Dillon County Sex Offenders Registry
Dillon County residents can search for registered sex offenders through the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry Tool, known as SORT. The registry is maintained by the Dillon County Sheriff's Office in cooperation with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. All registered sex offenders living in Dillon County are required by state law to keep their information current with the county sheriff. Public access to this data is authorized under South Carolina Code Section 23-3-490, which lets any person search registry records at no cost.
Dillon County Quick Facts
How to Search the Dillon County Sex Offender Registry
The fastest way to find sex offender records in Dillon County is through the state SORT portal. You can search by name, address, or zip code. The SLED SORT system covers all 46 counties and updates records on a rolling basis as sheriffs submit new registrations or changes.
The Dillon County Sheriff's Office is located at 1033 Old Latta Hwy, Dillon, SC 29536. You can reach them by phone at 843-774-1432. If you prefer to search in person or have questions about a specific offender's status, staff at the sheriff's office can assist you during business hours.
The national registry at NSOPW.gov also allows searches that pull data from all 50 states. This is useful if you want to check whether someone registered in another state has moved to Dillon County.
Note: Search results show only offenders whose registration is current and active in the system. Records are updated regularly, but always contact the sheriff's office to confirm the latest information on a specific individual.
Who Must Register in Dillon County
South Carolina law under Section 23-3-430 sets out which offenses require sex offender registration. Anyone convicted of crimes such as criminal sexual conduct, lewd acts on a minor, or related offenses must register. People who move to Dillon County from another state and carry a registration requirement from that state must also register here within three days of establishing residence.
Juveniles adjudicated for certain offenses can also be required to register. The court decides this on a case-by-case basis. Once on the registry, a person stays listed until removed through a legal process or death.
Registration is not optional. Failing to register is a criminal offense under South Carolina law. First-time failure to register results in a misdemeanor charge carrying up to 90 days in jail. A second offense brings up to one year. A third offense is a felony with a sentence of up to five years.
Registration Tiers and Reporting Schedules
South Carolina uses a three-tier system to classify registered sex offenders. Tier I offenders report once per year to verify their address and personal information. Tier II offenders must check in every six months. Tier III offenders, who committed the most serious crimes, must appear every 90 days for life.
Each in-person check-in happens at the Dillon County Sheriff's Office. The offender must confirm their home address, place of work, vehicle information, and any online identifiers such as email addresses or screen names. Changes to any of this information must be reported within three days.
Note: Any sex offender who moves into Dillon County from another county in South Carolina must notify both the old and new sheriff's offices. Failing to do so within the required window is treated the same as failing to register.
The Dillon County Sheriff's Office and SLED
The registry you access online is a shared effort. The Dillon County Sheriff's Office collects and submits data locally. SLED maintains the statewide database and makes it available to the public through SORT. Both agencies work together to keep records accurate.
The South Carolina Attorney General's office also provides information about the registry and how it is managed statewide. You can visit the Attorney General's registry page for policy details and legal guidance.
According to information from the Dillon County SORT portal, the sheriff's office and SLED update registry information regularly. Records include the offender's name, photograph, home address, and offense description. This data is made public under state law and is free to view.
The registry is a tool for community awareness. It does not guarantee safety, but it gives residents access to information that may help them make informed decisions about their families and neighborhoods.
Dillon County Sex Offender Registry Images
The Dillon County SORT portal displays the sex offender registry data collected and submitted by the local sheriff's office to SLED.
Residents can search this portal by address to see registered offenders near any location in Dillon County.
SLED also maintains the statewide South Carolina Sex Offender Registry, which serves as the central hub for all 46 counties including Dillon.
The statewide SORT system is integrated with the National Sex Offender Public Website, ensuring that Dillon County records are accessible at both state and federal levels.
Residency and Movement Restrictions
South Carolina Code Section 23-3-535 prohibits registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school, daycare center, or other child-focused facility. This applies to sex offenders in Dillon County just as it does across the state.
Offenders who move to an address that would violate this rule cannot legally register at that address. The sheriff's office will check any new address against restricted zones before accepting a registration update. Offenders found living in a restricted area face criminal charges separate from any registration violation.
Travel outside South Carolina for seven or more days must also be reported in advance. Offenders must notify the sheriff's office before leaving and again when they return. This rule helps track movement and ensures registry records stay accurate.
Note: Residency restrictions do not apply retroactively to offenders who established their residence before the law went into effect and have not moved since.
How Registry Information Is Used
Public access to sex offender records is governed by Section 23-3-490 of the South Carolina Code. The law allows anyone to view the registry. It does not limit how individuals use the information for personal safety.
However, the law also sets limits. Using registry information to harass, threaten, or harm a registered offender is a crime under Section 23-3-510. Misuse of registry data can result in enhanced penalties on top of any underlying offense.
Schools, churches, and civic groups sometimes request registry data for community awareness programs. SLED and the sheriff's office can assist with such requests within the boundaries of state law. The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act also provides a framework for requesting public records from government agencies.
Cities in Dillon County
Dillon County includes the city of Dillon, along with several smaller communities such as Latta, Lake View, and Hamer. Registered sex offenders living anywhere in the county must register with the Dillon County Sheriff's Office regardless of whether they live in an incorporated city or a rural area.
Nearby Counties
Dillon County shares borders with several neighboring counties in the northeastern part of South Carolina. Each of these counties maintains its own sex offender registry through SLED SORT.