Charleston County Felony Records

A felony is a criminal charge that can bring a prison term of more than one year. In Charleston County, these cases start in magistrate or municipal court and move to the felony term of the Ninth Judicial Circuit. The Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street keeps the file. A felony record collects the indictment, the motions, the hearing notes, and the final sentence in one place.

This page explains how to find a felony file, how to read each document, and how to order a copy. It covers indictments, outcomes, sentencing terms, restricted records, and the steps to take when a search comes back empty. Fees follow a state schedule, and the clerk can quote the cost before a copy is made. Bring a case number when you have one, and ask for the records window.

How to Search Felony Records

Felony searches in Charleston County run through the Clerk of Court and the state court portal.

• Official Website Search Portal: https://www.charlestoncounty.gov/online-services.php
• Clerk of Court address: 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401-2258.
• Clerk’s phone line: (843) 958-5000.
• Open weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with county holidays observed.
• Court level: felony matters sit in the circuit court for the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
• Topics on this page: indictments, outcomes, sentencing, copy orders, and search fixes.

Felony Case Records

A felony file grows in stages. An arrest creates a booking entry, a solicitor presents the charge to a grand jury, and an indictment follows. Motions, hearing notices, and orders then stack on top. The case ends with a judgment, a dismissal, or a deferred program. Each document carries the same case number, and the newest entry sits at the very end of the docket.

The Clerk of Court keeps the paper and the electronic file for every felony charged in the county. Staff pull a file by case number, and they can confirm a hearing date, a charge, or a sentence. The county listing below gives the street address, the clerk’s direct line, and the public counter hours. Courtrooms sit in the same building, so a records visit can follow a hearing.

A counter visit moves fastest with three items: a case number, a photo identification, and a payment method. Staff can show the docket on a public terminal, and they can print an order for a fee. Ask which documents in the file are open for copying. Some pages, such as a presentence report, need a judge’s order before release. Note the name of the clerk who helped.

Indictments and Charging Documents

A felony charge begins with a warrant or a citation, and the solicitor then seeks an indictment. The indictment names the offense, the statute, and the date of the act. A grand jury reviews the case and returns a true bill when it finds enough evidence. Some charges proceed on an information instead. The indictment number and the case number may differ, so keep both.

Court Filings

Court filings include the charging papers, the appearance notices, and any written plea. A solicitor files the state’s case, and the defense files an answer or a motion. Each filing gets a date stamp, and the stamp decides deadlines. A filing that arrives late may need leave of court. Ask the clerk for the docket sheet, which lists every filing in the case in date order.

Motions and Responses

A motion asks the court to do something: suppress evidence, continue a trial, or reduce a bond. The other side files a response, and the judge may set a hearing. Some motions decide the case before trial. A motion in limine shapes what a jury hears. Each one usually gets a written order on the docket, and the order states the reason in a short sentence or two.

Hearing Records

A hearing record shows what happened in court on a given day. The clerk notes the parties present, the lawyers, the witnesses, and the ruling. A transcript is a word for word record, and it costs more than a docket entry. Most felony hearings produce a short minute entry rather than a full transcript. Order a transcript only when an appeal or a review needs the exact words.

Court Orders

A court order is the judge’s written direction, and it carries more weight than a docket note. Typical orders cover bond, evidence exchanges, suppression, and sentencing. Each one names the case, the judge, and the date. A copy with a seal proves the terms to a jail, a probation officer, or an employer. Read the last order in the file, since a later one can replace it.

Judgment and Sentencing Records

A judgment sets the outcome, and the sentencing sheet lists the terms that follow. The sheet names the count, the sentence length, the credit for time served, and any fine. It may add restitution, community service, and a no contact order. The clerk records the judgment in the case file, and the prison system receives a copy. Ask for the sentencing sheet rather than the indictment when you need the final terms.

