Charleston County SC Arrest Records Search | Jail & Court 2026

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Charleston County, South Carolina · Jail, Sheriff and criminal-court guide

Charleston County Booking Search: Connect the Arrest, Jail Record and Court Outcome

A Charleston County arrest may produce a detention-center booking, a law-enforcement incident report, a warrant record, a Bond Court case and a later General Sessions, Magistrate or municipal court file.

This guide explains how those records connect, what each search field means, why a recent arrest may be delayed online, how to obtain police and court documents, and what families should know about bond, visits, mail, calls, commissary and release.

Run the live inmate search Run the live court search Fix a missing record
An arrest is not a conviction. A booking reflects allegations and custody processing. Charges can be amended, dismissed, transferred, nol prossed or resolved without a conviction. Verify the person with multiple identifiers and read the court disposition before relying on a record.
Current or past

The search supports current inmates and past bookings.

Detention center

843-529-7300

Non-emergency

843-202-1700

General Sessions

843-958-5000

Official review

Updated July 31, 2026.

Start with the correct record

Which Charleston County search answers your question?

DETENTION CENTER Was the person booked?

Use the Sheriff’s inmate search for present custody, earlier bookings, inmate numbers, arrest dates, booking dates and charge information made available through the jail system.

Best for: current inmate, recent arrest, past booking, custody and family-service identifiers.
ARRESTING AGENCY What allegedly happened?

Request the incident report, arrest report or releasable investigative records from the Sheriff or municipal police department whose officer made the arrest.

Best for: police narrative, agency case number, incident location and responding-officer information.
COURT RECORD What happened to the charge?

Check Bond Court, General Sessions, Magistrate or municipal court records for formal charges, court events, bond conditions and final disposition.

Best for: prosecution status, court dates, dismissal, plea, verdict, sentence and certified proof.
Recommended sequence: Locate the booking, save the inmate and case numbers, identify the arresting agency, search the court record and request only the specific document still needed.

Choose the problem you need to solve

The procedures and rules are explained here; outside portals are reserved for final live actions.

Official inmate-search workflow

How to search current inmates and past Charleston County bookings

The Charleston County search supports several ways to locate a booking. Starting with fewer fields usually produces better results than entering every known detail.

Open the official Sheriff inmate search Complete the required reCAPTCHA before submitting the search.
Start with the last name Enter the legal surname and leave the remaining fields blank for the first attempt.
Add the first name only when needed Use the legal first name to narrow a long list of surname matches.
Use Sounds Like for spelling uncertainty Enable the Sounds Like option when the name could have a phonetic, hyphenation or spelling variation.
Use booking-date filters for jail intake Enter a Booking Date From and Booking Date To range when you know approximately when the person entered the detention center.
Use arrest-date filters for the law-enforcement event The arrest date can differ from the booking date. Enter dates in month/day/year format.
Use the inmate number for the most precise jail match An inmate number avoids many same-name problems and is needed for mail, deposits and other detention services.
Select Show Past Bookings Check this option when the person has been released or the arrest occurred in an earlier period.
Open each plausible booking Compare arrest date, booking date, inmate number, age or birth information, arresting agency, charge and associated case information.
Save the identifying numbers Record the inmate number, agency case number, warrant number and court case number whenever displayed.
Open current and past bookings
Important 2026 change

Why Charleston County delays some online booking postings

In February 2026, the Sheriff’s Office announced a short delay before booking information appears through its online inmate search and mobile app. The county described the change as a protection against scammers who rapidly identify newly arrested people and contact worried family members demanding fake bail payments.

Online only

The delay applies to internet and app postings. It does not prevent the public from obtaining booking information through the facility.

Daily lobby list

The detention center prints a booking list daily at 9 a.m. and places it beside the visitor log for public viewing. The county states that copies are not made.

Short stays

The Sheriff reported that many people brought to the facility remain for less than 24 hours, making the first hours especially vulnerable to bail scams.

CCSO states that it will never call demanding money for bail or another reason. Do not pay by gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, cash courier, Zelle, Venmo or another personal payment method because a caller claims a relative was arrested.

