A release record shows when a person left the Al Cannon Detention Center and why. The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office posts these updates on the same public roster that carries new bookings. A release line may name a bond, a completed sentence, or a court order. Families check the page to plan a pickup, and lawyers check it to track a client. Each entry describes custody, not the outcome of a case.
This page covers the fields inside a release record and the way those fields change. It explains release types, date searches, later corrections, and the checks that confirm an identity. Common search failures get a section of their own. Phone numbers come from the sheriff’s published listings, and counter hours can shift. Confirm details with the facility before you travel to Leeds Avenue. Bring a photo ID and a booking number.
How to Search Released Inmates
Search the release list by booking number, then check the release date and the reason.
- Official Website Search Portal: https://inmatesearch.charlestoncounty.gov/
- How a release entry differs from a booking entry.
- Release types, from bond to sentence completion.
- How to confirm a release date and a facility.
- Why some releases never appear on the public page.
Release Information
A release record holds a small set of fields that answer four questions. Who left custody, when did the release happen, who authorized it, and where did the person go. The jail adds the entry when staff close the custody file. Some fields fill at once, and others wait on paperwork from a court. Read the full entry before you treat a single line as final.
| Item | Detail from the sheriff |
|---|---|
| Detention center | Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center at 3841 Leeds Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405 |
| Phone lines | (843) 529-7300 for the jail; (843) 202-1700 for the sheriff’s non-emergency line |
| Counter hours | Call the facility or the division to confirm |
| Release search page | https://inmatesearch.charlestoncounty.gov/ |
The detention center answers release questions at (843) 529-7300. Give the booking number and the name used at intake, and ask whether the person has left custody. Staff can say which gate handles pickups and how long a release takes to process. The sheriff’s non-emergency line at (843) 202-1700 covers matters outside the jail. Call before you drive, since a release time can slide by hours.
Release Type
The release type names the legal route out of custody. Common labels include bond, sentence completion, court order, and transfer. A type may appear as a short code rather than a full phrase. The code can differ from the wording a family hears at the lobby. Ask the booking officer to translate a code when the page leaves you unsure. Write the code on your notes.
Release Reason
The reason field explains why the jail opened the gate. A posted bond is the most common reason, and a completed sentence is next. A dropped charge or a dismissal can end custody too. The reason often mirrors the release type, though the two fields do not always match. A brief note may replace a full explanation on the public page. Ask the jail to explain a short note.
Release Authority
The authority is the person or office that ordered the release. A magistrate, a circuit judge, or a family court judge may sign the order. In some cases the sheriff releases a person under a program or a court rule. The authority field may show only a court name. Ask the clerk of that court for the signed order when you need proof. A case number speeds that request.
Release Facility
The facility field names the building that held the person at release. Most county releases happen at the Al Cannon Detention Center on Leeds Avenue. A person may leave from a court holding area or a hospital instead. The county roster can list a release even when the person stays in another agency’s custody. Confirm the site before you wait at a gate. Ask which door the jail uses for releases.
Release Destination Information
Destination data stays thin on purpose. A public page usually omits a home address, a shelter, or a treatment site. South Carolina law and jail policy protect the safety of a released person and of any victim. A transfer entry may name the receiving prison or jail. Staff will not share a destination that carries a safety risk. Plan a pickup through the person, not the website.
Types of Inmate Releases
South Carolina jails use a handful of release routes, and each one leaves a different paper trail. A bond release rests on a court order and a payment. A sentence completion rests on a calculation by jail staff. A transfer rests on an agreement between agencies. Knowing the route helps a reader judge which office holds the next record. The sections below explain each path in plain terms.
Bond Release
A bond release follows a judge’s decision to set terms for release. The person or a bondsman pays the amount, and the jail verifies the paperwork. A surety bond involves a licensed bondsman and a fee. A personal recognizance bond needs no money, only a promise to appear. The jail then logs the release time. Keep the bond receipt, since a court may ask for proof of payment.
| Release type | What the record usually shows |
|---|---|
| Bond release | Release after a judge sets terms and the amount is posted |
| Sentence completion | Release at the end of a jail term |
| Court-ordered release | Release directed by a judge on the record |
| Case-related release | Release after a dismissal or a dropped charge |
| Transfer | Move to another jail, a hospital, or a state prison |
| Other authorized release | Release under a program, a rule, or an agreement |
Use the table to sort a release into the right lane before you call anyone. A bond release sends you to the clerk and the bondsman. A sentence completion sends you to the jail’s records unit for a time calculation. A transfer sends you to the receiving agency. Each lane keeps its own file, and a question sent to the wrong office can stall for days. Name the lane when you write or call.
Sentence Completion
A sentence completion release happens when a person serves the full term set by a judge. Jail staff count time served, credits, and any gap for a work program. The release date can move when a court adds or removes credit. A person may leave in the morning rather than at midnight. Ask the records unit for the calculated date when a family needs to plan.
