management. Contact is available through scsolicitor6.org.
When a felony arrest is made in Chester County, the case proceeds through bond hearing, grand jury indictment, and then trial or plea in General Sessions Court. Each step generates documents filed with the Clerk of Court at 140 Main Street. The bond hearing creates a bond record, the grand jury returns an indictment, and the trial or plea creates a sentence sheet or order. All of these documents become part of the public Chester County felony case file maintained by the Clerk of Court.
How to Search Chester County Felony Records
The Chester County Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/chester provides free online access to Circuit Court and Summary Court records. Felony records from 1990 forward are searchable by party name or case number. The system shows case status, charges, hearing dates, and disposition for Chester County felony cases. Summary Court records from magistrate and municipal courts in Chester County are also included. Accept the disclaimer before beginning your search.
In-person access to Chester County felony records is available at the Clerk of Court at 140 Main Street in Chester. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can search by name or case number and provide copies. For statewide criminal history including Chester County felony records, use SLED CATCH at catch.sled.sc.gov. The search costs $25 plus a $1 online convenience fee and covers all 46 South Carolina counties. Results are updated monthly.
Chester County felony records are public under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10. The Clerk of Court must respond to FOIA requests within 10 business days. Records of dismissed charges are subject to destruction per § 17-1-40. Eligible first-offense convictions may be expunged after five years under § 22-5-910.
Chester County General Sessions Court and Felony Classes
Chester County General Sessions Court handles all felony cases under South Carolina's six-class felony system established in Title 16 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Class A felonies carry up to 30 years and include crimes such as murder, kidnapping, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and armed robbery. Class B felonies carry up to 25 years and include voluntary manslaughter and attempted murder. Class F felonies carry up to 5 years. Every Chester County felony record shows the charge, statute citation, felony class, and sentence imposed.
For current inmate information, the South Carolina Department of Corrections at doc.sc.gov maintains records for Chester County residents serving state prison sentences of more than 90 days. The SCDC inmate search is available by name, SID number, or SCDC number. For persons held pre-trial in Chester County, contact the Sheriff's Office detention center at (803) 385-2151.
The sex offender registry maintained by SLED covers registered offenders in Chester County. Search by name, city, county, or zip code at scor.sled.sc.gov. The Chester County Sheriff is responsible for local registration and verification of sex offenders under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-430. Note: As of January 1, 2026, home address information is no longer displayed on the public index for both new and existing cases in all South Carolina counties.
Nearby Counties
Chester County is part of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. These nearby counties each maintain separate General Sessions Court felony records.