At SC Crime Stoppers, our goal is simple: to report crime and public safety news in South Carolina in a way that is accurate, fair, and easy to understand. This page explains how we decide what to cover and how we handle our stories.
What we cover
We focus on crime and safety news that matters to people living in South Carolina. This includes arrests, court cases, sentencing, missing persons, wanted suspects, scam alerts, and updates from local law enforcement.
We choose stories based on public interest. We ask ourselves: Does this affect the community? Does it help people stay safe or informed?
Our sources
We rely on trusted and verifiable sources, such as:
- Police and sheriff’s office reports and press releases
- Court records and public documents
- Official statements from government agencies
- Other reputable news organizations, with proper credit
We don’t publish rumors, unconfirmed social media posts, or claims we can’t back up.
Accuracy
Getting the facts right is our top priority. We double-check names, dates, charges, and locations before publishing. If information is still developing, we say so clearly in the article.
Fairness and presumption of innocence
An arrest is not a conviction. When we report on someone who has been charged, we make it clear that they are accused, not guilty. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Where possible, we include the outcome of a case, such as when charges are dropped or a person is found not guilty.
Protecting privacy
We take extra care with sensitive stories. As a general rule:
- We do not name victims of sexual assault
- We do not name minors accused of crimes, unless they are charged as adults and their names are officially released
- We avoid sharing personal details that aren’t needed to tell the story, like home addresses or phone numbers
Mugshots and photos
We may publish booking photos or images released by law enforcement when they are part of the public record and relevant to the story. We don’t use photos to mock or shame anyone.
Corrections
If we make a mistake, we fix it. When a correction changes the meaning of a story, we add a note explaining what was updated. If you spot an error, please let us know through our Contact Us page.
Updates and removal requests
If your case was dismissed, you were found not guilty, or your record was expunged, you can contact us with proof. We’ll review your request and may update the article to reflect the outcome. Each request is looked at on a case-by-case basis.
Independence
SC Crime Stoppers is an independent news website. We are not connected to any police department, government agency, or official Crime Stoppers tip line program. Our coverage is not influenced by advertisers, sponsors, or anyone outside our team.
Tone and language
We write in plain, simple English. We avoid sensational headlines, graphic details, and language meant to shock. Our job is to inform, not to entertain with someone’s tragedy.
Contact us
Have questions about our editorial policy or a concern about one of our stories? Reach out to us through our Contact Us page.