Charleston County Booking Records
Charleston County 24 hour booking records come from the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center in North Charleston, South Carolina. This large facility houses roughly 1,500 inmates and processes bookings around the clock. The county uses an online inmate search portal that lets you look up current and past bookings by name or booking date. Charleston County also has a 24-hour delay policy on posting booking data to protect inmates and families from bail scams. This guide explains how to search booking records in Charleston County.
Charleston County Quick Facts
Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center
The Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center sits at 3841 Leeds Avenue in North Charleston. It is the main jail for all of Charleston County. The facility is one of the largest in South Carolina. It holds about 1,500 inmates at any time. The Sheriff's Office runs the center and handles all booking operations. Staff process new arrests day and night.
The detention center uses a cashless system for inmates. No U.S. currency is allowed inside the facility. Each inmate has an account for purchases. Family members can add money through kiosks in the lobby or online through approved vendors. The center also uses video visitation to reduce contraband and limit inmate movement. Inmates must wait at least 72 hours after booking before they can receive visits. Visitation hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. every day of the week.
| Facility |
Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center 3841 Leeds Avenue North Charleston, SC 29405 Phone: (843) 202-6000 |
|---|---|
| Operated By | Charleston County Sheriff's Office |
| Visitation | Daily: 8-11 AM, 1-4 PM, 6-9:30 PM (72-hour wait after booking) |
| Website | ccsheriff.org |
Search Charleston County 24 Hour Booking
Charleston County runs its own online inmate search portal. This is the fastest way to look up booking records. You can search by last name, first name, booking date range, or inmate number. The system shows both current and past bookings. Most people booked into the jail are released within 24 hours.
The screenshot below shows the Charleston County inmate search portal used for finding booking records.
This portal is the official tool for checking Charleston County jail bookings and is updated regularly by the Sheriff's Office.
Charleston County has a 24-hour delay before new booking information appears online. The Sheriff's Office put this rule in place to stop bail scammers from targeting inmates and their families. Because of this delay, very recent arrests may not show up right away. If you need to confirm a booking that just happened, call the detention center at (843) 202-6000.
For statewide records, use the SLED CATCH system. It covers criminal history across South Carolina. You search by name and date of birth. Results are based on fingerprint records submitted by law enforcement. SLED CATCH can show arrest records from Charleston County and every other county in the state.
Note: The 24-hour posting delay only applies to the online portal, not to phone inquiries at the jail.
Charleston County Booking Records and FOIA
Booking records are public in South Carolina. The Freedom of Information Act, Section 30-4-30, gives any person the right to request government records. This covers 24 hour booking data from the Charleston County Detention Center. The Sheriff's Office processes FOIA requests for incident reports and booking records. You can submit a request in person or by mail.
Some records may cost a fee to copy. The amount depends on the number of pages and the format you request. Most basic booking information is available quickly. Detailed case files or older records may take longer to pull. The Sheriff's Office must respond within the time limits set by state law.
Expungement of Charleston County Arrests
Some booking records can be expunged. Under South Carolina Code Section 17-1-40, a person may petition to have an arrest record sealed. This applies when charges are dropped or the person is found not guilty. Some first-time offenses also qualify. Expungement removes the record from public view in both local and state databases.
The process requires a court petition. It does not happen by default. A judge must approve the request. Once the order is granted, Charleston County removes the booking record from public access. Law enforcement retains a sealed copy. The rules on publishing arrest information are set out in Section 17-1-60. This law affects how booking data from Charleston County can be shared publicly.
What Charleston County 24 Hour Booking Records Include
Each booking record from Charleston County contains standard details about the arrest. The information is entered during intake at the detention center.
A booking report typically lists:
- Full name and date of birth
- Date and time of booking
- All charges at time of arrest
- Bond amount and bond type
- Arresting agency
- Mugshot photo
The Charleston County inmate search portal shows most of this data online. For the full booking file, contact the Sheriff's Office. Older records may require a formal FOIA request. The mission of the detention center is to maintain secure operations while preserving the rights and dignity of those who are held. This mission extends to how booking records are handled and shared with the public.
Charleston County Court Records
Booking records are separate from court records. A booking happens at the jail. Court records are created when a case moves to the legal system. You can search Charleston County court cases through the South Carolina Judicial Department. The system covers Circuit Court, Family Court, and Magistrate Court records.
Court records often connect to booking events. If someone was arrested and booked in Charleston County, a court case may follow. You can search by party name or case number. This tool is free to use for basic case lookups. For copies of actual court documents, contact the Clerk of Court in Charleston County.
Note: Court records and jail booking records are kept in different systems and may not update at the same time.
Cities in Charleston County
Charleston County includes several cities and towns. All bookings for arrests within the county are processed at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center.
Nearby Counties
Charleston County borders several other counties in the Lowcountry region. If you are unsure where a booking took place, check with the arresting agency. Each county operates its own detention facility.