The jail roster is the public list of people held at the Al Cannon Detention Center. Each entry ties a name to a booking number, a set of charges, and a custody status. The Sheriff’s Office publishes the list and updates it as bookings and releases occur. A roster confirms that a person is in custody at that hour. It says nothing about guilt or the outcome of a case.
This page walks through the roster record and the details behind it. It covers booking times, charges, bond amounts, housing units, and release status. Sections on publishing schedules and record requests follow. A reader who needs a certified copy or a case document should contact the court clerk. Confirm custody by phone before a visit, since a list can lag by hours. Ask for the booking number at the start.
Jail Roster Search
The roster starts with a name or a booking number. Both fields sit on the public search page.
- Current custody list and booking search: https://inmatesearch.charlestoncounty.gov/
- Booking number, housing unit, and charge details for each entry.
- Bond amounts and court dates shown on the record.
- Rules on visiting, mail, phone accounts, and release.
- How to correct a name error or a stale entry.
Intake Details & Custody Status
Intake is the front door of the jail. A deputy books a person, records the charges, sets a housing unit, and logs the property carried in. The roster shows the result of that work in a short form. Times matter, since a bond hearing follows intake within a set window. Read the booking time before you assume a person has already waited a long time.
| Field | What it means |
|---|---|
| Booking number | Unique key for the stay, used on every request |
| Booking date and time | Moment the jail accepted the person |
| Charge | Allegation filed at intake, with a statute code |
| Bond amount | Figure set by a judge or a bond schedule |
| Custody status | Held, transferred, released, or awaiting court |
| Housing unit | Building or wing used for visits and mail |
The table lists the fields that carry the most weight. A booking number is the key for every later request. A charge describes an allegation, and a bond figure shows what a judge set, not what a family must pay. A custody line answers the first question most callers ask. Copy the fields you need rather than the whole page. Note the date and the time stamp on the screen.
Booking Timestamps, Agency & Arrest Logs
A booking timestamp records the minute a person enters custody. The entry names the arresting agency too, which may be the sheriff, a city police department, or a state officer. An arrest log from that agency carries the report number and the narrative. The two records describe one event from different desks. Match the name and the date before you treat them as one case.
Offense Charges, Bail & Bond Amounts
Each booking lists the charges filed at intake. A charge carries a statute or ordinance number, a description, and a level such as felony or misdemeanor. A bond amount may appear next to a charge, and it may show as zero when a judge has not set one. Bail can change at a hearing. Check the court file for the current figure rather than trust an old printout.
Active Custody, Transfer & Release Status
A status field tells a reader where a person sits in the system. Active custody means the jail holds the person at that hour. A transfer note may show a move to a state prison or another county. A release line gives a date and a reason, such as a bond, a dismissal, or a completed sentence. Screenshot the status and note the time you read it.
Detention Center & Facility Assignments
The main jail sits on Leeds Avenue in North Charleston. A housing unit code on the roster points to a building, a floor, or a wing. Visitors need that code at the front desk. The sheriff runs a work release program and court holding areas too, and those may appear as separate assignments. Ask the detention center which unit accepts visitors on a given day.
Public Availability & File Disclosure
Jail files mix open and closed material. A roster entry stays public, and the case file behind it may sit under a court seal. The sheriff publishes a daily list for the public and keeps internal notes for staff. A request for the full file goes to the records unit in writing. The response may include redactions that remove victims, minors, and medical detail. Ask which parts of the file are open.
| Office | Address | Phone | Public hours | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center | 3841 Leeds Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405 | (843) 529-7300 (Detention Center); (843) 202-1700 (Sheriff’s Office non-emergency) | Contact the Detention Center to confirm public counter hours | https://inmatesearch.charlestoncounty.gov/ |
The table gives the two numbers that answer most questions. The detention center line handles custody, visits, and property. The sheriff’s non-emergency line handles reports and office business. Counter hours change with staffing, so call before a drive to Leeds Avenue. Have the booking number ready when you call, and ask for the unit that holds the person. A deputy can confirm a cell assignment and a release time.
