Bookings · Releases · Court Records
Horry County Arrest Records
Find recent Horry County arrests, jail booking information, release records, and official South Carolina criminal court resources.
Official Search Directory
Bookings & Releases Detention Center Information Horry County Court Cases South Carolina Criminal HistoryLooking for Horry County arrests? The county maintains an official Bookings and Releases database for records associated with the J. Reuben Long Detention Center. You can use it to find reported booking activity and release information, then check court records or contact detention staff when verification is necessary.
This guide covers Conway, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Loris, and other Horry County communities. It explains which records are available online, where to request police reports, and how to understand charges, bond information, and court outcomes.
Important: An arrest is not a conviction. Booking records may be incomplete or outdated, and a listed release date does not establish every aspect of a person’s current legal status. Always check the government source and its update timestamp.
Where to Search Horry County Arrest Records
Horry County arrest records are held by different government organizations depending on the record’s purpose. A recent jail booking, an arrest report, a criminal case, and a statewide background check are not interchangeable.
The quickest starting point for most readers is the county’s official Bookings and Releases search.
Which agency handles the records?
The Horry County Sheriff’s Office oversees the J. Reuben Long Detention Center and manages detention-related services. However, the Horry County Police Department and municipal police departments are separate law enforcement agencies.
For example, someone arrested by Myrtle Beach Police may later appear in the county detention booking system if they are booked there. The arresting police department may still maintain the original incident or arrest report.
Use the county booking database for jail activity, the arresting agency for its incident report, the court for the legal case, and SLED for qualifying statewide criminal history.
How to Find Recent Horry County Arrests and Bookings
The official Horry County Bookings and Releases application presents information obtained from detention bookings. The county warns that it cannot guarantee the accuracy of every published entry.
The database is a useful first step for recent arrest research, but it should not be treated as a complete historical criminal record.
Step-by-step booking search
- Open the county booking database.
Visit the official Bookings and Releases application. You can also access it through the Sheriff’s Detention Center page and its Bookings & Releases link.
- Check the data collection timestamp.
The application displays when its information was last collected. Read this timestamp before deciding whether a recent arrest or release should already appear.
- Enter search information.
Use the available Last Name, Booking Date, or Release Date fields. Search controls may change, so follow the labels currently displayed.
- Review the returned entries.
Compare names, ages, booking dates, arresting agencies, and booking identifiers where shown. Do not assume a name match confirms a person’s identity.
- Open available record details.
Review charge descriptions, release dates, or bond information when the system provides them.
- Verify important information.
If a result affects a legal decision, family arrangement, or bond question, contact the detention center or the appropriate court.
What details might a booking contain?
Depending on the individual record and the public database’s current format, a booking may show a recorded name, age, booking number, date of admission, release date, arresting agency, charge descriptions, and available bond details.
Some records may also show a booking photograph. The availability and completeness of those fields can vary.
Can you search arrests from the last 24 hours?
You can search by booking date when that filter is offered. However, do not assume that all arrests occurring during the last 24 hours have already been posted.
New admissions require processing, and the public application is not a guaranteed real-time record of every law enforcement event in Horry County.
Does the county publish mugshots?
Some published booking entries contain photographs. A booking photo is an identification record associated with detention, not proof of guilt.
Do not confuse a person who was booked with a person who was convicted. For judicial outcomes, consult the corresponding court case.
Horry County Jail Inmate Search and Release Status
The J. Reuben Long Detention Center is the central detention facility discussed in Horry County’s official booking records. Its booking database can help identify a reported admission or release.
However, custody status can change after data is published. An online entry is not a substitute for direct confirmation.
A booking date tells you when a person entered the detention process. It does not, by itself, tell you whether that person remains in jail.
How to check whether someone is still detained
- Search the official booking application by last name or available date.
- Examine any release date or related status information.
- Check the application’s data collection timestamp.
- Compare the record with available identifiers.
- Contact Booking at 843-915-6911 for a time-sensitive question.
- Use the main detention center number, 843-915-5140, for other jail-related assistance.
Why might a person disappear from the results?
Possible reasons include release, transfer, changes to the searchable reporting period, or an administrative update. A missing entry is not reliable proof that an individual was never arrested.
What if an inmate has been transferred?
The person may be housed in another county, state correctional facility, or federal detention system. Horry County’s booking system is not a complete search tool for all South Carolina or federal correctional facilities.
