South Carolina Criminal Background Checks/Abuse and Neglect Registry
Home Studies which Require Criminal / Perpetrator Record Checks
South Carolina requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:
- Foster Care
- Relative-Foster Care
- Foster-Adopt
- Adoption
- Parent
Criminal Background Screening
The following methods are used to capture fingerprints to conduct criminal records checks:
- Live Scan or other computerized technology
Criminal background checks/screening via Live Scan or other computerized technology are offered at the following levels:
State or Local Criminal Record Checks Requirements/Process:
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Checks, fingerprints, Sex Offender Registry,
Child Abuse/Neglect Registry
Applicant will not be approved if the person has committed any of the following misdemeanor or felony offenses:
(A) No child may be placed in foster care with a person:
(1) with a substantiated history of child abuse or neglect; or
(2) who has pled guilty or nolo contendere to or who has been convicted of:
(a) an “Offense Against the Person” as provided for in Chapter 3, Title 16;
(b) an “Offense Against Morality or Decency” as provided for in Chapter 15, Title 16;
(c) contributing to the delinquency of a minor as provided for in Section 16 17 490;
(d) the common law offense of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature when the victim was a person seventeen years of age or younger;
(e) criminal domestic violence, as defined in Section 16 25 20;
(f) criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, as defined in Section 16 25 65;
(g) a felony drug related offense under the laws of this State.
(B) A person who has been convicted of a criminal offense similar in nature to a crime enumerated in subsection (A) when the crime was committed in another jurisdiction or under federal law is subject to the restrictions set out in this section.
(C) This section does not prevent foster care placement when a conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere for one of the crimes enumerated in subsection (A) has been pardoned. However, notwithstanding the entry of a pardon, the department or other entity making placement or licensing decisions may consider all information available, including the person’s pardoned convictions or pleas and the circumstances surrounding them, to determine whether the applicant is unfit or otherwise unsuited to provide foster care services.
Types of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)
South Carolina requires the following types of criminal background and perpetrator checks (Federal (F), State (S), Local (L), Abuse and Neglect Registry (ANR), Not Required (NR)):
|
Federal |
State |
Local |
ANR |
NR |
| Foster Care |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Relative |
|
|
|
|
|
| Relative Foster Care |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Foster-Adopt |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Adoption |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Parent |
|
y |
y |
y |
|
South Carolina provides Abuse and Neglect searches:
Wait Time for Criminal Records Results
Wait time for fingerprint results are:
Live Scan or other technology
- State: 8-14 days
- Local/County: 8-14 days
Manually - Fingerprint Card
- State: Not Offered
- Local/County: Not Offered
Verification of Criminal Records Results
- Actual results/information contained in the Criminal Background
Period of Time the Checks are Valid