The docket sheet is the map of a felony file. It lists each document by date, and a reader can use it to request one page rather than the whole file. Start at the top with the charge, then move to the last three entries for the outcome. A gap in the dates often marks a continuance or a transfer. Ask staff to explain any code you do not recognize.

Felony Case Outcomes

Most felony files end without a trial. A plea, a dismissal, or a deferred program closes the case far more often than a jury verdict. Each ending leaves a different paper trail, and each carries a different effect on a criminal record. A reader who finds an outcome should check the sentencing sheet and the final order together. One line rarely tells the whole story.

Convictions

A conviction follows a guilty plea or a guilty verdict. The court enters the finding, sets a sentence, and records the count. A conviction can carry prison time, probation, a fine, or a mix of the three. It stays on a state criminal record until an expungement or a pardon removes it. Read the sentencing sheet for the exact term, since a headline charge may hide a reduced count.

Acquittals

An acquittal means a judge or a jury found the defendant not guilty. The court enters the verdict, and the case closes without a sentence. A charge that ends this way can still appear in an arrest record, and the disposition line shows the acquittal. Some people ask for an expungement after a not guilty verdict, and state law sets the path. Keep the final order.

Dismissals

A dismissal ends a case before a verdict. The prosecutor may drop a charge for lack of evidence, a witness may fail to appear, or a defendant may complete a program. The order states the reason, and that reason matters to anyone who later reads the file. A dismissal with prejudice blocks a refiling, and one without prejudice allows it. Ask for the dismissal order, not a docket note.

Plea-Based Outcomes

Most felony cases end with a plea. The defendant agrees to a charge and a sentence, and the judge reviews the terms in open court. A plea sheet lists the offer, the rights waived, and the factual basis. The sentence may follow the agreement or leave room for argument. A plea to a lesser count can reduce a prison term and change the record. Read the plea sheet with the sentencing sheet.

Deferred Dispositions

A deferred disposition pauses a case as the defendant meets conditions. Common terms include treatment, community service, and regular check ins. A charge may be dismissed after completion, and the arrest can remain on the record until an expungement. A failure to finish returns the case to the docket. Ask the clerk for the deferral order, since it states the conditions and the review date.

Probation Outcomes

Probation places a person under supervision instead of or after a prison term. A probation order names the officer, the reporting schedule, and the conditions. A violation can bring a hearing and a revoked or reinstated term. Successful completion closes the supervision, and the conviction stays on the record. Ask the sentencing court for the order, and ask the probation office for the current status.

The outcome line on a docket can be terse. A code such as GP or NG may stand for a plea or a finding, and the clerk can translate it. Read the last three entries together: the plea, the judgment, and the sentence. A later motion can change a term, so check the date on each page. When a record is for a job or a license, order the certified judgment.

Felony Sentencing Information

A sentence can combine several parts: prison time, supervision, fines, restitution, and special conditions. The judge sets each part at sentencing, and the clerk writes them on one sheet. A prison term may be suspended, which means the person serves supervision instead. Credit for time served reduces the total. Read every line on the sheet, since a short sentence can still carry a long list of conditions.

Incarceration Sentences

A prison sentence states a term in months or years. The sheet may show a minimum and a maximum, and the parole board decides the release date in some cases. South Carolina abolished parole for several offenses, and the sheet notes which rule applies. Credit for time in jail before sentencing counts against the term. Ask the clerk for the sentencing sheet rather than a news summary.

Community Supervision

Supervision covers probation, parole, and a community corrections program. An officer checks compliance with reporting, employment, and treatment rules. A violation can lead to a hearing, a longer term, or a return to custody. Completion closes the file and ends the reporting duty. The sentencing order lists the conditions, and the supervising office can usually confirm the current status of the matter without releasing private details.

Fines and Court Costs

A fine is a payment to the court, and costs cover filing and service charges. The judgment lists each amount and sets a due date. A payment plan may be allowed after a hearing on ability to pay. Unpaid fines can lead to a license hold, a contempt motion, or a civil judgment. A receipt from the clerk proves payment, so keep it with the sentencing sheet.