For people in South Carolina state prison custody, consult the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Use the receiving agency’s own records when a transfer is confirmed.
Do North Myrtle Beach arrests appear?
Horry County’s booking system may include certain records involving the City of North Myrtle Beach. The North Myrtle Beach Communications and Detention Division also provides local detention information and directs people to the county booking resource.
If an individual was initially held in a municipal detention facility, the reporting and transfer timeline may differ from a direct admission to J. Reuben Long.
How to Understand Arrest Charges, Booking Dates, and Bond Information
Booking databases contain administrative and legal terms that can be confusing. A charge listed in a jail record is not necessarily the final charge filed in court.
| Field | Meaning | What to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Booking date | When an admission was recorded by the detention system. | It may differ from the actual arrest time. |
| Booking number | An identifier assigned to a custody event. | It is not necessarily the court case number. |
| Arresting agency | The department associated with the arrest. | The agency may maintain the original incident report. |
| Charge description | The alleged offense or legal basis listed in the booking system. | Compare with filed court charges. |
| Bond or bail | A listed release-related condition or amount, if available. | Confirm eligibility and payment instructions. |
| Release date | A reported exit from the applicable detention custody record. | Release may involve transfer or other legal conditions. |
| Court disposition | A recorded legal outcome in a criminal case. | Use the official court record. |
Where can you find Horry County bond information?
The Sheriff’s Office provides a separate Bond Information page. It explains the roles of the magistrate and circuit courts, bond payments, and detention-related hearings.
Some serious offenses require a Circuit Court judge to determine bond rather than a magistrate. Other charges or holds can affect release eligibility.
How are bonds paid?
The county states that cash or surety bonds are posted through the Magistrate’s Office, subject to the applicable rules. Its guidance identifies cash, money orders, and major credit cards as accepted payment methods and says personal checks are not accepted.
Confirm the exact amount, accepted method, and eligibility before making a payment.
Bond scam warning: The Horry County Sheriff’s Office states that it does not collect bond payments over the phone. If you receive a demand for immediate payment, do not send money. Call Booking directly at 843-915-6911.
When are bond hearings held?
The official bond page lists typical magistrate hearing times but warns they may change. For current scheduling, contact the Magistrate’s Office at 843-915-5145.
Do not rely on a general schedule when coordinating attendance, arranging transportation, or seeking urgent release information.
How to Search Horry County Criminal Court Records
A booking report can identify a reported arrest or detention event. The court record can help establish whether criminal charges were filed, which hearings occurred, and what outcome was entered.
Horry County is part of South Carolina’s Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. Public case information can be searched through the South Carolina Judicial Branch’s Horry County Public Index.
Step-by-step court case search
- Open the Horry County Public Index.
Use the official South Carolina court search page.
- Read the website’s access notice.
Follow the judicial system’s displayed search instructions and any required acceptance of its terms.
- Search by name or case details.
Use the available case number, party name, or case filters to identify a potentially matching proceeding.
- Compare identifying information.
Check the court, case type, number, and related activity. Do not assume that the first matching surname identifies the correct individual.
- Review case activity.
Look for filed charges, hearing information, court actions, and any recorded disposition.
- Request additional documents when needed.
If a required record is not publicly available online, contact the Clerk of Court or the court maintaining that proceeding.
Why are booking charges and court charges sometimes different?
Law enforcement and courts record different stages of a criminal matter. The initial booking information may reflect an arrest allegation, while the court record reflects the charges formally filed or later amended.
A court case may eventually result in dismissal, acquittal, conviction, or another disposition. Those outcomes cannot be established from the booking photograph alone.
Does the Public Index include every criminal case?
Not necessarily. Access restrictions, record processing, court jurisdiction, and case confidentiality rules can affect the information visible online.
Some matters may fall within magistrate or municipal court systems, while other criminal proceedings are handled in General Sessions Court.
For a particular hearing or certified record, contact the appropriate court instead of relying exclusively on an online index entry.
That does not automatically mean the person was convicted or the charge was dismissed. The case may be pending, filed under different identifying information, or not available through the selected search.
How to Obtain Horry County Police Arrest and Incident Reports
The original police incident report and a jail booking are different records. The arresting agency typically maintains the report created by its officers, while the detention system maintains booking information.
Identify the arresting department first
An arrest may involve Horry County Police, Myrtle Beach Police, Conway Police, North Myrtle Beach Public Safety, or another law enforcement agency.
