City of Myrtle Beach Mugshots: Official Access Guide, Arrest Records, and Removal Rights

Accessing official booking photos and public arrest records generated within the City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, requires navigating specific city and county administrative procedures. Under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), mugshots and booking entries created during law enforcement operations are generally public records. In individuals booked following an arrest in Myrtle Beach, records are distributed between the Myrtle Beach Police Department and the Horry County Sheriff's Office J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

Important Operational Distinction

Primary online booking databases and photo rosters are maintained at the county level by the Horry County Sheriff's Office. While the Myrtle Beach Police Department conducts initial arrests and operates a short-term city detention desk, long-term housing, permanent processing, and searchable online mugshot databases are handled primarily through Horry County judicial systems.

Understanding Public Arrest Records in Myrtle Beach, SC

When an arrest occurs within the municipal limits of Myrtle Beach, the law enforcement process involves specific inter-agency jurisdictional transfers. Understanding which agency manages booking photos at each stage of custody is essential for locating public records accurately and efficiently.

Municipal vs. County Jurisdiction

The Myrtle Beach Police Department (MBPD) operates as the primary law enforcement authority within city limits. Individuals arrested by MBPD officers are initially transported to the Myrtle Beach Police Annex and City Jail located at 1101 10th Avenue North. This facility serves as a short-term holding station where arrestees undergo basic administration, inventory, and initial bond hearings.

If an individual cannot immediately post bond, or if they face felony charges, high-level misdemeanors, or state-level offenses, they are transferred to the Horry County J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Conway, South Carolina. Because the municipal jail does not maintain a long-term public digital repository for mugshots, official public mugshot displays and online search portals reside almost exclusively within the Horry County Sheriff's Office database.

The Role of South Carolina FOIA Law

Public access to law enforcement records in South Carolina is governed by the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq.). Under state statute:

• Arrest Logs and Blotters: Daily arrest logs containing the arrestee’s full legal name, age, charges, arrest location, and booking date are designated as open public records.
• Booking Photographs: Mugshots captured during the administrative booking procedure are generally disclosable upon request unless sealed by court order or restricted due to ongoing criminal investigations.
• Pre-Conviction Presumption: An arrest record or booking photograph represents an administrative action, not a legal finding of guilt. All individuals depicted or listed remain presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Search Myrtle Beach Mugshots and Inmate Rosters

Locating arrest records and booking photos for individuals processed in Myrtle Beach involves checking official government portals or submitting formal administrative requests.

Method 1: Horry County Sheriff’s Office Online Inmate Search

The most direct method to access current booking photos and arrest details is through the Horry County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) Inmate Portal. Because all individuals remanded to long-term custody are housed at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, HCSO hosts the consolidated database for the region.

1. Navigate to the Official Portal: Access the Horry County Sheriff’s Office official website and locate the Public Inmate Search tool.
2. Input Search Parameters: Search using the individual's full legal first and last name. You can narrow search parameters using booking date ranges or unique inmate ID numbers if known.
3. Review Booking Details: Search results display the inmate’s booking photograph (mugshot), full legal name, date of birth, arresting agency (e.g., Myrtle Beach Police Department), booking date, specific charge descriptions, bond amounts, and court jurisdiction.

Method 2: Myrtle Beach Police Department Public Records Requests

For recent arrests where an individual was released shortly after booking at the municipal level, or for cases requiring official incident reports alongside arrest records, contact the MBPD Records Division directly:

• Physical Address: Myrtle Beach Police Department, 1101 10th Avenue North, Myrtle Beach, SC 20577.
• Records Division Hours: Standard business hours, Monday through Friday.
• Formal FOIA Submission: Formal written requests for law enforcement records can be submitted via the City of Myrtle Beach Public Information Office or official web portal. Ensure requests include the date of the incident, full legal names of involved parties, and specific records requested.

Method 3: South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index Search

To review the legal disposition, court docket, or formal case filings resulting from an arrest in Myrtle Beach, consult the Horry County Public Index database hosted by the South Carolina Judicial Branch. While this index does not display booking photos, it provides verification of criminal charges, court dates, bond decisions, and final case outcomes (such as dismissals, guilty pleas, or acquittals).

Comparative Overview: City vs. County Detention Records

The table below outlines the operational differences between municipal holding facilities and county detention centers when requesting arrest records and booking photographs in the Myrtle Beach area.

South Carolina FOIA Laws and Mugshot Regulation Framework

The regulatory landscape regarding booking photos and public arrest information balances public transparency with consumer privacy rights. Statutory frameworks dictate how public agencies manage these records and how third-party platforms are governed.

Commercial Mugshot Website Regulations

South Carolina law restricts predatory practices by commercial online publishers that scrape law enforcement booking photos and demand payment for removal. Under South Carolina law enforcement guidelines and statutory protections against unlawful business practices:

• Prohibition of Extortion Fees: Commercial websites operating within or targeting South Carolina residents are prohibited from soliciting or accepting payment, fees, or compensation to remove, correct, or suppress booking photographs and arrest records.
• Mandatory Removal Requirements: If an individual’s underlying criminal charges are dismissed, dropped, result in an acquittal, or are formally expunged by court order, commercial publishers must remove the associated mugshot upon receipt of official legal verification without imposing administrative fees.

Exemptions to Public Access

While the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act provides broad public access to government records, certain law enforcement materials are exempt from disclosure:

Statutory Exceptions to Records Release

Public release of law enforcement records, including booking records, may be restricted if disclosure would interfere with an active criminal investigation, compromise a law enforcement officer's safety, expose confidential investigative techniques, disclose juvenile offender records, or violate specific victim privacy protections guaranteed under South Carolina law.

