Find Columbia Arrests, Booking Records and Jail Mugshots Through the Correct Agency
For most Columbia arrests in Richland County, start with the official Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center Detainee Lookup. If Columbia Police made the arrest, use the detention record for custody and the Columbia Police Records Unit for the underlying incident report.
Records Search
Court, Criminal, Marriage, Divorce, Property
Columbia also extends into Lexington County, so not every Columbia Police arrest belongs in Richland County’s jail system. A mugshot or booking entry documents an arrest-stage event and does not prove guilt or show the final court outcome.
Was the Columbia Arrest in Richland County or Lexington County?
City limits do not always tell you which jail or court system holds the record. Columbia Municipal Court itself distinguishes between Columbia Police arrests in Richland County and Columbia Police arrests in Lexington County.
Columbia arrest in Richland County
Start with Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. Richland County describes it as its intake center for people held after arrest and awaiting trial.
Use the county Detainee Lookup for current public custody information.
Columbia arrest in Lexington County
Do not expect a Lexington County arrest to appear in Richland County’s detention database. Use the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and its jail resources for county custody.
Lexington County lists its Sheriff’s Department at 521 Gibson Road, Lexington, with jail information available through the department.
A practical clue from Columbia Municipal Court
The court says Columbia Police arrests occurring in Richland County use bond court at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. Columbia Police arrests occurring in Lexington County use bond court at Columbia Municipal Court. That county distinction is a useful way to avoid searching the wrong detention system.
Which Columbia Arrest Record Do You Actually Need?
A jail entry, mugshot, police report, court case and statewide criminal-history report are different records. Use the source that answers the specific question rather than treating one mugshot page as a complete criminal history.
Is the person at Alvin S. Glenn?
Use Richland County’s official Detainee Lookup for public custody information.
Search detainees →Need the Columbia Police incident record?
Use the CPD Records Unit. It maintains incident, accident and supplemental reports created by Columbia Police officers.
See CPD report rules →Was Richland County Sheriff’s Department the agency?
RCSD maintains its own incident reports and FOIA process. Do not send an RCSD report request to Columbia Police.
See Sheriff record options →Need a Columbia Municipal Court case?
Richland County maintains Columbia Municipal Court case records, and the city says records from 1988 to present can be searched through the Public Index.
See municipal case search →Need a Richland County General Sessions case?
Use the South Carolina trial-court Public Index and Richland County Clerk of Court for felony and serious misdemeanor cases.
See Richland court route →Need more than one Columbia booking?
SLED CATCH provides a name-based South Carolina criminal-history search and serves a different purpose from a county detainee lookup.
See statewide options →How to Search Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center Detainees
Richland County’s detention page links directly to a public Detainee Lookup. The public interface supports name searching and should be the first government source for current Richland County detention.
Open the official Richland County Detainee Lookup
Use the county-linked system rather than a copied commercial mugshot page when current custody matters.
Search the person’s legal name
The public search provides first-name and last-name fields. Enter the name carefully and avoid assuming that every same-name result belongs to the person you mean.
Review the available detention information
Use the result for the custody and booking information the county provides. An initial charge or detention status is not a conviction.
Confirm the arresting agency
A person held at Alvin S. Glenn may have been arrested by Columbia Police, Richland County Sheriff’s Department or another law-enforcement agency. The arresting agency matters when you need the underlying incident report.
Follow the case into court
Once charges reach a court, use the appropriate Municipal, Magistrate or General Sessions court record for later case activity.