Restitution Orders

Restitution repays a victim for a loss caused by the offense. The order names the amount, the payee, and a schedule. A judge may set restitution at sentencing or hold a later hearing to fix the figure. Payments go through the clerk or the supervising agency. A victim who moves should update the address on file. A restitution balance survives a prison term in most cases.

Other Sentencing Conditions

A sentence can add terms beyond the standard list. Common ones include a no contact order, treatment for substance use, a driving restriction, and community service hours. A sex offense may bring registration and residency rules. Each condition appears on the sentencing sheet with a date or a deadline. A defendant should read the sheet with a lawyer, since a missed condition can trigger a violation.

Copy Fees and Processing Times

Copy fees follow a state schedule, and the clerk can quote a total before printing. A certified judgment costs more than a plain copy, since it carries a seal. A file in the building can be copied the same day, and an archived file may take several days. A transcript is priced by the page and takes longer. Ask for a written quote when the order is large.

Felony Record Accuracy and Availability

A felony record is only as good as the index behind it. Names change, case numbers get mistyped, and a charge can move from one court level to another. The clerk’s index covers the county, and the state portal covers many counties at once. Neither source is complete on the day a case is filed. Check the court, the year, and the spelling before you decide a record does not exist.

Confirming the Correct Defendant

Two people can share a name and a birth year. A felony file usually adds a date of birth, an address at arrest, and a social security number on a restricted page. Compare the middle name and the birth date before you accept a match. A case number from a court paper settles the question. When a detail conflicts, call the clerk rather than guess.

Matching the Case Number

A felony case number carries a year, a court code, and a sequence. Copy it from a court paper or a jail record, and check each digit. The same defendant may have several numbers from different years. A number from a magistrate court will not appear in the circuit court index. Give the clerk every number you hold, and ask which one covers the charge you need.

Verifying the Court

Felony cases in Charleston County sit in the circuit court for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. A magistrate handles the first appearance and the bond, and the case then moves up. A traffic felony may start in a municipal court. A federal charge goes to the district court in Charleston, which is a separate system. Confirm the court on the charging paper before you search a county index for it.

Recently Filed Cases

A new felony takes time to reach the public index. The arrest creates a jail row first, and the solicitor then prepares the charge for a grand jury. That step can take weeks. A case number may appear in the index before any document is scanned into the system. Call the clerk when a filing date matters, and ask for the charge and the next hearing date.

Delayed Record Updates

Updates lag for reasons that have nothing to do with the case. A clerk may wait for a judge’s signature, a scanned page may need review, and a transfer can hold a file for a week. A hearing that took place yesterday may still show as scheduled. Confirm by phone when a date must be exact, and ask when the entry usually posts. Note the answer.

Missing Documents

A docket may list a document that the file lacks. Paper gets misfiled, a scan fails, or an exhibit stays with the exhibit clerk. Ask for a search of the file room and the archive. A presentence report and a mental health report often sit in a separate, restricted file. Request the docket sheet first, then mark the entries you need. A clerk can order a retrieval.

Records Held by Another Court

A felony file can rest in another county or another court system. A charge filed where the arrest happened stays with that county, even when the defendant lives in Charleston. A federal case sits in the United States District Court. An appeal goes to the state Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court. Ask the clerk for a transfer note, then contact the court that holds the file.

Felony Records Search Problems

A blank search is a common result, and it rarely means the record never existed. More often, the name is spelled a different way, the case sits in another court, or the index has not caught up. The sections below list each cause with the step that usually fixes it. Write down the search terms you used, so the next person can repeat the work.

No Record Found

Start with the state court portal, then try the county terminal. A felony charged as a misdemeanor first may sit in a magistrate file. Check the arrest date rather than the filing date, since a grand jury can take weeks. Give the clerk the name, the birth date, and the charge. Ask the clerk for a manual search of the paper index and the archive log.