How to Expunge and Remove Arrest Records in South Carolina

An arrest record and associated mugshot can create significant barriers to employment, housing, and professional licensing, even if the arrest did not lead to a conviction. South Carolina provides legal avenues for record expungement to permanently remove eligible arrest records from public agency databases.

1. Case Disposition: Charge Dismissed, Acquitted, or Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) Completed.
2. Solicitor Application: Apply through 15th Circuit Solicitor's Office (Horry County).
3. Judicial Review: Circuit Court Judge signs official Expungement Order.
4. Agency Notification: Order served on SLED, MBPD, and Horry County Sheriff's Office.
5. Record Purge: Arrest files, mugshots, and court records permanently removed from public portals.

Eligibility for Expungement

Under S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-150 and related statutory provisions, an individual may qualify for a criminal record expungement under the following circumstances:

1. Non-Convictions: Charges were dismissed by the court, dropped by the prosecution (Nolle Prosequi), or resulted in a full verdict of acquittal at trial.
2. Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI): The individual successfully completed an approved diversion program, such as Pre-Trial Intervention, Alcohol Education Program (AEP), or Traffic Education Program (TEP).
3. First-Offense Convictions: Certain minor first-offense misdemeanors or simple possession charges may qualify for expungement after completing statutory waiting periods without subsequent criminal violations.

The Expungement Procedure Step-by-Step

To clear arrest records originating from the Myrtle Beach Police Department or Horry County Sheriff's Office, follow the official judicial procedure:

1. Apply Through the Solicitor's Office: Submit a formal Application for Expungement to the 15th Circuit Solicitor's Office, which covers Horry County.
2. Administrative Processing and SLED Review: The Solicitor's Office routes the application to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to verify criminal background history and confirm eligibility under state law.
3. Judicial Approval: Upon confirmation from SLED, a Circuit Court judge reviews and signs the formal Order for Expungement.
4. Service of Order and Destruction of Records: The certified Expungement Order is distributed to all involved law enforcement agencies, including SLED, the Myrtle Beach Police Department, the Horry County Sheriff's Office, and the local Summary or Circuit Court clerk.
5. Agency Purging: Upon receipt of the order, agencies must permanently remove, seal, or destroy public booking photos, fingerprint cards, arrest entries, and court case files in their custody.

Dealing with Third-Party Commercial Search Sites

Once an official expungement order is entered, commercial online search engines and public record aggregators must update their databases to reflect the removal.

To remove an expunged record from non-governmental websites:

• Obtain a certified copy of your judicial Expungement Order from the Horry County Clerk of Court.
• Send a formal written removal demand alongside a copy of the court order to the webmaster or legal department of the third-party website hosting the outdated mugshot.
• Cite South Carolina consumer privacy statutes prohibiting fee-based removal and requiring prompt deletion of expunged criminal records.
• Submit a formal URL removal request to major search engines to de-index cached search result pages displaying obsolete arrest records.

Consumer Rights and FCRA Background Check Regulations

Background check operations conducted for employment, credit evaluation, or tenant screening are federally regulated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.).

Key FCRA Compliance Standards

• Written Consent Requirements: Employers and landlords must obtain clear, written authorization from an applicant before conducting a commercial background check containing criminal history or public arrest records.
• Adverse Action Mandates: If an employer or housing provider intends to reject an applicant based on an arrest record or booking report, they must provide an Adverse Action Notice. This notice must include a copy of the report used and a summary of consumer rights under the FCRA.
• Inaccurate or Expunged Information: Consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) are legally prohibited from reporting expunged records or obsolete arrest data. Reporting entities must maintain reasonable procedures to ensure background check data reflects final court dispositions rather than unverified arrest logs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all mugshots taken in Myrtle Beach public record?

Yes. Under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, booking photos and arrest logs produced by public law enforcement agencies are public records unless sealed by a judge or connected to specific protected cases, such as juvenile offenses.

Where are arrestees held after being arrested in Myrtle Beach?

Arrestees are initially held at the Myrtle Beach Police Department Annex on 10th Avenue North for processing and bond hearings. If they are not released on bond, they are transferred to the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Conway, SC.

How quickly do booking details appear on the Horry County inmate portal?

Inmate records and mugshots are typically updated within several hours of transfer and formal administrative processing at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

Can a private website legally charge a fee to remove my Myrtle Beach mugshot?

No. South Carolina law prohibits commercial mugshot publication platforms from demanding fees or payment to remove or edit public arrest records and booking photos.

What happens to my mugshot if my charges are dismissed in Horry County court?

If charges are dismissed, acquitted, or dropped, the arrest record does not clear automatically. You must complete the formal legal expungement process through the 15th Circuit Solicitor's Office to order law enforcement agencies to destroy or seal the booking photos and court files.

How do I correct inaccurate arrest details listed in a public court record?

To correct factual errors on an active court docket or public index, contact the Horry County Clerk of Court or the municipal court handling the original case alongside your legal counsel to submit an administrative correction request.

Strategic Recommendations for Record Management

If you or an individual you represent is navigating public arrest records or mugshots associated with the City of Myrtle Beach, adhere to these guidelines:

1. Verify Jurisdiction First: Determine whether the record resides with the Myrtle Beach Police Department (municipal incident/arrest log) or the Horry County Sheriff's Office (county inmate search database).
2. Obtain Official Disposition Documentation: Secure certified court documents from the Horry County Clerk of Court verifying final case outcomes, such as dismissals or program completion.
3. Initiate Statutory Expungement Immediately: If eligible, begin the legal expungement process through the 15th Circuit Solicitor's Office promptly to enforce permanent record deletion across state databases.
4. Monitor Online Search Results: Audit public search engine results periodically following case resolution, and issue formal removal demands to third-party aggregators citing South Carolina law.