Horry County Inmate Population Roster
Horry County has a unique law enforcement setup that shapes its inmate population. The county is home to the only remaining county police department in South Carolina. This is different from other counties that use a sheriff's office as primary law enforcement. Horry County covers the Grand Strand area, which includes Myrtle Beach, Conway, and surrounding communities. You can search for inmates held in Horry County through public records tools and county resources. The large tourist population and many cities in the county lead to a sizable inmate population throughout the year.
Horry County Police Department
The Horry County Police Department is the only county police department left in South Carolina. It was set up in 1959 by a legislative decree. In 1998, the people of Horry County voted to keep it in a referendum. The department serves as the primary law enforcement agency for all unincorporated areas of Horry County. Its main office is at 2560 Main Street, Suite 7, in Conway.
The department uses a five-precinct system. This splits the county into five areas. Each precinct has its own officers and patrol zones. The goal is to give faster service and build stronger ties with the community. The Horry County Police Department's mission is "compassionately serving our community through partnerships and professionalism." Officers from each precinct make arrests that feed into the Horry County inmate population.
The Horry County Police Department website lets citizens file reports online for non-emergency incidents. The site also provides information about special operations and community services available in Horry County.
The page above shows the main police portal for Horry County, where residents can access services and find details about law enforcement operations.
Note: Filing a false police report in Horry County is a crime under South Carolina law.
Horry County Government and Inmate Records
Barry Spivey serves as the Horry County Administrator. He oversees more than 30 departments organized under three divisions: public safety, administration, and infrastructure and regulation. The police department falls under the public safety division. This structure means the inmate population in Horry County connects to a larger system of county services.
The Horry County government website provides access to many services. You can find information about bookings, releases, and recent arrest data. The county posts public access records for recent arrests and releases. This helps families and the public check on the Horry County inmate population without having to visit in person.
Through the county site, you can also reach the Clerk of Court, Renee Elvis, who manages court records and case information for Horry County.
Jimmy Richardson serves as the Solicitor for Horry County. He prosecutes criminal cases that come through the court system. The Public Defender, Ronald Hazzard, provides legal help to people who cannot afford a lawyer. These offices play a direct role in how long inmates stay in the Horry County inmate population as cases move through the courts.
Horry County Municipal Law Enforcement
Several cities in Horry County have their own police departments. Myrtle Beach Police serves the city of Myrtle Beach. North Myrtle Beach has its own force. Conway Police covers the county seat. Each of these agencies can arrest people who then enter the Horry County inmate population.
The Horry County Police Department works with all of these city agencies. They share information about crimes and suspects. When a person is arrested by any agency in the county, the booking record becomes part of the overall Horry County inmate population data. The county police handle the unincorporated areas, while city police handle their own jurisdictions.
During the summer tourist season, the Myrtle Beach area sees a jump in arrests. This increases the Horry County inmate population. The police department provides security for major events in the county, which also leads to more bookings during peak times. The five-precinct system helps the county police manage this workload across the large geographic area.
How to Search Horry County Inmates
You can find inmates in Horry County through several methods. Start with the county's public records portal for recent bookings and releases. You can search by name to check if a person is in custody. The records show charges, bond amounts, and booking dates.
For court case details, use the South Carolina Judicial Branch public index. This free tool covers all courts in the state. You can search Horry County cases by party name or case number. The index shows case status, hearing dates, and other details that help you track an inmate's progress through the system.
The Horry County portal shown above is another resource for finding county services and public records related to the inmate population.
If the person has been sent to state prison, search the South Carolina Department of Corrections website. The SCDC inmate search tool shows where the person is held, their sentence, and their expected release date. This is separate from the Horry County local records.
To find someone in the Horry County inmate population, gather these details:
- The person's full name
- Date of birth if known
- Approximate arrest date
- Arresting agency if known
Horry County Inmate Population and State Law
South Carolina law governs how inmates are held and released in Horry County. Under S.C. Code Ann. 24-13-150, inmates convicted of no parole offenses must serve at least 85 percent of their sentence. Good behavior credits under Section 24-13-210 allow regular inmates to earn up to 20 days off per month. These rules determine how long a person stays in the Horry County inmate population or in the state prison system.
Under S.C. Code Ann. 30-4-10, Horry County inmate records are public. You have the right to request them. The county must respond within the time frame set by the Freedom of Information Act. You can submit your request to the Horry County Police Department or the Clerk of Court.
The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services supervises offenders who return to Horry County after prison. Their website has a search tool that shows who is under supervision in the area.
Note: Horry County inmate records may include people arrested by any of the multiple law enforcement agencies that serve the county.
Cities in Horry County
Horry County includes several major cities. All inmates arrested in these areas may be held in the Horry County jail system.
Myrtle Beach is the largest city in Horry County. Conway is the county seat. Carolina Forest and Socastee are also part of the Horry County area.
Nearby Counties
Horry County is in the northeastern corner of South Carolina. If you are looking for an inmate who may have been arrested in a nearby area, try these counties.