If you need the original arrest or incident report, use the responsible department’s records procedure rather than expecting every report to be stored at the county jail.
Horry County Police Department reports
The Horry County Police Department Citizens page explains the department’s public records access options.
According to its guidance, a police report bearing your name may be available to you without a charge. It lists a $2 fee for certain reports requested by someone not named in the report. Disclosure restrictions and redactions can apply.
For copies of reports not bearing your name, the department directs people to its in-person request process or the county’s FOIA system. Some requests involving your own report may be submitted using the department’s records email and prescribed identification procedure.
Contact the Horry County Police Records Section
- Records telephone
- 843-915-8344
- Records email
- [email protected]
- Police warrants
- 843-915-8247
- Official instructions
- Police Support Services
Can you request an arrest report made by Myrtle Beach Police?
If Myrtle Beach Police made the arrest, begin with that city’s police records process. The county detention center may have a booking entry, but the original municipal police report can be maintained separately.
This distinction is especially useful when the record you need concerns an incident in a city but the person was later booked into the county detention center.
How to Request Older Arrest Records Under South Carolina FOIA
South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act allows access to qualifying public records, subject to applicable legal exemptions and agency procedures.
For older reports or material not available in the online booking application, make a focused request to the government office that maintains the records.
How to submit a Horry County records request
- Identify the required record, such as a specific arrest report, booking document, or police incident report.
- Prepare the relevant date, location, agency, case number, and other identifying details.
- Open the county’s Public Information and FOIA page.
- Follow the official FOIA Request link and complete the required details.
- Specify the documents rather than asking a general question about someone’s history.
- Review any proposed processing or copying fees.
- Keep the acknowledgement and follow up using the assigned request information.
How long does a South Carolina FOIA request take?
Under South Carolina Code § 30-4-30, the general determination periods depend on the age of the requested records. These periods are different from the time allowed for producing nonexempt documents after an applicable determination.
| Records Requested | Initial Determination | Production Period |
|---|---|---|
| Two years old or newer | Generally 10 business days. | Generally within 30 calendar days after the determination or applicable deposit. |
| Older than two years | Generally 20 business days. | Generally within 35 calendar days after the determination or applicable deposit. |
These are general statutory rules. Extensions by agreement, exemptions, deposits, and other legal conditions may affect an individual request.
Read the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act for the controlling language.
What does a Horry County FOIA request cost?
The county’s public information page publishes fees that can include copying and staff processing charges. Its listed schedule includes $0.15 per standard paper page and $25 per hour for staff time, with additional rates for certain media records.
These rates are not necessarily the fee for every police or detention record. Ask the specific records custodian about the applicable cost before ordering a large collection.
Can the Sheriff’s Office refuse a request from a nonresident?
The Sheriff’s Public Information Office states that it reserves the right to deny certain information requests from people who are not citizens of South Carolina.
If your request is affected by this published policy, seek clarification directly from the Sheriff’s Office. Statutory access rights and disclosure obligations should be assessed under the applicable South Carolina law.
Where do you send a Sheriff’s Office request?
Horry County Sheriff’s Office — Public InformationAttn: Brennan Cavanagh1301 Second Avenue
Conway, SC 29526
Public Information telephone: 843-915-8096
Sheriff’s FOIA and Public Information Instructions ↗
What records may be restricted?
South Carolina FOIA includes exemptions covering certain law enforcement investigative information, privacy-sensitive material, confidential sources, fair-trial interests, and information protected under other state or federal laws.
An agency may provide a redacted record, withhold exempt portions, or deny an eligible request with an explanation. A public records request does not override all confidentiality protections.
South Carolina SLED Criminal Background Checks
For qualifying criminal history information beyond one Horry County booking, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division offers its Citizens Access to Criminal Histories service, known as SLED CATCH.
The service provides name-based searches of qualifying South Carolina criminal history records reported to the state. It is not a nationwide background check.
How much does a SLED CATCH search cost?
| Fee Type | Amount | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Standard criminal record check | $25.00 | Standard SLED CATCH report fee. |
| Online convenience fee | $1.00 | Additional fee for online background searches. |
| Online service fee | $1.43 | Additional service fee for a standard $25 online report, effective July 1, 2026. |
| Qualifying reduced-fee report | $8.00 | Available only to organizations meeting SLED’s specified eligibility conditions; separate online charges may apply. |
For a standard $25 online check, the published convenience and service charges bring the listed total to $27.43. Confirm the amount in the official checkout process before payment.