Incorrect Defendant Name

Misspelling is the most common cause of a failed search. Try a phonetic spelling, a maiden name, and a form without a middle initial. A record may use a legal name as the person goes by a nickname. Remove a suffix such as Jr. or III and search again. Ask the clerk to run a partial name search along with the full date of birth.

Incorrect Case Number

A single wrong digit sends the clerk to a different file or to none at all. Read the number from the original paper, not from a note. Court numbers often contain a hyphen, a letter, and a year, and each part matters. Try the number without the year if the format looks unfamiliar. Ask the clerk to search by name when the number fails twice.

Wrong Court or County

A felony charge belongs to the county where the offense occurred. A defendant who lives in Charleston may face a case in Dorchester, Berkeley, or Colleton. A federal charge goes to the district court, and an appeal goes to a higher state court. Check the caption on the charging paper for the court name. A clerk in the wrong county can point you to the right one.

Missing Case Documents

A copied file can arrive with pages out of order or missing. Count the pages against the docket entries before you leave the counter. A scan may drop an attachment, and an exhibit may stay in a separate cabinet. Ask for a re scan and a page count on the receipt. For a court filing, request a certified statement that the copy is complete as filed.

Restricted Record

Some felony files stay closed to the public. A juvenile transfer, a sealed order, and a presentence report usually need a judge’s permission. A case with a protected witness may release only a redacted copy. The clerk can confirm that a file exists without showing the contents. Put the request in writing, and ask for the exemption that applies when a page is withheld from release.

Delayed Case Information

A docket updates after a clerk enters the event, and that step lags behind the courtroom. A hearing held in the morning may show by the afternoon, or it may wait for the next business day. A sentencing sheet needs a judge’s signature before it appears. Call the clerk’s office for a same day answer. Ask when the entry usually posts, and check again after that hour.

Charleston County SC Felony Records FAQs

These questions cover the requests the felony clerk handles each week. Each answer gives the office, the record type, and the one detail that saves a wasted trip. A felony file can run to hundreds of pages, so order the docket sheet first and pick the documents you need. Fees follow a state schedule. Confirm the public counter hours before a trip to Broad Street. Bring a photo identification.

How Do I Search Charleston County SC Felony Records?

Open the state court portal or use the public terminal at the Clerk of Court on Broad Street. Search by case number when you have one, or by the defendant’s full name and a filing year. The docket shows the charges, the filings, and the next hearing. Write down the case number. Ask the clerk which documents may be copied and which pages need a judge’s signed order.

What Information Can a Felony Record Show?

A felony file usually shows the charge, the statute, the arrest date, the arresting agency, and the indictment. It carries every motion, hearing notice, and order, plus the plea sheet and the sentencing terms. A judgment lists fines, restitution, and supervision conditions. Some pages, such as a presentence report, stay restricted. The record does not list every arrest a person has, only the matters filed in that court.

Are Charleston County SC Felony Records Public?

Most felony files are open under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act and the rules of court. A clerk can show the docket and release copies for a fee. Sealed files, juvenile matters, and presentence reports stay closed without a judge’s order. An active investigation may hold back a page for a time. Ask which exemption applies, and ask for the answer in writing from the clerk.

How Can I Obtain a Copy of a Felony Record?

Visit the Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, with the case number and a photo identification. The clerk prints the pages and collects the fee. A mail order needs a written request, a check, and a return envelope. A certified copy carries a seal for court or employment use. An archived file may take several days to retrieve, so call ahead before the visit to confirm the file is on site.

Why Can’t I Find a Charleston County SC Felony Record?

The name may be spelled a different way, or the case may sit in another court. A felony can start as a magistrate charge, and the early file stays there until an indictment. A federal case lives in a separate system. A fresh arrest may not reach the index for weeks. Give the clerk the birth date and the arrest date, and ask for a manual search of the county index.