How to verify a suspicious bail call

End the incoming call Do not use the number supplied by the caller.
Search the official inmate system Remember that the new booking may not appear immediately because of the intentional delay.
Call the detention center independently Use 843-529-7300 and provide the full legal name and date of birth.
Confirm the actual bond through the court record Check the case, bond type, amount and conditions before arranging payment.
Report a scam attempt Call the Sheriff’s non-emergency line at 843-202-1700.
Result decoder

How to interpret a Charleston County booking result

Booking fields, limits and next actions
Field What it identifies What it does not prove Best next action
Inmate number The detention-center identifier assigned to the individual. It does not show the final legal outcome. Use it for mail, commissary, Securus and facility questions.
Booking date When the person entered the detention-center intake process. It may not be the same day as the incident or arrest. Use it to distinguish current and older custody events.
Arrest date The date connected with the law-enforcement arrest. It does not establish the offense date in every case. Use it to request the agency report and find the court case.
Arresting agency The Sheriff, municipal police department or other agency responsible for the arrest. It does not mean the Sheriff created the police report. Request the narrative from the agency shown.
Charge description The alleged offense entered during arrest or booking. It does not prove guilt and may differ from a later indictment. Compare it with the court’s formal charge.
Bond amount A bond presently associated with a charge or case. Posting one bond will clear every charge or hold. Review all cases, warrants and release conditions.
Court case number The number used in Bond Court, General Sessions or another court. The number alone does not explain the result. Search it in Court Plus or the Public Index.
Release information The end or expected end of a custody event. Release is not dismissal or acquittal. Check the criminal case for continuing obligations.
Past booking An earlier admission to the Charleston County detention system. The earlier charge led to a conviction. Match the correct date and locate the corresponding disposition.
Booking photograph An image associated with custody processing when displayed. A photograph is not evidence of guilt. Use it only with stronger identity information.
Agency-data warning: Charleston County’s FOIA materials explain that the detention search contains people booked at the request of different law-enforcement agencies and that information supplied by an agency or arrestee may contain inaccuracies.
Same-name protection

Verify the person before relying on the record

Full first and last name are consistent
Middle name, suffix or alias is consistent
Date of birth, age or year of birth is consistent
Arrest and booking dates match the known event
Arresting agency matches the location
Inmate or court case number matches another official source
Use at least two independent identifiers. Do not send money, contact an employer, publish an allegation or make a safety decision from a name or image alone.
Same name, different date of birth Treat the records as different people unless the responsible agency confirms a clerical mistake.
Same birth date, different middle name Review aliases, suffixes, inmate numbers, arrest dates and court case numbers.
Similar photograph Appearance is not a dependable legal identifier. Compare official demographic and case information.
Information appears incomplete Obtain the actual arrest report or court disposition rather than filling gaps with assumptions.
Troubleshooting

No Charleston County booking found? Follow this order

The arrest happened recently The county’s intentional online delay or ordinary intake processing may prevent immediate appearance.
The name is spelled differently Search only the surname, enable Sounds Like and try a maiden name, hyphen variation, suffix or alias.
You did not select past bookings Check Show Past Bookings when the person was released or arrested previously.
The person left custody quickly A short stay may end before the delayed booking becomes easy to locate online.
The person was transferred Custody may have moved to another county, the South Carolina Department of Corrections, federal custody or another agency.
The case is in a city court Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant and other municipalities may maintain their own police and municipal court records.
The record is confidential Juvenile, sealed, expunged and legally restricted material may not appear publicly.
You have a court case but no jail result The person may be released, on bond or connected with an older case. Continue with the court search.
Call script for a missing booking “I am trying to confirm whether [full legal name], date of birth [date], was booked into Charleston County custody. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency]. I have [inmate, agency case or court case number]. Can you confirm whether intake is pending or whether the person was released or transferred?”
Detention center

843-529-7300

Sheriff non-emergency

843-202-1700

Record lifecycle

How an arrest becomes a jail and court record

Law-enforcement incident A Sheriff’s deputy, city police officer or another agency creates an incident, arrest or probable-cause record.
Detention-center intake The Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center records the booking, identity information, property and charges received from the arresting agency.
Medical and classification review Facility staff assess health, safety, custody and housing considerations.
Bond Court A Magistrate may address bond, release conditions and preliminary scheduling. Some cases are then transferred to another court.
Solicitor review The Ninth Circuit Solicitor may pursue, alter, dismiss or otherwise resolve General Sessions charges.
General Sessions or Summary Court Serious state charges generally proceed in General Sessions. Many lower-level offenses remain in Magistrate or municipal court.
Release or transfer Release may occur through recognizance, cash, surety, property or another court-approved bond, or after the legal basis for detention ends.
Final disposition The court record may show dismissal, nolle prosequi, guilty plea, trial result, sentence or another disposition.
Possible expungement An eligible person may apply through the Solicitor or appropriate Summary Court, but removal requires the legally required order.
Sheriff records and FOIA

How to request a Charleston County Sheriff arrest report

Before filing a full Freedom of Information Act request, the Sheriff recommends calling or contacting the Records Office to determine whether the information can be supplied through a routine request. When FOIA is required, the request must be written.

