A 24 hour booking is a jail intake record posted within the last day. Charleston County posts those entries through the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center search portal, and each row shows a booking number, an intake time, charges, and a custody status. The list turns over quickly, so a search run this morning can look different by evening. Treat the portal as a snapshot, not a case file.
Families check the daily list to confirm an arrest before any paperwork reaches them. Attorneys check it to find a first appearance date. Bail agents check it to spot a bond that has not been set. The page below covers the fields on each entry, the photo rules, and the path for fixing a wrong name or date. Write down the booking number, then call to confirm anything you plan to act on.
24-Hour Booking Search
Open the county inmate portal, then search by name, booking number, or date.
- Official search portal: https://inmatesearch.charlestoncounty.gov/
- The public list covers intakes from the past 24 hours.
- Names, booking numbers, and dates return different result sets.
- The Detention Center holds adult intakes at 3841 Leeds Avenue, North Charleston.
- Charges and court dates stay with the Clerk of Court.
- Save the booking number before the entry clears.
Intake & Booking Details
Each entry carries a small set of fields, and staff type them in a fixed order during intake. A booking number, a name, a date and time, a facility, a charge list, and a bond figure form the core. Photographs and agency names follow. Not every field fills on the first pass, and a blank field often means the data sits in another queue. Read the full row before you form an opinion.
The name field works best with a surname plus a first name or initial. A booking number returns a single row and skips name matching. Date fields start on today and can be widened by a day or two, though older entries drop out of the public view. The newest intake lands at the top of the list. Open a row to read the charge list, the arresting agency, and the housing unit.
| Search method | Input needed | What it returns |
|---|---|---|
| Last name | Surname plus first name or initial | Every matching intake inside the window |
| Booking number | Number from a release form or bond sheet | One intake record |
| Date range | Start date and end date | Intakes posted in that span |
| Facility filter | Detention Center or a city lockup | Holds from one agency |
A common surname can fill the screen, and two people can share a name and a birth year. Compare the middle name, the booking date, and the arresting agency before you settle on one row. A booking number from a release form or a bond sheet ends the guesswork. Copy the entry to a file you control, since the public row may vanish before you return to it.
Subject Identity & Booking Photos
The name on a booking sheet is the name the person gave at intake, and staff compare it with an ID when one is available. A nickname or a maiden name can appear as an alias. The photo shows the person at the time of arrest, so hair, weight, and facial hair may differ from a current picture. Ask the family for a recent photo before you rely on one jail image.
Booking Timestamp & Facility Location
The booking time marks the end of intake, not the moment of arrest. An arrest at midnight can post a booking time hours later after fingerprints and paperwork. The facility field names the jail that holds the person, and Charleston County runs its main adult site on Leeds Avenue. A city police hold can appear under a different agency. Check the facility before you plan a visit or send mail.
Listed Charges & Offense Classifications
Charges appear as the arresting officer wrote them, and the list can change after review. A charge carries a statute number, a short description, and a level such as felony or misdemeanor. Several counts can stack on one booking. A magistrate or a circuit judge sets the level at a later stage. Read the charge text as an accusation, not as a finding of guilt.
| Field | What it shows | Where to confirm it |
|---|---|---|
| Charge description | Short wording entered at intake | Clerk of Court case file |
| Statute or ordinance | Code section cited by the officer | Clerk of Court and the code text |
| Offense level | Felony or misdemeanor at booking | Court filing after review |
| Count number | Position of the charge on the sheet | Warrant or indictment |
State statute numbers let you compare a jail charge with a court filing. A charge written as a city ordinance looks different from a state code section, and the two move through separate courts. Bond amounts attach to a charge, so a booking with three counts can show three figures. Ask the Detention Center which count holds the highest bond before you post any money.
Bail, Bond Amounts & Custody Status
A bond figure appears once a judge sets it, and a booking can sit for a day with no amount at all. The custody status field shows whether the person is held, released, or transferred. A personal recognizance bond needs no cash, and a surety bond runs through a licensed agent. A hold from another county or a federal agency can keep a person in custody after a local bond is posted.
Custody Changes & Release Information
Custody changes after the first hearing, and the portal reflects most of them within a few hours. A bond can be posted at the counter, through an agent, or by a remote service. A release can follow in minutes or wait for a property check. Transfers to another facility remove the person from the local list. Check the status field, then call the Detention Center before you drive to Leeds Avenue.
Bond Posting & Status Changes
A posted bond does not always mean an immediate release. Staff must verify the agent, count the property, and complete a discharge sheet. The status can read bonded during a wait in a holding area. A bond can be revoked when a new charge arrives or when a judge changes the terms. Keep the receipt and the booking number, then confirm the release time by phone.
Status words on a jail page carry a narrow meaning. Held means the person stays in custody. Bonded means a bond was posted and release is in process. Released means the person left the facility. A transfer record names the receiving agency. Ask staff to read the current status aloud when a screen shows an old time stamp, since the page can cache yesterday’s row.
Custody Releases & Facility Transfers
A release can happen at any hour, and the public page may lag the door by an hour or more. The person leaves with a property bag and a discharge paper that lists the booking number and the charges. A transfer moves the person to another county or to a state facility, and the local row can close without a release note. Call the Detention Center when a family needs a pickup time.
