South Carolina

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State Clearinghouse on Missing Children

Reason to contact:

A state clearinghouse is an entity (usually law enforcement) that provides help in cases of parental child abduction.  For abductions TO the United States, they can help locate a child.  For abductions FROM the United States, they may serve as a resource to left-behind parents in filing missing person reports.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
Missing Person Information Center
P. O. Box 21398
Columbia, SC  29221-1398
Phone: (803) 737-9000
1-800-322-4453 (nationwide)
Fax: (803) 896-7595
http://www.sled.sc.gov/

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Law Enforcement

Reason to contact:

Contact your local police to file a missing person's report and request that your child's name be entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer database. 

FBI Field Office
Columbia Field Office
151 Westpark Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29210
Phone: (803) 551-4200
http://columbia.fbi.gov/

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
https://www.sled.sc.gov/

Department of Public Safety
South Carolina Department of Public Safety
https://scdps.sc.gov/

State Patrol
South Carolina Highway Patrol
Phone: (803) 896-7920
http://scdps.sc.gov/schp

Department of Transportation
South Carolina Department of Transportation
Phone: 855-467-2368
Email: SCDOT_contact@scdot.org
http://www.dot.state.sc.us/

Port Authorities
South Carolina State Ports Authority
Switchboard: (843) 723-8651
Email: SCSPAInfo@scspa.com
https://scspa.com/
Port Charleston
https://scspa.com/facilities/cruise-terminal/
Port of Georgetown
Phone: (843) 527-4476    
https://scspa.com/sc-ports-locations/port-of-georgetown/

Country-wide resources:
Removing, or attempting to remove, a child from the United States or retaining a child outside of the United States with the intent to obstruct parental rights is a Federal crime under the International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act (18 U.S.C. 1204).  The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has jurisdictional authority for investigating Federal crimes.  FBI field offices are located throughout the U.S. and should be contacted if you have questions or believe your child has been or will be abducted outside of the United States.  To locate the FBI field office closest to you, access this link:  http://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field

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Airports

Reason to contact:

If you know your child is being taken to the airport as part of a possible abduction, contact the airport to request assistance.  You should have copies of all custody and legal documents ready to send by email or fax, if needed.  You can contact the State Department’s Office of Children’s Issues to assist you as you undertake this process at PreventAbduction@state.gov or by calling 888-407-4747. 

Charleston International Airport, Charleston (CHS)
5500 International Blvd. #101
Charleston, South Carolina 29418
Phone: (843) 767-7009
Email: info@chs-airport.com
https://www.iflychs.com/
Charleston County Aviation Authority
Non-emergency: (843) 767-1100
Police Administration: (843) 767-7004
https://www.iflychs.com/AviationAuthorityBoard

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Greer (GSP)
2000 GSP Dr. Ste. 1
Greer, SC 29651
Phone: (864) 877-7426
Police and Fire Dispatch: 864-848-6246
Police Administration: 864-848-6240
http://www.gspairport.com/
Greer Police Department
Phone: (864) 848-2151
Fax: (864) 416-0112
cityofgreer.org


Myrtle Beach International Airport, Myrtle Beach (MYR)
1100 Jetport Road
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Phone: (843) 477-1860
Administration: (843) 448-1580
Fax: (843) 626-9096
E-mail: info@myrtlebeachaviation.com
Airport Police: (843) 448-6953
http://www.flymyrtlebeach.com/
Myrtle Beach Police Department
Phone: (843) 918-1382
https://police.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/

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Legal Aid

Reason to contact:

If you are party to an international parental child abduction case in the United States or abroad, a legal aid organization may be able to assist you with your legal representation.  Legal aid organizations provide legal assistance for free or for a reduced charge to eligible individuals.  Eligibility is generally based on income and resource ceilings as well as restrictions on the types of cases they will take. 

For information about legal aid and other legal referral resources, visit

South Carolina Legislature
https://www.scstatehouse.gov/

South Carolina Judicial Department
https://www.sccourts.org/
South Carolina Supreme Court
Phone: (803) 734-1080
Fax: (803) 734-1499
TTY: (803) 734-6365

South Carolina State Bar Association
Phone: (803) 799-6653
Fax: (803) 799-4118
Email: scbar-info@scbar.org
http://www.scbar.org/

South Carolina Attorney General
Information: (803) 734-3970
Missing and Exploited Childen: 800-322-4453 (800-32-CHILD)
http://www.scag.gov/

Locator Service
Child Support Enforcement
South Carolina Department of Social Services
PO Box 1469
Columbia, SC 29202-1469
Phone: 1-800-768-5858
https://dss.sc.gov/child-support/

Compensation Program for Crime Victims
State Office of Victim Assistance
1205 Pendleton Street, Room 401
Columbia, SC 29201-3756
Phone: (803) 734-1900
1-800-220-5370 (victims only)/
https://www.scag.gov/inside-the-office/crime-victim-services-division/crime-victim-compensation/

Non-Profit Organizations
Contact Association of Missing and Exploited Children’s Organizations (AMECO) toll-free at 1-877-263-2620 for a referral

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Resources for State Statutes

Reason to contact:

The resources below may be a good starting place for determining whether statutes regarding abduction prevention exist in your state.  You may want to consult the website for the Attorney General’s Office of your state or with an attorney licensed to practice law in your state.  (Please note: the resources below may not be current and may change at any time.  They are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended to consist of legal advice).

Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act (UCAPA) – Enactment by state

Family Abduction: Prevention and Response (6th Ed)