Charleston County Sheriff Public Information Office
3691 Leeds Avenue
North Charleston, SC 29405

Email: PIO@charlestoncounty.org

FOIA contacts

Public Information: 843-958-2114

FOIA Analyst: 843-554-2495

Sheriff Records routing: 843-554-2450

What the written request should contain

Exact document names
Agency case number
Date or date range, which the form marks as required
Subject’s full name and date of birth or age
Incident address or location
Names of victims, complainants or other involved people
Requester’s name, address and telephone number
Preferred delivery format and maximum authorized cost

Useful document descriptions

Incident report

The primary law-enforcement record describing the reported incident and response.

Arrest or probable-cause report

The record stating the asserted factual and legal basis for arrest when publicly releasable.

Supplemental reports

Additional investigative reports prepared after the original incident.

Booking record

The detention-center intake information associated with the arrest.

Photographs, audio or video

Describe the exact event, device type, date and involved deputy. Additional restrictions and review may apply.

Disposition or court order

Request this from the court rather than the Sheriff when you need the official case outcome.

Copy-ready FOIA request
Pursuant to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest report, probable-cause record and releasable supplemental reports concerning [full legal name], date of birth [date or age], for the incident occurring on or about [required date or date range] at [location]. The agency case number is [number], the detention inmate number is [number] and the court case number is [number]. Please provide a written estimate before processing if the total cost will exceed $[amount].

Published Sheriff FOIA charges

Charleston County Sheriff FOIA fee schedule
Service Published charge Cost-control tip
Document copies $0.20 per copy/page plus $0.20 per provided copy/page, as stated on the form Request electronic delivery and only identified documents.
Research time Minimum $25 per hour; lowest-paid qualified employee; billed in one-tenth-hour increments Provide a narrow date range and case number.
Photo, video, audio or data disk $20 per disk Ask whether secure electronic delivery is available.
Email search $70 per search Provide keywords, sender and recipient names, and dates.
Older off-site file retrieval $5 per case when the file is three or more years old Identify the exact agency case number.
Postage $8.50 flat rate when requested Choose email when legally and technically available.
Deposit rule: The Sheriff may require 25% of estimated search, retrieval, redaction and reproduction costs when the estimate is $75 or more. The remaining balance is due when the records are produced.
Crime-victim copy: The Sheriff states that a victim is not charged for a copy of the incident report relating to the victim’s case.
Separate 911 request: Requests involving 911 or dispatch recordings must be directed to the Charleston County Consolidated 911 Center rather than included in the Sheriff’s FOIA request.
Response timeline: The Sheriff’s FOIA guidance states that a public body has 10 days, excluding weekends and legal public holidays, to respond to a written request. For information older than two years, the response period increases to 20 days. This is the response period, not necessarily the final production deadline.
Open the official FOIA form Email the written request
Agency routing

Send the request to the office that created the record

Charleston County arrest-record responsibility
Record or event Likely custodian Correct next step
Sheriff deputy made the arrest Charleston County Sheriff’s Office Request the incident and arrest records from CCSO.
City of Charleston officer made the arrest Charleston Police Department Request the police report from the city, even when the person was booked at the county jail.
North Charleston officer made the arrest North Charleston Police Department Use the city’s records or FOIA process.
Mount Pleasant or another municipal officer made the arrest That municipal police department Use the arresting agency displayed in the booking or court record.
Jail booking and custody Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center Use the inmate search or call the facility.
General Sessions criminal case Charleston County Clerk of Court Search Court Plus or request documents from the Clerk.
Magistrate criminal case The assigned Charleston County Magistrate Court Use the case number to identify the court agency.
Municipal ordinance or city case The applicable municipal court Contact the city court rather than General Sessions.
Statewide South Carolina criminal history SLED CATCH Run the state name-based criminal-history search.
County booking does not equal Sheriff arrest. The detention center accepts people arrested by multiple agencies. Always read the arresting-agency field before requesting the police narrative.
Jail-to-court workflow

How to search Charleston County criminal court records

Bond Court

Handles initial bond-related matters. A case may show “Transferred” after moving from Bond Court to General Sessions or another court.

