Sumter County Felony Records
Sumter County felony records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at 141 N Main Street in Sumter. All felony cases in Sumter County go through the General Sessions Court, part of the Third Judicial Circuit. James C. Campbell serves as Clerk of Court. The office maintains sentence sheets, arrest warrants, indictments, and pleadings for all General Sessions cases. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Sumter County is home to Shaw Air Force Base and is the most populous county in the Third Judicial Circuit. Felony records from 1990 forward are searchable through the South Carolina Public Index.
Sumter County Quick Facts
Sumter County Clerk of Court
James C. Campbell serves as the Sumter County Clerk of Court at 141 N Main Street in Sumter, phone (803) 436-2227. The office maintains sentence sheets, arrest warrants, indictments, and pleadings for all General Sessions Court cases including all Sumter County felony cases. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The Clerk's office provides the official repository for all court records in Sumter County across General Sessions criminal cases, Common Pleas civil cases, and Family Court proceedings.
The Sumter County Sheriff's Office at 1281 North Main Street in Sumter, phone (803) 436-2774, provides inmate search capabilities through the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. The Records Division maintains arrest records for all felony cases originating in Sumter County. For individuals held pre-trial at the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center on felony charges, the inmate search at sumtercountysheriff.org provides current detention status. When a felony arrest is made in Sumter County, the case documentation moves from the Sheriff's Records Division to the Clerk of Court once formal charges are filed.
The Sumter County Clerk of Court page at sumtercountysc.gov provides information on court services for General Sessions criminal cases, Common Pleas civil cases, and Family Court, with details on office hours and guidance on accessing Sumter County felony records through the Public Index and in-person requests at the courthouse on N Main Street.
The Sumter County Clerk of Court page at sumtercountysc.gov provides contact information and details on the record-keeping function of the Clerk's office, including General Sessions Court felony records maintained by James C. Campbell, with information on accessing Sumter County felony records both online through the Public Index and in person at the courthouse.
The Sumter County Sheriff's Office at sumtercountysheriff.org provides law enforcement services for Sumter County including inmate search capabilities through the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center for individuals held pre-trial on felony charges, along with the Records Division maintaining arrest records for all Sumter County felony cases.
The Sumter County Sheriff's Office at sumtercountysheriff.org serves Sumter County with full law enforcement operations including the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center inmate search and Records Division, providing public access to arrest information and pre-trial detention status for individuals involved in Sumter County felony cases.
| Clerk of Court | James C. Campbell |
|---|---|
| Address | 141 N Main Street Sumter, SC 29150 |
| Phone | (803) 436-2227 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Sheriff | 1281 North Main Street, Sumter, SC 29153 (803) 436-2774 |
| Public Index | publicindex.sccourts.org/sumter |
Third Circuit and Sumter County Felony Prosecution
Sumter County is part of the Third Judicial Circuit of South Carolina along with Clarendon, Lee, and Williamsburg counties. The Third Circuit Solicitor's Office prosecutes all felony cases in General Sessions Court for all four circuit counties. Sumter County is the most populous of the Third Circuit counties and generates the largest share of General Sessions Court caseload. Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter County adds a federal dimension to the local justice system, as military personnel may face both federal and state charges for the same conduct.
When a felony arrest is made in Sumter County, the case proceeds through bond hearing, grand jury indictment, and trial or plea in General Sessions Court at the Sumter County Courthouse on N Main Street. Each step generates documents filed with the Clerk of Court. The Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center serves both Sumter and Lee counties for pre-trial detention, and the Sheriff's Office inmate search at sumtercountysheriff.org allows the public to locate individuals held at the facility pending resolution of their Sumter County felony cases.
How to Search Sumter County Felony Records
The Sumter County Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/sumter provides free online access to Circuit 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 Sumter County felony cases. Accept the disclaimer before beginning your search.
In-person access to Sumter County felony records is available at the Clerk of Court at 141 N Main Street in Sumter. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. For statewide criminal history including Sumter County felony records, use SLED CATCH at catch.sled.sc.gov. The fee is $25 plus $1 online and covers all 46 South Carolina counties.
Sumter 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 removed per § 17-1-40. Eligible first-offense convictions may be expunged after five years under § 22-5-910. Note: As of January 1, 2026, home address information is no longer displayed on the public index for all South Carolina counties.
Sumter County General Sessions Court and Felony Classes
The Sumter County General Sessions Court handles all felony charges under South Carolina's six-class system defined in Title 16 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Class A felonies carry up to 30 years and include murder, kidnapping, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and armed robbery. Class B felonies carry up to 25 years. Class C felonies carry up to 20 years. Class D felonies carry up to 15 years. Class E felonies carry up to 10 years. Class F felonies carry up to 5 years. Every Sumter County felony record shows the charge, statute citation, felony class, and sentence imposed.
For current inmate information for Sumter County residents serving state prison sentences, use the SCDC inmate search at doc.sc.gov. For those held pre-trial in Sumter County, use the inmate search at sumtercountysheriff.org. The sex offender registry for Sumter County is searchable at scor.sled.sc.gov. The Sumter County Sheriff is responsible for local sex offender registration under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-430.
Cities in Sumter County
Sumter County includes the City of Sumter as its county seat and major community. All felony cases for Sumter County residents are filed at the General Sessions Court in Sumter.
Nearby Counties
Sumter County is part of the Third Judicial Circuit with Clarendon, Lee, and Williamsburg counties. These nearby counties each maintain separate General Sessions Court felony records.