Self Background Check in South Carolina (2026): How to See What Employers See

Why Run a Self Background Check in South Carolina?

South Carolina's hiring market has been growing steadily, particularly in manufacturing, healthcare, and tourism, and background checks have become routine. SLED CATCH is the state's central system, and running a self-check is the cleanest way to know what's actually in your record before someone else opens it.

1. Find and Fix Errors Before Employers See Them

SLED's data is pulled from all 46 counties, the SC Department of Corrections, and law enforcement agencies statewide. Disposition gaps are common, particularly in cases handled at the magistrate court level. Catching a stale "open" case on your CATCH report before a hiring manager does is much cheaper than disputing it during an application.

2. Confirm Your Expungement Was Processed

South Carolina expungements are unusual because they're administered through county Solicitors' offices rather than directly by the courts. The order must travel from the Solicitor to SLED to actually remove the record from CATCH. Running a self-check 60–90 days after expungement confirms the record was actually cleared statewide.

3. Prepare for Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Licensed Profession Reviews

BMW, Boeing, Michelin, MUSC, Lexington Medical, and the state's licensed professions (nursing, real estate, security) all run fingerprint-based SLED + FBI checks. Knowing what's on your record beforehand lets you address concerns proactively, particularly if you have any deferred prosecution or PTI (Pre-Trial Intervention) history.

4. Tenant Screening in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach

South Carolina's tight rental markets, particularly in Charleston and Greenville, depend heavily on commercial screening services that aggregate SLED and county court data. Fixing errors at the source is the only durable solution.

What Shows Up on a Personal Background Check in South Carolina?

Felony and Misdemeanor Convictions

Felony convictions and most misdemeanor convictions processed in South Carolina General Sessions, Circuit, and Magistrate Courts appear on the SLED CATCH record unless expunged. The report shows offense, court, conviction date, and sentence.

Arrests

Arrest records, including arrests not leading to conviction, appear on the CATCH record. Non-conviction arrests are generally eligible for expungement through the Solicitor's office.

PTI and Conditional Discharge Cases

Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) and conditional discharge cases, common diversion programs for first-time offenders, appear on the CATCH record until successful completion. After completion, these cases are eligible for expungement.

Pending Charges

Open and pending charges appear on the CATCH record. If a case was dismissed and the disposition wasn't transmitted to SLED, the record may still show "pending" until corrected.

What's Not Included

Federal court records, out-of-state convictions, juvenile records (sealed by default), most traffic offenses (excluding DUI), and civil cases fall outside the SLED system. A complete personal check usually combines the state report with federal and multi-state sources.

How to Check Your Own Background in South Carolina

Option 1: SLED CATCH Online ($25 + $1 Convenience Fee)

The fastest official route is SLED CATCH. Create an account, enter the subject's name and date of birth, pay $25 + $1 convenience fee by credit card, and receive results electronically. CATCH only returns South Carolina records.

Option 2: Mail-In CATCH Form ($25)

For those who prefer not to use the online portal, download the SLED CATCH form, complete it, and mail it with $25 by money order or certified check to SLED in Columbia. Turnaround is typically 2–4 weeks.

Option 3: Reduced-Fee Check ($8)

Approved charitable organizations and certain volunteer positions qualify for an $8 reduced fee. The form requires verification of the organization's approval status by SLED.

Option 4: Search SC Court Records

South Carolina Judicial Department's Public Index provides free access to General Sessions, Common Pleas, and Magistrate court records. This catches case histories that may not yet be in SLED CATCH.

Option 5: FBI Identity History Summary ($18)

For nationwide coverage based on fingerprints, request an Identity History Summary directly from the FBI. Useful if you've lived in multiple states.

South Carolina Background Check Laws You Should Know

SC Code 17-22-910 (Expungement)

South Carolina's expungement statute is administered through the Solicitor's office in each of the 16 judicial circuits. Eligibility is unusually specific:

• First-offender misdemeanors with $1,000 fine or 30-day sentence, expungement after 3 years
• Certain low-level misdemeanors, expungement after 5 years
• Successfully completed PTI and conditional discharge cases, immediate expungement on completion
• Youthful Offender Act sentences (17-22-940), expungement after 5 years
• Charges resulting in not guilty, dismissed, or no prosecution, eligible for expungement

Excluded offenses include most felonies, sex offenses, and violent crimes. Multiple convictions generally do not qualify.

Youthful Offender Act (SC Code 17-22-940 and 24-19-10)

The Youthful Offender Act provides special sentencing for offenders under age 25 and includes expungement provisions for successfully completed sentences. This is one of the more accessible paths to record clearing in South Carolina.

Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI)

South Carolina's PTI program, administered by Solicitors, diverts first-time offenders from prosecution. Successful completion results in dismissal and eligibility for expungement.

No Statewide Ban the Box

South Carolina has no statewide private-sector Ban the Box law. Private employers can ask about criminal history on initial job applications. Some state agencies operate under their own internal policies, but there's no statutory protection statewide.

Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act

Third-party background checks in South Carolina are governed by the FCRA: written consent required, pre-adverse-action notice required, right to dispute errors, and 7-year cap on non-conviction reporting.

SC Human Affairs Commission

The SCHAC enforces state anti-discrimination law and follows EEOC individualized-assessment guidance for employer use of conviction records, particularly for policies that may have disparate impact on protected classes.

Should You Check Your Background Before Applying in South Carolina?

Yes, particularly because of the Solicitor-administered expungement process. Records that should have been cleared through PTI completion or YOA expungement sometimes weren't actually transmitted to SLED. A $25 SLED CATCH check confirms exactly what's still showing up on your file, and gives you time to follow up with the Solicitor's office if needed.

FAQs: Self Background Check in South Carolina

How do I run a self background check in South Carolina?

The fastest official route is SLED CATCH online: $25 + $1 convenience fee, electronic delivery. For free court searches, use the SC Judicial Department's Public Index. For broader coverage, request an FBI Identity History Summary or use a professional multi-state service.

How far back do background checks go in South Carolina?

South Carolina has no state cap on conviction reporting. The federal FCRA caps non-conviction records (arrests not leading to conviction) at 7 years on third-party employment reports. Expunged records are removed entirely.

Will expunged records show up on a South Carolina background check?

Records expunged under SC Code 17-22-910 should be removed from the SLED database and should not appear on FCRA-compliant employer background reports. Because SC expungements aren't automatic and run through the Solicitor's office, verify yours was processed by running a SLED CATCH check after the expungement.

How much does a background check cost in South Carolina?

SLED CATCH online: $25 + $1 convenience fee. SLED CATCH reduced fee for charitable organizations: $8. FBI Identity History Summary: $18. Professional comprehensive multi-state checks: $20 to $80.

Do South Carolina employers need my permission to run a background check?

Yes, when they use a third-party background check company, the federal FCRA requires written authorization. South Carolina has no statewide Ban the Box law, so private employers can ask about criminal history on initial applications. You always have the right to see any report used in a hiring decision and dispute inaccuracies.