General Sessions

The criminal division of Circuit Court handles serious state criminal charges and maintains charges, actions, associated cases, bonds and dispositions.

Summary or municipal court

Magistrates and municipal judges handle many misdemeanors, traffic violations, ordinance cases and lower-level criminal matters.

Search by case number first A complete case number is more precise than a person’s name.
When searching by name, start broadly Use the full legal first and last name and review all plausible results.
Confirm the court agency Identify Bond Court, General Sessions, Magistrate Court or municipal court.
Compare the arrest date and year of birth These details help distinguish people with the same name.
Open associated cases A Bond Court case may transfer to a General Sessions number. Save both numbers.
Read the charge section Compare the original charge with the current charge description and disposition date.
Review actions chronologically Court events may include bond hearings, initial appearances, second appearances, motions and orders.
Check the bond section Review cash, surety or other bond amounts and any no-contact, travel or conduct conditions.
Locate the disposition Pending, transferred, nolle prosequi, guilty plea and other results have different meanings.
Order the controlling document Obtain the actual court order, indictment, disposition or sentence when the online label is insufficient.

How to interpret common Charleston County case entries

Public Index and Court Plus terms
Entry Meaning What to verify
Pending The case has not reached a final disposition. Review the newest action and upcoming appearance.
Transferred The matter moved from Bond Court or another court agency. Open the associated General Sessions or Summary Court case.
True bill A grand jury returned an indictment on the charge presented. Read the indictment and current charge counts.
No bill The grand jury did not return an indictment on the charge presented. Check whether another charge or case remained.
Nolle prosequi The prosecutor declined to continue the identified charge at that time. Confirm the defendant and exact charge covered.
Pled guilty The court accepted a guilty plea. Read the sentencing entry and charge of conviction.
Disposed The case has a recorded final disposition. Read the specific disposition rather than relying on “disposed” alone.
Bond condition A restriction attached to pretrial release. Read the entire condition, including no-contact and geographic restrictions.
Common Pleas and General Sessions
100 Broad Street, Suite 106
Charleston, SC 29401-2258

Phone: 843-958-5000

Fax: 843-958-5020

Clerk office hours

Monday–Friday

8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Closed on county holidays.

Search Charleston County court cases
Court-file access

How to view or order Charleston County criminal court documents

General Sessions, Common Pleas and Family Court documents and exhibits are generally available for in-person review during normal business hours unless sealed or confidential. Juvenile, grand-jury and other protected files have restricted access.

Identify the exact court Determine whether the file is General Sessions, Magistrate, municipal or Family Court.
Record the complete case number The Clerk requires a specific case number and the names of the parties.
Choose plain or certified copies A plain copy may be enough for personal review. Formal proceedings may require certification with the Clerk’s seal.
Submit the request in person or by mail Send it to the court that maintains the file.
Use an acceptable payment For mailed requests, prepare a cashier’s check or money order payable to Charleston County Clerk of Court.
State the document precisely Request the indictment, bond order, disposition, sentencing sheet or another named document instead of “the entire file” when possible.
Published Charleston County Clerk charges
Service Published charge Use
Copies $0.10 per page Plain xerox, computer or microfilm copies.
Certification $1 per certified document Official copy bearing Clerk certification.
Record retrieval $4 per record Retrieval under the Clerk’s published fee schedule.
Exemplification $10 When a receiving institution specifically requires an exemplified record.
Bond and surety packet for bondsman $10 per bond Includes listed bond-related copies for a bondsman.
Expungement filing $35 under the published schedule The schedule notes special no-fee treatment for dismissed, nol-prossed or not-guilty matters; confirm eligibility and total first.
Copy-request wording
Please provide a [plain/certified] copy of the [indictment, bond order, disposition, sentencing sheet or other document] in The State of South Carolina v. [defendant], case number [complete case number]. Please notify me of the page count, certification charge and total payment required before mailing.
Warrant verification

How to search and safely confirm a Charleston County warrant

The Sheriff’s warrant search accepts a last name by itself or a last-and-first-name combination. The county expressly warns that the public database is not final confirmation that a warrant remains active.

