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For South Carolina arrest records, use SLED CATCH only for its statewide criminal-history scope, use the responsible local agency or jail for event and custody information, and use the court record for filed charges and disposition.
SLED CATCH is a South Carolina criminal-history product, not a universal arrest-status search
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division provides CATCH for name-based South Carolina criminal-history reports. SLED explains that the service is limited to South Carolina criminal-record information and that wanted-person information is not included. That makes CATCH useful for a statewide criminal-history question, but it should not replace a county detention search when the question is current jail custody or an active warrant.
SLED also distinguishes name-based results from fingerprint-based identification and notes that fingerprint searches are the more reliable identity method. For a specific prosecution, the South Carolina Judicial Branch/court record is the better layer for filed charges and disposition. Keep the statewide history report, local arrest source, and court case separate.
South Carolina sources answer different arrest-related questions
| Question | Primary layer | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|
| What appears in a statewide criminal-history report? | SLED CATCH | South Carolina-only and name-based; not a wanted-person list |
| Is someone in a county jail now? | Responsible county detention source | Current custody changes over time |
| What happened in the prosecution? | Judicial Branch / responsible court | Court record does not replace an agency incident report |
Identity matters more in a statewide South Carolina search
Name-based result
CATCH returns a possible record match
Use accurate identifiers and read the product limitation before relying on it.
Specific arrest
You know the county or agency
Use that agency or detention source for event/custody detail.
Disposition
A criminal case reached court
Verify the outcome in the judicial record rather than from the arrest history alone.
Move from South Carolina history to specific records deliberately
1
Define the product you needCriminal history, current custody, wanted status, agency report and court case are not the same search.2
Use SLED only for its statewide history scopeDo not describe CATCH as a jail or wanted-person database.3
Use local sources for the arrest or custody eventCounty and agency systems own the operational record.4
Finish at the court for case outcomeThe judicial file supports filed charges and final disposition.Related guide: How to look up criminal records