Daily Online Roster Publishing Schedules
The sheriff posts the roster through the day rather than once at a fixed hour. A new booking may appear within minutes, and a release may clear in the same window. Weekend entries can lag when staff handle a heavy intake. A page that shows a date stamp tells you how fresh the data is. Check that stamp before you conclude that a person is not listed.
Confidential Files & Juvenile Exclusions
Juvenile bookings stay out of the public list in most cases. State law shields a minor’s file, and a court may seal the record. Medical notes, mental health screens, and victim contact details stay closed too. A jail may withhold an entry when release would endanger a person. Ask the records unit which parts of a file can be copied and which need a judge’s order.
Off-line Record Requests & Verification
A counter request needs the full name and the booking number, plus a photo ID. The records unit may ask for a written form that states the purpose. A fee can apply for copies, and the office sets the amount. A verification letter confirms custody on a date, and it often satisfies an employer or a landlord. Call before you visit, since the records desk keeps limited public hours.
Record Accuracy & Resolution
Roster errors usually trace to timing. A deputy books a person under one name, and a later document shows another spelling. A release posts to the jail system before the public page refreshes. A charge may be amended after a first appearance. Read the newest entry, then check the court docket. A single screen shows one moment, and a case moves past it. Compare two screens before you decide anything.
System Delays for Recent Intakes
A booking moves through several screens before it reaches the public page. Fingerprints, photographs, and charge entry each take time. A person arrested late at night may not show until the next morning. A holiday weekend adds another day in some cases. Call the detention center when a family member is missing from the list, and give the name, the birth date, and the arrest location.
Post-Release Listing Removal Timelines
A release does not always clear the page at once. The jail updates custody first, and the public list follows on a schedule that varies with staff workload. An entry may linger for a day or more after a person walks out. A stale line can alarm a family that expects a release. Keep the release paper from the jail, since it carries the time and the deputy’s name.
Unlisted Inmate Roster Resolution
No match can mean a wrong spelling, a different county, or a release that already happened. Try the middle name, a maiden name, and a hyphenated surname. Check the state prison system when a sentence has begun. Ask the jail whether the person was booked and released within a few hours, since short stays may never reach the page. A phone call usually settles the question.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions come from families, lawyers, and employers who check the roster each day. Each answer names the field to read and the office to call. Custody changes fast, and a screen from yesterday may mislead. Nothing here replaces a certified record from the clerk or a release paper from the jail. Ask for the booking number whenever you contact the facility. Keep a note of the time you looked.
How do I search active bookings on the Charleston County jail roster?
Open the sheriff’s inmate search page and choose the name search. Type the last name first, then the first name, and add a middle initial when the surname is common. A booking number returns one entry with no guesswork. Filter by booking date when the name matches several people. Read the custody line before you call the jail, and note the time of your search. Write the result down as you go.
What information appears on a public inmate roster file?
A roster line usually shows the full name, the booking number, the birth year, the sex, and the race. It adds the booking date, the arresting agency, the charges, and a bond figure. A housing unit and a custody status may appear. The page hides the home address, the Social Security number, and medical notes. A photograph may sit with the entry or on a separate page. Ask staff about any field you cannot read.
How often is the online detention roster refreshed?
The page refreshes many times each day, and a booking often shows within an hour of intake. Peak hours can slow the update, and a weekend arrest may wait longer. The site prints a date and time stamp, and that line is the best signal. A release clears on its own schedule, so a person may appear after leaving. Check again before you travel to the jail. Note the stamp in your records.
Why might a recently released individual remain on the roster?
A release enters the jail system first, and the public page updates on a delay. A weekend or a holiday can stretch that gap. A person moved to another facility may linger too until the two systems match. A charge dropped at a hearing can sit on the page until a clerk edits it. Call the detention center to confirm, and keep the release paper. Ask for a custody letter at the counter.