Search the last name first Add the first name only when necessary.
Compare available identifiers A wanted person may have used false identification, causing another person’s name or birth information to appear.
Do not take individual action The county prohibits using the online result as probable cause for an arrest or confrontation.
Confirm with the Warrants Unit Call during office hours and provide the complete name, aliases and date of birth.
Use after-hours dispatch when necessary Call consolidated dispatch or the Sheriff’s non-emergency number.
Use a controlled self-surrender plan A person checking their own possible warrant should arrange the next step with the Warrants Unit or a South Carolina attorney.
Warrants Unit
Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center
3841 Leeds Avenue
North Charleston, SC 29405

Phone: 843-529-7391

Email: Warrants@CharlestonCounty.org

Office hours: Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

After hours

Dispatch: 843-743-7200

Non-emergency: 843-202-1700

Emergency: call or text 911.

Turning yourself in

Violation Check Law warrant: The Sheriff states that a person may call the Warrants Office for an appointment with a deputy at Bond Court. The warrant is served, a bond hearing follows, and a recognizance release may sometimes be granted. This is not guaranteed.
More serious warrants: Call the Warrants Unit before arriving. Do not assume that a person will be processed and released without detention.
Run the live warrant search Call the Warrants Unit
Bond and release

Charleston County bond types and release checks

Bond options described by the Charleston County Clerk
Bond type How it works Important limitation
Cash or cashier’s check The amount ordered by the court is deposited with the Clerk in lieu of bond. Confirm the exact amount, case and accepted payment before arriving.
Professional surety A licensed bonding company posts the bail bond. The Sheriff and Clerk do not guarantee or select a private company.
Property bond An individual pledges qualifying real estate in Charleston County as collateral. Land or a house may qualify; mobile homes are not accepted under the Clerk’s guidance.
Personal recognizance A release letter and PR bond form are taken to the detention center for processing. The defendant must sign and comply with all release conditions.
Cash percentage A percentage of the full bond may be posted when the bond order specifically permits it. Do not assume that every bond allows percentage payment.
Review every case A person may have more than one charge, bond or warrant.
Read every release condition No-contact, travel, monitoring and other restrictions may be displayed in the bond section.
Ask whether another hold exists Another county, state, federal or probation matter may prevent release.
Confirm where payment belongs Some payments are handled by the Clerk, a bondsman or another court rather than through an inmate account.
Keep the receipt and case information Save the payment amount, case number, date, time and issuing office.
Wait for physical release Bond acceptance does not mean that the person has completed detention-center release processing.
Return of cash deposit: After the conditions of the underlying bond are satisfied and the defendant is released from further liability, an application may be made to the Clerk for return of the deposit.
Never use an inmate commissary deposit to pay bond. Commissary, phone and tablet balances are separate from court bond payments.
Detention center overview

Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center facts

Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center
3841 Leeds Avenue
North Charleston, SC 29405

Information: 843-529-7300

Published capacity

The Sheriff states that the facility can house 1,693 inmates.

The current complex includes four buildings and multiple direct-supervision housing units.

Security screening

Visitors and contracted workers pass through a metal detector, and bags are scanned before entry.

Medical capacity

The facility includes a medical department and a DHEC-licensed infirmary.

Public fingerprinting

Public fingerprinting is offered Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., with a noon–1 p.m. lunch closure. The fee is $5 exact change.

Online video visits

Charleston County inmate visitation schedule and rules

Personal visits are currently online only. Attorneys may visit in person during the published attorney-visitation periods.
Custody wait

The inmate generally must be held at least 72 hours.

Visit length

30 minutes.

Weekly limit

Three visits per seven calendar days.

Provider

Securus Technologies.

Availability

Subject to facility operations.

Personal online visitation windows
Daily session Available window Last listed scheduling time
Morning 8 a.m.–10:50 a.m. 10:20 a.m.
Afternoon 1 p.m.–4:25 p.m. 3:55 p.m.
Evening 7 p.m.–10 p.m. 9:30 p.m.