How to Check Recent Columbia Bookings Without Inventing a Mugshot Archive
Richland County provides a current detainee search, but that should not automatically be described as a guaranteed “last 24 hours,” “7 days” or “30 days” mugshot archive. Current custody and historical arrest research are different tasks.
| What you need | Best official starting source | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Person may be jailed in Richland County now | Alvin S. Glenn Detainee Lookup | Search by name and verify identifying details. |
| Recent Columbia Police arrest | Detainee Lookup + CPD Records | Use detention for custody and CPD for the incident report. |
| Person was released | Court Public Index + agency records | Follow the arrest into the correct court and request older agency records if needed. |
| Columbia arrest on Lexington County side | Lexington County Sheriff / jail | Do not rely on Richland County’s detainee search. |
| Person moved to South Carolina state prison | SCDC Inmate Search | Use the state-prison locator rather than a county detention search. |
What Happens During Booking at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center?
Richland County’s detention guidance describes a formal admission and booking process designed to establish identity and retain arrest information. The county’s published inmate guidance describes several steps that help explain where the booking photograph and jail record come from.
Commitment is checked
Before admission, detention staff determine the legal basis for custody and whether the person has an immediate medical need.
Fingerprinting and photographing
The published booking process includes searching, fingerprinting, recording personal data and photographing the person.
Medical and classification steps
The detention process also includes medical screening, initial classification, pretrial-related processing and property inventory.
What the mugshot actually shows
The booking photograph is an identification record created during intake. It does not establish whether the charge was later prosecuted, amended, dismissed or resulted in conviction.
A Columbia Police Incident Report Is Different From the Jail Booking
Columbia Police Records Unit is the repository for incident reports, vehicle accident reports and supplemental reports completed by CPD officers. If CPD made the arrest, the police report may explain the incident in a way the detention record does not.
Reports within 14 days
CPD currently says an incident report within 14 days of the current date is free for the victim. Other requesters currently pay $3.
Reports older than 14 days
Victims remain free under the current published CPD schedule. Other requesters are directed to the Freedom of Information Act process.
Columbia Police Headquarters
1 Justice SquareColumbia, SC 29201
Records Unit: 803-545-3577
Published hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., except holidays.
CPD says reports can be obtained in person with valid government-issued photo ID or mailed to the verified address on the report when the requester cannot pick it up. The department does not email or fax reports because of privacy concerns.
Where Columbia Bond Hearings Take Place
The correct bond location depends on jurisdiction. Richland County Bond Court is inside Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, while Columbia Municipal Court publishes separate schedules for Columbia Police arrests depending on whether the arrest occurred in Richland or Lexington County.
Richland County Bond Court
201 John Mark Dial Dr.Columbia, SC 29209
Phone: 803-576-3281
Richland County says magistrates conduct bail-bond hearings four times daily to determine whether and under what conditions a defendant may be released.
Columbia Police jurisdiction difference
Columbia Municipal Court says CPD arrests in the Richland County portion of the city have bond sessions at Alvin S. Glenn at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
For CPD arrests in the Lexington County portion of Columbia, the city says bond sessions are held at Columbia Municipal Court at 8:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Use the Correct Columbia or Richland County Court Record
The jail record tells you about detention. The court record is the better source for later filed charges, hearings and disposition. Which court to use depends on the offense and the agency or court handling the matter.
Columbia city criminal and traffic cases
Columbia Municipal Court handles traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal violations, city ordinance cases and related municipal matters.
The city says Richland County maintains its Municipal Court records and that records from 1988 to present are searchable by selecting “Columbia Municipal Court” as the court agency.
Columbia Municipal case information →Felony and serious criminal cases
Richland County General Sessions is the criminal side of Circuit Court for felony and serious misdemeanor cases. Use the Richland County Public Index and Clerk of Court for these matters.
Richland County court information →Online trial-court search
The South Carolina Judicial Branch provides county-level public case searching. Sealed, confidential and otherwise non-public cases or documents are not available through ordinary public access.