Daily Record Rollover & Archiving
The public list rolls over each day, and older intakes drop off the front page. A booking from two days ago can still return in a name search, but a booking from last month usually will not. The jail keeps its own record far longer. Court files live with the Clerk of Court and do not roll over. Save the row and the time you found it if you need proof of the search.
Public Availability & Privacy Rules
South Carolina opens most jail records to the public, and the county posts a daily list as a service. The list is not the complete custody file. Some entries are withheld, some names are shortened, and some charges carry a short description. A record that stays offline can still exist at the jail. Ask the records unit, and expect to show photo identification when you request a copy.
Online Directory File Availability
The online directory covers adult intakes at the county detention center. It does not merge city lockups, state prisons, or federal facilities into one list. A person held by a municipal department may appear only in that department’s log. A person moved to the state system leaves the county page. Check each agency in turn when a search comes back empty, and note the time of every check.
Redacted & Confidential Details
A public row can hide a victim name, a witness, a sealed count, or a medical detail. Staff remove those fields before posting, and the paper file keeps the full text. A protective custody hold may hide the housing unit. A witness security matter can keep a name off the list. Ask a supervisor when a family needs to confirm that a person is inside, and bring identification.
Juvenile Record Restrictions
South Carolina keeps juvenile custody and court files closed, and the county does not post them in the adult directory. A juvenile held in an adult facility on a serious charge can still stay out of the public view. Family members can confirm a placement through the facility or a court officer. An attorney of record can request what the public cannot see. Do not assume a missing juvenile entry means no arrest.
Record Accuracy & Resolution
Jail data changes fast, and a page can show a charge that a judge already dismissed. A name can carry a typo from a handwritten arrest ticket. A release time can post before the discharge is complete. Read the time stamp on the page and compare it with the clock. Report a clear error to the Detention Center, and take a court correction to the Clerk of Court. Keep copies of both.
System Delays for Recent Intakes
An arrest moves through booking, fingerprinting, a health screen, and charge entry before the row posts. Each step can add an hour, and a busy weekend can add a day. A network outage stops the upload without stopping the intake. Wait one full business day before you decide a record is missing, then call (843) 529-7300 and ask the lobby desk for the intake status.
Discrepancies Between Booking & Court Data
The jail sheet and the court file answer different questions. The jail records what an officer filed at arrest. The court records what a prosecutor charged and what a judge decided. A count can be reduced, merged, or dropped between the two. A case number from the Clerk of Court settles which version is current. Quote the court file when you need the formal charge.
Legal Presumption of Innocence
A booking is an accusation, and the law presumes a person innocent until a court finds otherwise. A jail entry is not a conviction, and it is not a criminal history. Employers and landlords who use the list should confirm the outcome of the case before acting. A dismissed charge can stay on a third-party site long after the county removes its row. Ask the Clerk of Court for the disposition.
| Location | Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center, 3841 Leeds Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405 |
|---|---|
| Contact Number | (843) 529-7300 (Detention Center); (843) 202-1700 (Sheriff’s Office non-emergency) |
| Office Hours | Contact the Detention Center or relevant division to confirm public counter hours |
| Official Website Search Portal | https://inmatesearch.charlestoncounty.gov/ |
Call before you visit, since the lobby handles visits, property, and records on separate schedules. Give the booking number and the exact field you want checked. Staff can confirm a spelling, a release time, or a photo that failed to load. A charge question goes to the Clerk of Court, and a bond question goes to the bonding office. Bring photo identification and a copy of any paper you leave.
Frequently Asked Questions
Four questions cover the points that bring the most calls to the detention center. Every reply tracks how Charleston County and South Carolina offices treat jail paperwork day to day. Timing, missing photos, and correction requests drive most of the traffic. Confirm anything tied to a court date with the Clerk of Court, and confirm custody details with the Detention Center before you rely on them.
How quickly do intake logs update online?
Most rows post within a few hours after the booking sheet clears review. A holiday weekend, a big roundup, or a server outage can delay posting until the next business day. The site loads in batches rather than in real time. A person released before a batch runs may never appear. Call (843) 529-7300 when you need same-day confirmation, and ask the desk for the intake time.
Why might a recent intake record be unlisted?
The intake may still sit in processing, the name may carry a spelling you did not try, or another agency may hold the person. A juvenile file stays closed, and a protective custody hold can keep a row offline. Federal holds appear only in the federal system. Confirm custody with the Detention Center before you conclude that no arrest took place. Try a hyphenated spelling or a maiden name too.
Are booking photos available for all daily intakes?
No. A photo posts with the row when the image uploads cleanly, and a failed upload leaves the entry without one. Some holds carry a restriction that keeps the image offline. The photo shows the person at intake and can be months out of date. Staff at the counter can say whether an image exists in the file, though a public copy may not be released. Ask first.
Who confirms unlisted daily booking entries?
Start with the Detention Center at (843) 529-7300 and give the full name plus a date of birth. A booking number shortens the search. The Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at (843) 202-1700 can route a call when the jail desk cannot help. The Clerk of Court confirms a case number and a court date. Ask for a name and a reference number on every call. Keep that number.