Visitor eligibility and conduct

Create the Securus account before scheduling
A visitor must be at least 17 or accompanied by a parent or guardian
The inmate may refuse a visit
Visitors under the influence of alcohol or drugs are denied
Disruptive behavior can end the session
Shirt and shoes are mandatory
See-through clothing, tank tops and similar prohibited attire can cause denial
Schedules may change because of facility operations
Out-of-state visitor: A person presenting out-of-state picture identification may be granted one unscheduled visit when space is available. Approval is not guaranteed.

Attorney visitation

Morning

Monday–Friday
9 a.m.–11 a.m.

Afternoon

Monday–Friday
1:30 p.m.–4 p.m.

Evening

Monday–Friday
7 p.m.–10 p.m.

Create or manage a visitation account
Cashless facility

Charleston County inmate commissary, phone and tablet deposits

The detention center operates a cashless system. Inmates cannot possess U.S. currency. Commissary, phone and tablet services use separate accounts and should not be confused with court bond payments.

Lobby kiosk

Deposit money into the inmate’s canteen account at the detention-center lobby kiosk.

TouchPay

Use Charleston County site number 229405 and verify the inmate number before paying.

Money order

Mail a properly completed money order directly to the detention center. Do not include a personal letter or book.

Care package

Approved care packages may be ordered through iCare rather than mailed personally.

Phone and tablet

Deposit phone or tablet funds through Securus rather than TouchPay canteen funding.

Weekly spending

The Sheriff lists a maximum commissary spending amount of $100 per week.

Money-order instructions

Address
Inmate Name and ID Number
Charleston County Detention Center
3841 Leeds Avenue
North Charleston, SC 29405
Make the money order payable to Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center
Place only the inmate’s name and number on the memo line
Do not send cash
Do not send a personal check
Do not alter the money order
Do not place personal mail or books in the same envelope
Monday deadline: To make funds available for canteen use, the Sheriff states that the deposit must be completed before 8 a.m. Monday.
Verify before depositing. Confirm the exact inmate name, inmate number and current custody. Funds sent to the wrong person or wrong account type may be difficult to recover.
Make a canteen deposit Fund phone or tablet services Order an approved care package
Digital personal mail

Charleston County inmate mail and Securus messaging rules

Do not send ordinary personal correspondence to 3841 Leeds Avenue. Since May 1, 2023, personal mail has been routed to the Securus Digital Mail Center.
Personal mail address
Incarcerated Individual and ID Number
Charleston, SC County Jail
C/O Securus Digital Mail Center
P.O. Box 20207
Tampa, FL 33622

What happens to personal mail?

The processing center receives the envelope The outside return address and complete inmate identification must be legible.
Eligible pages are scanned The digital copy becomes available through the inmate tablet system.
Pictures and drawings may be scanned They must comply with content and size requirements.
Unscannable items are returned Paper larger than 8.5 by 11 inches and non-paper material cannot be processed.
Packages and certified mail are returned Do not use those delivery types for ordinary personal mail.
Physical mail is destroyed after 60 days To request return of physical contents, include a self-addressed stamped envelope with the original mailing.

Prohibited personal-mail items

Food or clothing
Books, magazines or newspapers
Cosmetics or toiletries
Stationery, envelopes, stamps, pencils or pens
Cash, checks or traveler’s checks
Musical or electronic greeting cards
Paper clips, staples, stickers, glue or tape
Prepaid phone cards
Polaroid photographs
Weapons, razors or legally defined contraband
Writing supplies for indigent inmates: The Sheriff states that the jail provides access to basic writing items at no cost for up to two personal letters per week when the inmate lacks funds to purchase them.

Securus electronic-message prices

Published messaging stamp costs
Message type Stamps Published cost before tax
Text e-message One stamp $0.25
Message with photo attachment Two stamps $0.50
Message with video attachment Three stamps $0.75
Tablet access is a privilege. Not every inmate has tablet or messaging access. Confirm availability before depositing money for messages or subscriptions.
Tablet subscription: The Sheriff publishes a $5 charge for the first day followed by 29 additional days at no additional subscription charge. Media purchases and rentals may cost extra.
Calls and property

Phone calls and inmate property releases

Initial telephone call

After completing booking, the inmate is allowed an opportunity to make a free local call to notify family, friends or an attorney.

Later calls

Subsequent calls are collect in nature. Account or blocking issues are handled through Securus at 800-844-6591.

Property and money-release windows

Day window

7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. daily.

Night window

7:30 p.m.–4:30 a.m. daily.

