Charleston County criminal records begin at the Clerk of Court on Broad Street in Charleston. That office keeps the case file for each charge filed in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, from the first warrant to the final order. A record carries a case number, the defendant’s name, the charges, and every paper added after arrest. This page shows how to read those files and order copies.
The sections below cover the search tools, the fields on a case page, and the limits that keep some files closed. They name the offices that hold arrest logs, dispositions, and certified copies. The last part covers name matches, delays between counties, and the steps to take when a record does not appear. Call the clerk at (843) 958-5000 before you visit the records window in Charleston.
Criminal Record Search
The county portal and the clerk’s index carry criminal case entries, and a case number gives the cleanest match.
- Official county search portal: https://www.charlestoncounty.gov/online-services.php
- Search by case number, defendant name, or filing date.
- Case numbers combine a year, a court code, and a sequence.
- Clerk of Court: 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401-2258.
- Clerk phone: (843) 958-5000; counter hours run Monday to Friday.
- Arrest logs come from the agency that made the arrest, not the clerk.
Offense Details & Case Status
An offense entry links a charge to a statute, a class, and a date. The class tells you whether the state treats the matter as a misdemeanor or a felony, and that label drives the range of punishment a judge may impose. The same act can carry two charges when a county ordinance and a state law both apply. Read the statute number before you compare two files.
| Office detail | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Location | Charleston County Clerk of Court, 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401-2258 |
| Contact Number | (843) 958-5000 |
| Office Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (excluding county holidays) |
| Official Website Search Portal | https://www.charlestoncounty.gov/online-services.php |
Start with a case number from a bond form, a sentencing sheet, or a letter from a lawyer. A name alone can return dozens of rows in a county this size, so add a birth year or a middle initial. The index lists the charge, the filing date, and the docket, and some entries link to scanned papers. Write the number down before you ask for a copy at the window.
| Record element | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Arrest agency | Department that made the arrest and wrote the report |
| Statute code | Section of state law or county ordinance charged |
| Classification | Misdemeanor or felony, with a letter class |
| Disposition | Plea, finding, dismissal, or acquittal |
| Sentence | Prison term, probation, fine, or a mix |
| Case status | Active, pending, closed, or on appeal |
A statute code alone rarely explains a case. The description beside it comes from the charging agency, and two agencies may word the same offense in different ways. Look at the class column, the disposition row, and the sentence line as a group. A charge dropped at a preliminary hearing often appears in the file, with a docket note that says dismissed or nolle prosequi.
Arrest Logs, Agency & Offense Types
An arrest log names the agency, the officer, the date, and the charge. City police, county deputies, and state troopers each keep their own log, and the jail holds a booking record for every person brought through its doors. The clerk’s file begins later, when a warrant or a citation reaches the court. Ask the arresting agency for the incident report, and ask the clerk for the case file.
Misdemeanor & Felony Classifications
South Carolina sorts offenses into misdemeanors and felonies, and felonies carry letter classes from A to F. A class sets the maximum prison term a judge may impose, and a statute lists the fine. A misdemeanor usually brings a shorter term and a lower fine, but a third conviction on the same charge can raise the grade. Read the class on the charging paper, not on a summary site.
Court Dispositions, Sentences & Fines
A disposition is the outcome of a charge. Guilty, not guilty, dismissed, and nolle prosequi are the common labels, and each one closes a charge in a different way. A sentence row shows prison time, probation, a fine, or a mix of the three. A fine may carry court costs and a surcharge, so the total on the receipt can run above the amount a judge announced.
Active, Pending, Closed & Acquitted Cases
Status labels describe where a case sits, not what a person did. Active means the court expects another hearing. Pending means a date is set and the file waits. Closed means a judge has signed the final order. Acquitted means a trial ended in a not guilty verdict on the charge. An appeal can reopen review without erasing the acquittal below it. Ask the clerk for the newest docket line.
Public Access & Official Copies
Most criminal case files stay open to the public, and the clerk’s index shows the caption, the charges, and the docket. Some files close by statute, and a judge can seal a paper inside an open case. A requester may read a file at the counter or order a certified copy. The county portal carries a growing set of scanned papers, but paper files still fill the shelves at Broad Street.
| Record type | Office that holds it |
|---|---|
| Arrest report | Agency that made the arrest |
| Booking and jail record | Charleston County Sheriff’s Office |
| Criminal case file and docket | Clerk of Court, Ninth Judicial Circuit |
| Certified copy with court seal | Clerk of Court records counter |
| State prison record | State corrections agency |
Ask which office holds the paper before you pay a fee. The clerk keeps the court file, and the arresting agency keeps the incident report, so one event can require two requests. A records clerk can tell you whether the portal carries an image or whether the file sits in storage. Bring the case number to the Broad Street counter to shorten the wait at the window.