How to search SLED CATCH
- Open the state service.
Visit the official SLED CATCH website.
- Read the terms and conditions.
Review permitted use, privacy requirements, payment terms, and the limitations of a name-based search.
- Provide the required identity information.
The state requires specified name and date-of-birth details for a search. Incorrect spellings or aliases can affect matching.
- Complete the payment process.
Use the official service’s instructions and review all displayed fees before submitting.
- Review or print the report.
Use the returned information only for an appropriate purpose and check the process for correcting erroneous records if needed.
Does SLED CATCH include federal or out-of-state arrests?
No. SLED states that CATCH reports cover South Carolina criminal records and do not function as national criminal history reports.
It also warns that a name-based result can produce false matches or miss records when names, aliases, and identifying information differ. Fingerprints can provide more reliable identity matching when a fingerprint-based check is legally authorized.
Can an incorrect SLED record be corrected?
SLED recognizes a subject’s right to seek correction of erroneous criminal record information. Contact its Public Dissemination Unit at 803-896-1443 for questions about results and available procedures.
A county booking search and a SLED CATCH report serve different purposes. Neither should be treated as a complete federal and nationwide criminal history report.
What If You Cannot Find a Horry County Arrest Record?
If the county booking search does not show the person or event you expected, review the search criteria and determine whether the correct record system is being used.
The arrest happened recently
The booking may not have completed intake processing, or the public report may not have refreshed. Check its last collection time before assuming the record is missing.
The person has already been released
Use the Release Date filter if available. Do not rely only on results representing people currently in custody.
The name was recorded differently
Try reasonable surname spelling variations. Confirm identity through legitimate official information rather than a name match alone.
Another police department made the arrest
The original incident report may be held by Myrtle Beach, Conway, North Myrtle Beach, or another agency. Contact the arresting department if your goal is to obtain that report.
The person was transferred
A transfer to another facility can change the available custody information. Identify the receiving facility and use its official records system.
The record is protected or unavailable online
Juvenile records, sealed proceedings, sensitive investigative information, and other legally protected details may be restricted.
The court case has not been filed or displayed
Booking and court records are processed separately. A matching court case may not yet be available or may require additional information to find.
Before calling the agency: Prepare the recorded name, approximate arrest date, arresting department, and booking or case number if available. Ask one specific question, such as current custody, a particular report, or a court disposition.
J. Reuben Long Detention Center Location, Contact, and Map
The J. Reuben Long Detention Center is located in Conway, South Carolina. It is operated through the Horry County Sheriff’s Office and provides detention services for the county.
- Facility
- J. Reuben Long Detention Center
- Street address
- 4150 J. Reuben Long Avenue, Conway, SC 29526
- Detention center
- 843-915-5140
- Booking questions
- 843-915-6911
- Visitation questions
- 843-915-6860
- Magistrate’s Office
- 843-915-5145
Open Directions in Google Maps ↗
What should visitors know?
Visitation, inmate communications, release arrangements, and bond hearings have their own procedures. They are not the same as a public records request.
The detention center’s official website states that inmate communications transitioned to NCIC Correctional Services beginning November 12, 2025. Check the current Detention Center services directory before creating an account or paying for a service.
Where is the Sheriff’s administrative office?
The Horry County Sheriff’s Office lists its main administrative address separately from the jail, at 1301 Second Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. Its general office number is 843-915-5450.
Do not travel to the detention facility for an administrative or records service without confirming where that service is handled.
Does the detention center handle bond payments?
The county publishes separate Magistrate’s Office instructions for bonds and hearings. Contact Booking or the Magistrate’s Office to confirm the correct location, payment method, and eligibility.
Privacy, Record Accuracy, and Responsible Use
Arrest and booking records can affect reputations and decisions. Public access does not eliminate the risk of mistaken identity, outdated charges, or misunderstanding of a person’s legal situation.
An arrest does not prove guilt
A person may be arrested or charged without ultimately being convicted. An allegation appearing in a booking record should not be described as an established criminal finding.
Published information may change
Charges may be amended or dismissed. Custody status can change, and a pending court case may later receive a disposition. Recheck the primary record if the information matters to a legal decision.
Do not confuse similar names
People may share the same name, age, or locality. Those details alone may not establish identity. Seek authoritative confirmation before associating a person with a particular arrest.