The inmate must approve the release
The inmate signs the Valuable Property/Cash Release Form
Cash generally cannot be released after an account transaction
Bondsman and attorney exceptions may apply
Other exceptional requests require command approval
Released money is issued by check in the inmate’s name
Statewide history

When the Charleston County search is not broad enough

A county booking search does not provide a complete South Carolina criminal history. SLED CATCH is the state’s name-based Citizens Access to Criminal Histories service.

Report fee

$25 per standard search.

2026 online fee

$1.43 service fee effective July 1, 2026.

Coverage

South Carolina criminal records only.

Search type

Name-based, not fingerprint identification.

Not included

Wanted-person and sex-offender searches.

SLED CATCH limitations

Uses a starts-with match for first name, last name and date of birth
Social Security number is searched when provided
Aliases and incorrect birth information can create false negatives
Similar names can create false positives
Multiple possible subjects may require special processing
Fingerprint searches are more reliable when authorized or required
Wanted-person information is not included
Sex-offender registry information is searched separately

Mail-in request

SLED Records Department
P.O. Box 21398
Columbia, SC 29221-1398

Include the criminal-record-check form, payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Business check, certified check, cashier’s check or money order is accepted. Personal checks and cash are not.

State clearly when a notarized or certified result is required.

SLED CATCH questions

803-896-1443

Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Email

SLEDCATCHAcct@sled.sc.gov

Run the South Carolina CATCH search
Errors and expungement

How to correct or clear a Charleston County record

Correcting inaccurate information

Contact the office responsible for the disputed field
Problem Responsible office What to prepare
Wrong jail identity or booking field Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center Government ID, inmate number, booking date and exact disputed information.
Wrong Sheriff incident-report information CCSO Records or the responsible investigative unit Agency case number and official documents supporting correction.
Wrong city police record The municipal police department that made the arrest City report number, court documents and identity evidence.
Wrong court docket or disposition Clerk of Court or the Summary Court maintaining the case Complete case number and the controlling filed order.
Wrong statewide history SLED criminal-history unit Fingerprint and certified court or agency documents as instructed.

Expungement path by court type

General Sessions case

Contact the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Expungement Coordinator. The office determines statutory eligibility and processes qualifying applications.

Dismissed Magistrate case

SLED directs applicants to the Magistrate Court that handled the charge.

Dismissed municipal case

Contact the municipal court that handled the charge rather than beginning with SLED.

Obtain the final disposition Get a certified record showing how each charge ended.
Identify the correct expungement office Use the Ninth Circuit Solicitor for qualifying General Sessions matters or the responsible Summary Court when applicable.
Complete the application and fee review Fees and eligibility depend on the disposition and South Carolina statute. Some dismissed, nol-prossed or not-guilty matters receive no-fee treatment.
Wait for the required signatures and order The arrest is not removed merely because an application was submitted.
Allow agencies to process the order SLED advises allowing approximately four weeks after it receives the destruction or expungement order.
Run a new criminal-history check After the processing period, use a new SLED report to verify whether the charge was removed from the state record.
Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office
O.T. Wallace County Office Building
101 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29401

Phone: 843-958-1900

Office hours published by the county: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Charleston County Clerk
100 Broad Street, Suite 106
Charleston, SC 29401

Phone: 843-958-5000

Expungement is not automatic. Eligibility depends on the offense, disposition, prior history and applicable South Carolina law. A pardon and an expungement are also different forms of relief.
Legal and victim help

Where defendants and crime victims can get assistance

Charleston County Public Defender
O.T. Wallace County Office Building
101 Meeting Street, 5th Floor
Charleston, SC 29401

Phone: 843-958-1850

Office: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Adult in-office screening: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

CCSO Victim/Witness Advocates

843-745-2250

843-745-2251

843-745-2252

Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., excluding county holidays.

Public Defender

Provides qualifying low-income defendants with representation in General Sessions, Transfer Court, Probation Violation Court and certain cases involving possible incarceration.

Victim incident report

South Carolina law and the Sheriff’s published guidance provide a victim with a free copy of the incident report relating to the victim’s case.

Solicitor victim assistance

The Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office can provide prosecution-related victim information at 843-958-1900.

