Richland County Arrest Booking Lookup
Richland County processes 72 hour booking records at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia. The facility handles about 18,400 arrests each year and holds an average of 920 inmates on any given day. It is one of the busiest detention centers in South Carolina. The county offers an online public access system for looking up detainee and inmate information. Booking records include charges, bond amounts, court dates, and custody status. This guide explains all the ways to find and use Richland County booking data, from online tools to in-person visits and state databases.
Richland County 72 Hour Booking Overview
The Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center is at 201 John Mark Dial Drive, Columbia, SC 29209. The main phone number is 803-576-3200. The fax number is 803-576-3195. You can also reach the facility by email at ronaldomyers@richlandonline.com. The center describes itself as "an essential part of the criminal justice system" that is "committed to quality and efficient service."
The facility serves two main groups. Unsentenced adults who are awaiting trial make up a large share of the population. Sentenced adults serving short terms are also housed here. The center operates at three security levels: minimum, medium, and maximum. This setup lets staff place each person in the right housing based on their charges and risk level.
With roughly 18,400 arrests per year, the detention center processes about 50 bookings per day on average. Each booking creates a record that becomes part of the public 72 hour booking data. The average daily population of 920 inmates makes this one of the largest county jails in the state.
Online Public Access for Richland Bookings
Richland County operates the JMS Online Public Access system for looking up detainee and inmate records. The system is called Offender Information Public Access. It covers detainee and inmate information, inmate accounts, public court records, Common Pleas rosters, and Master in Equity rosters. This is a broad tool that connects booking data to court records in one place.
The Richland County Detention Center page on the county website is shown below.
The JMS system may experience outages from time to time. If the online tool is down, contact the detention center by phone at 803-576-3200. Staff can confirm custody status and share basic booking details over the phone. The Richland County Detention Center page on the county website has links to the search tool and other resources.
One thing to note is that Richland County does not provide mugshot images through its public access system. If you need a booking photo, you will have to file a formal records request with the detention center.
Richland County 72 Hour Booking and FOIA
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act applies to all Richland County booking records. Under Section 30-4-30(d)(3), records that identify confined persons for the previous three months must be made available. This covers names, charges, booking dates, and bond amounts at minimum.
You can submit a FOIA request to the Richland County government. The county address is 2020 Hampton Street, PO Box 192, Columbia, SC 29201. For detention-specific requests, write to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center at 201 John Mark Dial Drive, Columbia, SC 29209. Include as much detail as you can. A full name and approximate arrest date will help staff locate the right record.
Section 30-4-40(a)(3) allows agencies to withhold records tied to active investigations. Once the case moves forward, those records open up. Standard booking data like names and charges is almost never held back. The Richland County government website has more information about public records requests and county departments.
Visiting Inmates at Richland County Detention
The Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center has set visiting hours and rules. Visits run Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Each inmate gets one hour of visiting time per week. Only two visitors are allowed at a time. You must bring a valid photo ID. A dress code is in effect, so check the rules before you go.
Attorney visits follow a different schedule. Lawyers can visit Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Contact the administration office at ASGDCAdmin@richlandcountysc.gov or call 803-576-3396 to set up a legal visit.
Visiting does not directly relate to 72 hour booking records, but it is a common question for people who have found a name in the booking data and want to make contact.
Richland Booking Records and Commissary
The commissary at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center runs on a weekly cycle. Deposits must be in by noon on Wednesday to be available for that week's order. There are several ways to put money on an inmate's account.
Deposit options include:
- Lobby money order deposits, available 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
- Kiosk in the lobby, which takes cash and cards
- Online deposits through McDaniel Supply
- Mail deposits sent to the facility
Personal checks are not accepted. This is a strict rule with no exceptions. If you are looking at a booking record and want to help someone in custody, these are the ways to add funds to their account.
Richland County Government and Booking Records
Richland County is based in Columbia, the state capital. The county government office is at 2020 Hampton Street. The Richland County government website links to every department, including the detention center, courts, and public safety divisions.
The Richland County government website is shown below.
A major capital project is underway to expand and improve the detention center. The 2025-2026 budget includes funds for this work. The expansion will increase capacity and upgrade the facility's systems. This may affect how booking records are processed and accessed during construction, so check the county website for updates if you run into issues.
State Tools for Richland County Arrests
Richland County booking data flows into several state systems. The SLED CATCH system collects fingerprint data from every booking in South Carolina. Under Section 17-1-60, arrest records are subject to public release. Section 23-3-120 requires that fingerprints go to the state repository. These laws ensure that Richland County arrests are part of the permanent statewide record.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections inmate search tracks people who have been transferred from the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center to state prison. Anyone sentenced to more than one year moves to a state facility. This tool shows their current location and status.
The SC Judicial C-Track portal connects booking records to court cases. Search by name or case number to track hearings, filings, and outcomes. The VINELink system provides free custody alerts. Sign up to get notified when an inmate is moved or released from either county or state custody.
Under Section 24-13-50, detention facilities must submit monthly reports to the state. This adds another layer of public data that tracks the flow of inmates through the Richland County system.
Nearby Counties
If you are searching for booking records in the Columbia area, these neighboring counties also maintain public records.