Employment and housing screening
This article and the county booking application are not substitutes for a legally compliant employment or tenant screening process. The Fair Credit Reporting Act and other laws may impose requirements on certain background-screening activities.
Protect personal information
The Sheriff’s Office has warned about scams involving people listed in booking records. Avoid sharing sensitive identifiers, financial details, or payment information with unverified contacts.
For official bond issues, use the Sheriff’s published telephone numbers and instructions. For corrections, contact the agency responsible for the specific government record.
What about removal or correction requests?
If information is incorrect, determine whether it originated with the detention center, the arresting police agency, the court, or SLED. Each maintains different records and follows different procedures.
A third-party website’s outdated listing should not replace an official corrected report or court disposition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Horry County Arrests
Where can I find recent Horry County arrests?
Use the official Horry County Bookings and Releases application at horrycountysc.gov/apps/bookings/. Review the search filters and data collection timestamp before interpreting a result.
Can I search Horry County bookings by name?
The county booking system offers a Last Name search field. Other date-based filters may also be available. Confirm a person’s identity through the appropriate official record.
Are Horry County mugshots public?
Certain public booking records may include photographs. Availability varies, and a mugshot is not proof of a criminal conviction.
How do I find out if someone is still in J. Reuben Long Detention Center?
Review the official booking and release information, then contact Booking at 843-915-6911 or the detention center at 843-915-5140 when current confirmation is necessary.
Are arrests from the last 24 hours available?
You may search using the available booking date controls, but the public report is not guaranteed to update immediately after each arrest. Always check its collection timestamp.
Does a release date mean the person has no pending charges?
No. A release from a detention facility does not establish that a criminal case has ended. Use the court record for the status of any filed charges.
How can I find Horry County criminal court records?
Use the South Carolina Judicial Branch’s Horry County Public Index. Search by the available case details and review the official docket for legal proceedings and outcomes.
Where do I request an older arrest report?
Contact the law enforcement agency that maintains the report. The Horry County Sheriff’s Office and Horry County Police Department publish records request and FOIA procedures.
What is the Horry County Jail booking phone number?
The Sheriff’s Office directory lists J. Reuben Long Booking at 843-915-6911. The detention center’s general number is 843-915-5140.
Can I pay an inmate bond by telephone?
No. The Sheriff’s Office specifically warns that it does not collect bond payments by phone. Contact Booking or the Magistrate’s Office using official numbers for current payment instructions.
Does Horry County’s booking website show every South Carolina arrest?
No. It concerns records maintained through the county detention booking system. A statewide qualifying criminal history report is a different service provided by SLED CATCH.
How much does a South Carolina SLED background check cost?
The published standard report fee is $25. Online searches also carry a $1 convenience fee and, effective July 1, 2026, a $1.43 standard-report service fee.
Can an arrest record be corrected?
Yes, erroneous information may be challenged through the agency responsible for the record. Detention, police, judicial, and state criminal history records have different correction procedures.
Are juvenile arrest records included?
Juvenile justice information is subject to additional confidentiality and access restrictions. Do not assume that an ordinary public booking search contains juvenile arrest or court records.
Official Horry County Arrest and Criminal Records Sources
These official government resources provide the starting points for the searches, procedures, and contact details in this article.
- Horry County Bookings and Releases: Official booking search application.
- Horry County Sheriff’s Office: Sheriff’s services and office directory.
- J. Reuben Long Detention Center: Facility and inmate services information.
- Official Bond Instructions: Magistrate hearings and bond payments.
- Horry County Judicial Public Index: Public court case search.
- Horry County Police: Police report request instructions.
- Horry County Public Information: County FOIA requests and fees.
- Sheriff Public Information Office: Sheriff FOIA and public information contacts.
- South Carolina Law: Freedom of Information Act, Title 30, Chapter 4.
- South Carolina Law Enforcement Division: SLED CATCH criminal history checks.
- South Carolina Department of Corrections: State correctional services and resident information.
Which Record Should You Check Next?
For a recent booking or reported release, start with Horry County’s official booking application. For present custody or bond questions, telephone J. Reuben Long staff. For a court outcome, search the judicial public index.
For an older incident report, use the arresting agency’s records process. For qualifying statewide criminal history, follow SLED CATCH instructions.
Use the record maintained by the responsible government agency, and verify its date and limitations before making an important decision.