Contact directory

Charleston County jail, Sheriff and court contacts

Use the contact matched to the task
Office Contact Use it for
Emergency Call or text 911 Immediate danger, violence or urgent medical and safety situations.
Sheriff non-emergency 843-202-1700 Non-emergency law-enforcement service and after-hours warrant routing.
Consolidated dispatch 843-743-7200 After-hours dispatch and certain warrant-status arrangements.
Detention center 843-529-7300 Custody, booking, facility and inmate-service questions.
Warrants Unit 843-529-7391 Warrant confirmation and controlled self-surrender arrangements.
Sheriff Records routing 843-554-2450 Routine records and copy questions before a broad FOIA request.
Sheriff FOIA Analyst 843-554-2495 Written Sheriff FOIA request processing.
General Sessions Clerk 843-958-5000 Criminal court records, copies and docket questions.
Summary Court Administration 843-202-6600 Magistrate and Summary Court administrative routing.
Ninth Circuit Solicitor 843-958-1900 General Sessions prosecution, victim assistance and expungement coordination.
Public Defender 843-958-1850 Indigency screening and qualifying criminal defense representation.
Securus customer service 800-844-6591 Video visit, collect-call, messaging, tablet and account issues.
Location

Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center map

Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center
3841 Leeds Avenue
North Charleston, SC 29405

Information: 843-529-7300

Confirm before traveling. Personal visitation is online, new bookings may be delayed online, and not every records or court task is completed at the detention center.
Official-source audit

What was extracted into this guide

J
Jail search

Current and past-booking fields, Sounds Like search, inmate-number search and 2026 online-posting delay.

R
Records

FOIA addresses, required search details, response periods, deposit rule and published itemized charges.

C
Court

General Sessions duties, court-search workflow, case-status explanations, copy prices and certification rules.

B
Bond

Recognizance, cash, surety, property and percentage-bond paths plus deposit-return guidance.

F
Family services

Visitation schedules, mail address, commissary deadline, account separation, messaging prices and property release.

SC
State records

SLED CATCH fees, search limitations, correction rights and expungement routing.

Frequently asked questions

Charleston County arrest-record questions answered

How do I search Charleston County arrest records?

Use the official Sheriff inmate search. Search by name, booking-date range, arrest-date range or inmate number. Enable Sounds Like for spelling variations and select Show Past Bookings for earlier releases.

Why is a recent arrest not online yet?

Charleston County introduced a short online and app posting delay in 2026 to reduce bail scams. Intake processing may also be incomplete. The detention center lobby displays a daily printed list for public viewing.

Does the inmate search show past bookings?

Yes. Select Show Past Bookings and use the known arrest or booking date range to isolate the correct custody event.

How do I get the actual arrest report?

Request it from the agency that made the arrest. For a Sheriff arrest, send a written request to the CCSO Public Information Office and include the case number, date range, subject name, birth date and incident location.

How do I check what happened in court?

Search Charleston County Court Plus by case number. Review associated Bond Court and General Sessions cases, charges, actions, bond conditions and final disposition.

How much are Charleston County court copies?

The Clerk lists ordinary copies at $0.10 per page and certification at $1. Requests should identify the complete case number and party names.

Can I rely on the online warrant search?

No. The Sheriff states that the database is not final confirmation of an active warrant and should not be used as probable cause. Confirm the result with the Warrants Unit.

How many video visits can an inmate receive?

The published schedule permits up to three 30-minute personal online visits during a seven-calendar-day period. The inmate generally must be incarcerated for at least 72 hours.

Where do I send personal inmate mail?

Address it to the incarcerated individual and ID number, Charleston SC County Jail, care of Securus Digital Mail Center, P.O. Box 20207, Tampa, FL 33622.

How do I expunge a Charleston County arrest?

Contact the Ninth Circuit Solicitor at 843-958-1900 for General Sessions eligibility. For an eligible dismissed Magistrate or municipal case, contact the court that handled it. SLED acts only after receiving the required order.

Accuracy, identity and legal-use notice

County Arrest Records is an independent informational guide. It is not the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center, Charleston County Clerk of Court, Ninth Circuit Solicitor, Public Defender, SLED or a law firm.

Booking, warrant, bond, custody and court information can change after release, transfer, court action, correction or expungement. Confirm identity with multiple identifiers and obtain the current official record before making a legal, employment, housing, safety, financial or publication decision.

Every arrested person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. This guide provides procedural information and is not legal advice.

Last official-source review: July 31, 2026.

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