South Carolina case records search →Clerk of Court
1701 Main Street, #205Columbia, SC 29201
Clerk of Court: 803-576-1950
City court
811 Washington StreetColumbia, SC 29201
Main line: 803-545-3150
Where to Send a Columbia Arrest or Incident Record Request
Do not send every public-record request to one office. The correct custodian depends on which agency created or holds the record.
| Record needed | Likely custodian | Current official route |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Police incident report | Columbia Police Department | CPD Records Unit for recent reports; City FOIA for applicable older requests. |
| Richland Sheriff’s incident report | Richland County Sheriff’s Department | RCSD online report request or FOIA process. |
| Richland County government record | Richland County | County FOIA/public-record portal. |
| Court case or certified court document | Appropriate Clerk / court | South Carolina Public Index or court office. |
Richland County Sheriff’s Department report
RCSD says online incident reports may not be available until one business day after the original report and asks requesters to allow one business day for an online request to be processed.
Online report requests are limited to the listed victim. Certain juvenile-related or other involved-person requests require an in-person visit.
RCSD FOIA
Richland County Sheriff’s Department requires FOIA requests in writing. Current instructions allow submission by mail, email or in person.
5623 Two Notch RoadColumbia, SC 29223
Email: [email protected]
City FOIA Office
1401 Main StreetColumbia, SC 29201
Phone: 803-737-0000
The City provides an online FOIA request and tracking system and also accepts written requests using its published form.
South Carolina Criminal History and State-Prison Searches
A Richland County detainee search answers a local custody question. South Carolina also maintains separate systems for statewide criminal history, state-prison custody and probation or parole supervision.
SLED CATCH
Citizens Access to Criminal Histories is SLED’s name-based South Carolina criminal-record service. The current standard report price is $25, with applicable online service charges.
Use CATCH when you need broader South Carolina criminal-history information rather than one Columbia jail booking.
Open SLED CATCH →SCDC Inmate Search
The South Carolina Department of Corrections search displays photographs and public information for people currently sentenced to and incarcerated in SCDC.
SCDC says the search reflects custody as of midnight the previous day and does not cover county detention inmates, released offenders or people on probation or parole.
SCDC Inmate Search →SCDPPPS Offender Search
The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services maintains a separate supervision search. Its public data represents the previous day, and someone no longer under supervision may not appear.
Search supervision records →Use South Carolina VINE When You Need Release or Transfer Alerts
South Carolina VINE is a statewide victim-information and notification system. State guidance describes it as a network involving county detention centers, state prisons and supervision systems, giving crime victims and concerned citizens access to custody information.
SC VINE contact
The automated inquiry line is 1-866-727-2846. South Carolina also supports VINELink for custody information and notification registration.
Why a Columbia Mugshot or Booking May Be Missing
A missing result has several possible explanations. Check geography, agency and custody stage before concluding that no record exists.
| Problem | Possible explanation | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No Richland detainee result | The person may have been released, transferred or booked on the Lexington County side of Columbia. | Confirm county and arresting agency before searching another system. |
| No mugshot displayed | The public-facing system may not display every photograph or historical record. | Use the appropriate detention or public-record request route instead of assuming no photo exists. |
| Need the arrest narrative | The detention record is not the police report. | Contact CPD, RCSD or the actual arresting agency. |
| Charge changed after booking | Booking charge wording reflects an early stage of the case. | Use the applicable Municipal, Magistrate or General Sessions court record. |
| Person moved to state prison | County jail and SCDC are separate custody systems. | Use SCDC Inmate Search. |
| Need a case from years ago | A current detainee search is not a historical court archive. | Use the South Carolina Public Index or the responsible Clerk of Court. |
| Same name appears more than once | Different people can share the same name. | Compare age, date of birth, booking date, court case number and other available identifiers. |
| Information is sealed or restricted | Some records are confidential, expunged, sealed or otherwise unavailable to the public. | Do not attempt to infer or recreate restricted information from unrelated sources. |
Columbia Jail, Police and Court Contacts
Use the agency that actually holds the record. Detention, police reports and court files are maintained by different offices.
Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center
201 John Mark Dial Dr.Columbia, SC 29209
Phone: 803-576-3200
Published office hours: Monday–Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
CPD Records Unit
1 Justice SquareColumbia, SC 29201
Records: 803-545-3577
General CPD: 803-545-3500
Records hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Richland County Sheriff’s Department
5623 Two Notch RoadColumbia, SC 29223
Phone: 803-576-3000
Columbia Municipal Court
811 Washington StreetColumbia, SC 29201
Phone: 803-545-3150
Richland County Courthouse
1701 Main Street, #205Columbia, SC 29201
Clerk of Court: 803-576-1950
Lexington County Sheriff’s Department
521 Gibson RoadLexington, SC 29072
Main: 803-785-8230
Jail: 803-785-2743
Columbia South Carolina Mugshots FAQs
Where do I search for Columbia, South Carolina mugshots?
For most Columbia arrests in Richland County, start with the official Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center Detainee Lookup. If the arrest occurred in the Lexington County portion of Columbia, use Lexington County’s jail resources instead.
What jail holds people arrested in Columbia, SC?
For Richland County arrests, Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center serves as the county intake center and holds people after arrest and while awaiting trial. The facility is at 201 John Mark Dial Dr., Columbia, SC 29209.
Is every Columbia Police arrest booked into Alvin S. Glenn?
No. Columbia spans Richland and Lexington counties. Columbia Municipal Court publishes different bond-court routes for CPD arrests depending on which county the arrest occurred in.
Does a Columbia mugshot prove the person was convicted?
No. A booking photograph or arrest entry records an arrest-stage event. Use the applicable court record to determine whether charges were filed, changed, dismissed or resulted in another disposition.
How do I get a Columbia Police incident report?
Use the Columbia Police Records Unit at 1 Justice Square. CPD currently says victims can receive incident reports without charge, while other requesters may pay a fee or need to use FOIA depending on the age of the report.
Where do I search Columbia Municipal Court cases?
The City says Richland County maintains Columbia Municipal Court records. Records from 1988 to present can be searched through the Public Index by selecting Columbia Municipal Court as the court agency.
Where do felony cases from Columbia go?
Felony and serious misdemeanor cases in Richland County generally proceed through General Sessions, the criminal side of Circuit Court. Use the Richland County Public Index and Clerk of Court for public case information.
How do I search someone who was transferred to South Carolina state prison?
Use the South Carolina Department of Corrections Inmate Search. SCDC says that search covers people currently sentenced to and incarcerated in the state prison system and does not cover county detention inmates.
Can I get custody release notifications in South Carolina?
South Carolina VINE provides custody information and notification services. The automated inquiry line is 1-866-727-2846, and VINELink is also available online.
Where can I get a statewide South Carolina criminal-history report?
SLED CATCH provides name-based South Carolina criminal-history reports. This service is different from a Richland County jail or Columbia mugshot search.
Why does an older Columbia arrest not appear in the detainee search?
A current detention search is not a complete historical court archive. The person may have been released or transferred. Use the responsible law-enforcement agency’s records process and the appropriate South Carolina court record for older matters.
Official Sources Used for This Columbia Mugshots Guide
These government sources should be preferred when current custody, incident details, bond information or the later court outcome matters.
- Richland County — Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center
- Richland County Detainee Lookup
- Richland County Bond Court
- Columbia Police Department Records Unit
- City of Columbia FOIA
- Richland County Sheriff’s Department Report Request
- Richland County Sheriff’s Department FOIA
- Columbia Municipal Court
- Columbia Municipal Court Case Information
- South Carolina Judicial Branch — Richland County
- SLED CATCH Criminal History
- South Carolina Department of Corrections Inmate Search
- South Carolina Probation, Parole and Pardon Offender Search
- Lexington County Sheriff’s Department
Official sources reviewed October 2, 2026. Detention systems, court portals, fees, office hours and public-record procedures can change. Recheck the responsible agency when a time-sensitive detail matters.