FOIA

In accordance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), S.C. Code §30-4-30, et seq. (1976, as amended), persons have the right to inspect and copy public records.  FOIA requests for public records of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office should be directed to: Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, ATTN: Deputy Adrienne Sarvis, Public Information Officer [or Legal Division], P.O. Box 430, Sumter, SC 29151-0430.

In order to help offset the costs of searching for, retrieval and redaction of public records from the SCSO, the following fee schedule applies:

14-day reports furnished              $2.60 plus $0.40 per page (1 page = $3.00; 2 pages = $3.40….)

under §30-4-30(D)(2)

(in-person requests only)

Hourly staff time:                         $12 - $22 per hour (if request requires specialized personnel, e.g., IT,

                                                                             legal, executive, etc., hourly rates could increase)

Copies of documents:                    $0.40 per page

CDs or DVDs:                               $10.00 per disc

(audio, video, photos,etc.)

A deposit of 25% of the estimated costs for searching, retrieval, redacting and reproducing records may be required before searching for or making copies of records.  The full balance must be paid at the time of production of the records.

Inspection, copying and production of records are subject to all applicable exemptions, redaction, and/or exclusions provided by FOIA or other state or federal laws.  If public records are available and capable of electronic transmission by SCSO, per page copying charges do not apply.  However, staff time for searching, retrieval and redaction will still apply.  Records not in electronic format may, in SCSO discretion, may be converted to and transmitted in electronic format; in such event there will be an additional charge for staff time for converting to electronic format.

PURSUANT TO S.C. CODE §30-2-50, OBTAINING OR USING PUBLIC RECORDS FOR COMMERCIAL SOLICITATION DIRECTED TO ANY PERSON IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IS PROHIBITED, AND IS PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF UP TO $500 AND IMPRISONMENT UP TO ONE YEAR, OR BOTH.

FOR A SAMPLE FORM TO FILL, PRINT AND SUBMIT YOU MAY CLICK HERE.