Public Directory File Availability
The online index lists case numbers, party names, filing dates, and docket text for most criminal matters. Scanned images appear for some years and some courts, and coverage grows as clerks scan older paper. A file marked as unavailable may sit in storage or wait for a redaction review. Call the clerk with the case number to find out whether an image exists before you order a copy.
Sealed, Expunged & Juvenile Exclusions
A sealed file stays in the clerk’s custody but leaves the public index. An expunged record is destroyed or removed by court order after a waiting period, and the person may lawfully deny the arrest in most settings. Juvenile matters run in family court, and those files stay closed to the public. A lawyer can confirm whether an expungement applies and file the request with the right office.
Court & Law Enforcement Requests
A prosecutor, a defense lawyer, and a police agency can request a file through the clerk’s office. Each request names the case number and the papers needed. A judge may limit who sees a file during an active investigation. A member of the public follows the same counter process as a lawyer, but a request from an agency can move faster when a case is open and no seal applies.
Certified Copies, Fees & Processing Times
A certified copy carries the clerk’s signature and the court seal, and agencies such as a licensing board often demand one. Carry the case number, the exact document title, and photo identification to the 100 Broad Street counter. Staff quote a per-page fee and a search fee when the number is unknown, and payment falls due at the window. A long file can take several business days.
Record Accuracy & Resolution
A search that returns nothing or returns ten rows with the same surname is a common result. Spelling, a maiden name, a hyphen, and a birth date typed in the wrong order each explain a miss. The index can lag the docket by a day or two. Read the newest entry, compare the birth year, and call the clerk with the case number before you pay for a copy of the wrong file.
Differentiating Similar Name Matches
Two people can share a name and a birth year, so compare more than the surname. A middle initial, a street address, and a booking photo separate most pairs. A case caption may list a suffix such as Junior or the Third, and a clerk often drops it. Read the charge dates side by side. A file opened in 2004 cannot belong to a person born in 2001.
Multi-Jurisdiction System Delays
A single arrest can touch three systems. The city police hold the incident report, the county jail holds the booking, and the clerk holds the case file. Each office enters data on its own schedule, and a transfer to another county starts a new record there. Expect a gap of days between the arrest and the first court entry. Ask each office for its own copy and keep the numbers together.
Unlisted Criminal Record Resolution
Call the clerk at (843) 958-5000 with the name, the birth date, and the charge year. Ask for a search across the criminal index rather than one name spelling. A record may sit under a maiden name, a misspelled surname, or a case number from a municipal court. If the clerk finds nothing, request a written no-record statement and check the state court system in Columbia.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions reach the clerk’s counter at Broad Street and the phone line each week. The answers follow South Carolina practice and the offices named on this page. A clerk can confirm a case number, a fee, or a document title, and a lawyer can explain how a rule fits one file. Hours and fees change, so call ahead before you make the trip to Charleston.
Are criminal court records public in Charleston County ?
Most criminal case files are open, and anyone may read the docket at the clerk’s counter or through the county portal. A few matters close by statute, such as juvenile files and records a judge seals under a protective order. Some papers inside an open file stay restricted until a hearing ends. Bring photo identification and a case number, and staff will pull the file that the index lists.
What details are included in an official criminal file?
A file holds the case caption, the defendant’s name and birth date, the charging papers, and the docket sheet. The docket lists each hearing, motion, and order with a date and a judge’s name. A disposition page records the plea, the finding, and the sentence. Bond papers, witness lists, and exhibits may sit in the same folder. A certified copy carries the clerk’s signature and the court seal on each page.
How long after disposition do records update online?
Most dispositions reach the online index within one to three business days after the clerk enters the order. A paper order signed in court can wait longer, since staff key it in by hand. A holiday or a backlog adds a day or two. The docket at the counter often shows the entry before the portal does. Call the clerk when the index shows a case as pending a week later.
Who confirms missing or unlisted criminal court entries?
The Clerk of Court holds the case file, and a deputy clerk can search the index by name, case number, or filing date. That office confirms whether a record exists but was never posted online. The arresting agency confirms an incident report, and the jail confirms a booking. Start with the clerk at (843) 958-5000, then work back to the agency that made the arrest if the index returns nothing.