Search Horry County Sex Offenders
Horry County is one of the most populous counties in South Carolina, home to Myrtle Beach and a large seasonal tourism population. The county maintains a public sex offender registry through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Anyone can search for registered sex offenders in Horry County using the SLED SORT tool at no cost. This page walks through how to use the registry, what information it contains, and how the Horry County Sheriff's Office handles local sex offender registration from its main office in Conway.
Horry County Quick Facts
Using the Horry County Sex Offender Registry
The Horry County SLED SORT portal is the official tool for searching sex offenders in the county. It is operated by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and displays all offenders registered within Horry County. You can filter results by city, zip code, or name to locate offenders in specific areas like Myrtle Beach, Conway, or Socastee.
The Horry County Sheriff's Office also links to the sex offender registry directly from its website. According to the Sheriff's Office, you can search the Sex Offender Registry on the Horry County Sheriff's Office website. The direct SORT link makes the registry easy to find for residents who start their search at the county level rather than through SLED's main site.
Each profile in the registry includes a current photo, full name, date of birth, home address, and the offense or offenses that triggered registration. For offenders who are employed or enrolled in school within the county, that information may also be listed.
Note: Horry County's large and shifting population means the registry can include offenders who registered seasonally or who moved in recently. Always search by current address when possible.
Horry County Sheriff's Office
The Horry County Sheriff's Office is located at 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. The main phone number is (843) 915-5450. The Sheriff's Office manages sex offender registration for the entire county, including all municipalities and unincorporated communities. Myrtle Beach, as a city with its own police department, coordinates with the Sheriff's Office and SLED on offenders who register within city limits.
The J. Reuben Long Detention Center is the county's main jail facility. It is located at 4150 J. Reuben Long Avenue, Conway, SC 29526, and can be reached at 843-915-5140. The Horry County Sheriff's Office Booking and Releases portal provides free access to current inmate information, which can be useful when cross-referencing recent arrests with registry records.
Offenders released from custody in Horry County must register within one business day. If someone moves to Horry County from another county in South Carolina, they have 10 days to update their registration at the local Sheriff's Office. Failure to register on time is a criminal offense under state law.
Registration Tiers and Verification Requirements
South Carolina classifies registered sex offenders into three tiers. Each tier has a different verification schedule that determines how often an offender must appear in person at the sheriff's office to confirm their current information.
Tier I offenders verify once per year. These are typically offenders convicted of lower-level qualifying offenses. Tier II offenders verify every six months. Tier III offenders are required to verify every 90 days for life. This group represents those convicted of the most serious offenses or who have prior sex crime convictions.
All three tiers are required to report address changes within three business days. Moving to a new county triggers a separate requirement to register in the new county within 10 days. Employers and schools must also be kept current in the registry. Violations at any level carry criminal penalties. A third violation is classified as a felony under South Carolina law, with a potential five-year sentence.
The legal basis for these requirements is found in SC Code Title 23, Chapter 3. Sections 23-3-430 and 23-3-490 cover who must register and the rules governing how long registration lasts.
Myrtle Beach and the Registry
Myrtle Beach is the largest city in Horry County by population and draws millions of visitors each year. The city has its own police department, but sex offender registration is handled through the county system and coordinated with SLED. Offenders who live within Myrtle Beach city limits appear in the Horry County SORT results.
You can search the Myrtle Beach area specifically by entering a Myrtle Beach zip code or city name into the SORT portal. Results will show registered sex offenders at addresses within that part of the county. Given the high density of short-term rentals and transient housing in the area, it is worth knowing that offenders in vacation rentals or hotels for extended stays may still be required to register depending on the duration.
Note: Seasonal tourism does not exempt a person from registration requirements. Offenders who relocate to Horry County for seasonal work must register in the county regardless of how long they plan to stay.
State-Level Resources for Horry County Residents
In addition to the county SORT portal, several state and national resources are available to Horry County residents. The statewide SLED SORT portal allows searches across all 46 South Carolina counties. This is useful when looking for offenders who may have recently moved between counties.
The South Carolina Attorney General's office provides information about registry rights and enforcement. The AG's criminal division handles cases involving offenders who fail to comply with state registration laws, working alongside local sheriff's offices like Horry's.
For national searches, the National Sex Offender Public Website links registries from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories. If you need to check whether a person has a sex offense history in another state before they relocated to Horry County, NSOPW is the right place to start.
Registry Image Reference
The Horry County SORT portal is operated by SLED and shows all currently registered sex offenders in the county.
This portal is updated regularly and is the most direct way to search for sex offenders in Horry County by name, address, or area.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division manages the statewide registry that includes all Horry County records.
SLED is the central authority for sex offender data in South Carolina, and all county-level registration information flows through SLED's systems.
Cities in Horry County
Horry County includes several well-known cities and communities. Myrtle Beach and Conway are the two largest incorporated cities. Carolina Forest and Socastee are large unincorporated communities within the county that fall under county jurisdiction rather than a municipal government. All of these communities appear in SORT search results when searching within Horry County.
Nearby Counties
Horry County is bordered by Georgetown County to the south and Marion and Dillon counties to the west. Its northern border extends into North Carolina, adjacent to Brunswick and Columbus counties. Searching nearby counties can help when checking on offenders close to county lines.