Court-Ordered Release
A judge can order a release at a hearing or in a written order. The order may follow a dropped charge, a successful appeal, or a change in bond. The jail acts once the signed order reaches the facility. A fax or an electronic filing can speed the process. Ask the clerk to send the order directly, and keep a copy for your file. A fax number helps when time is short.
Case-Related Release
A case-related release follows a change in the criminal case itself. A prosecutor may drop a charge, or a grand jury may return no bill. A dismissal ends custody when no other hold applies. The release entry may show a short reason such as “charges dismissed.” The court file holds the full story. Ask the clerk for the dismissal order when you need a clean record.
Transfer From Custody
A transfer moves a person from county custody to another agency. The state prison system takes sentenced people, and a neighboring county may take a person on a warrant. A hospital transfer keeps the person in custody under guard. The county roster may call a transfer a release, which confuses families. Ask the receiving agency for its own record and its own visiting rules. The state system posts its own locator page.
Other Authorized Release
Some releases fit no common label. A medical furlough, a work release, and a program placement each end county custody for a time. A temporary release may require a return date. The entry may name the program rather than the reason. Staff can explain a rare label over the phone. Ask whether the release is final or temporary before you plan around it. A return date may follow within days.
Recent and Historical Releases
The public roster shows a rolling window of recent release activity. Entries stay for a short period and then drop off as new ones arrive. A family searching for a release from last month may find nothing. Older records still exist in the jail’s own system. A written request to the records unit is the usual route to a past entry. Plan for a wait when the date is far back.
Today’s Released Inmates
A daily view lists people who left custody since midnight. The list changes through the day as releases process. A morning check may miss an afternoon release. A person held for a court appearance may return the same evening. Treat the daily list as a snapshot, and call the jail for a current answer. Note the hour of your check for your notes. A second check later in the day may add names.
Recent Release Listings
A recent listing covers several days or weeks of releases. It usually shows a name, a booking number, and a release date. Some entries add a release type. The page may group records by date rather than by name. Search a range when a single day returns nothing. A name spelled two ways may need two passes through the list. Save the result page with the date.
Releases by Date Range
A date range search helps when you know the week but not the day. Start with a narrow window and widen it by a few days. A weekend release may post on the next business day. A court holiday can push a release and its entry. Keep a note of each range you try, since a repeat search can waste time. Write the range in a short log.
Previous Release Records
A previous release record covers a stay that ended months or years ago. The public page may no longer show it. The jail keeps its own custody history, and the clerk keeps the case file. Ask the records unit for the booking number and the release date. A fee may apply for a copy. A written request with both numbers moves faster. Ask for a certified copy when a court needs it.
Archived Release Information
Archived data sits outside the public roster. It may live on microfilm, in a database, or in a paper file. The county can retrieve an old entry when you supply enough detail. A name alone may not be enough, since common names repeat. Add a birth date, a booking number, or a case number. Expect a review step before any copy is released. Ask how long the review usually takes.
Released Inmate Record Updates
A release record can change after it first appears. A date may be corrected, a reason may be rewritten, or an entry may be pulled for review. Staff fix errors when a family or an agency points them out. The public page shows the latest version, not the sequence of edits. Readers who need the full trail should ask the records unit for the entry history.
Newly Posted Release Entries
A new release entry appears after staff close the custody file. The first version may show only a name, a booking number, and a time. A reason or a type may follow later. A person released late in the day may post the next morning. Save a copy of the entry when you first see it, since later edits can remove detail. Write the capture time beside the copy.
Delayed Release Updates
A delayed update can lag by a day or more. A weekend release, a holiday, or a system outage slows the post. A transfer to another agency can delay the county entry too. A missing entry does not prove that a person is still inside. Call the jail with the booking number and ask for the release time. Staff see the custody file before the public page changes.
Corrected Release Dates
A release date gets corrected when the first entry was wrong. A late-night release may post with the next day’s date. A clerk may fix a typo in the month or the year. The booking number ties the corrected entry to the original. A court or an insurer may still hold the old date. Ask for a corrected copy with a date stamp when proof matters.
Updated Release Reasons
A release reason can change when new paperwork arrives. A bond release may later show a court order as the basis. A dismissal may replace an earlier reason. The public page keeps one reason at a time. The case file and the jail record may tell different versions. Ask the records unit which source it treats as official before you quote a reason. Keep the written reply with the case file.
Archived or Removed Entries
The sheriff can remove an entry that was posted in error. A removal happens when a court seals a record or when a person was never in county custody at all. A removed entry leaves no public trace. The jail’s internal log still shows the change. Ask the records unit whether an entry exists and whether it can be confirmed in writing. Keep that reply with your notes.
Released Inmate Record Verification
A release entry is a starting point, and a few checks turn it into a usable record. Confirm the person, the booking number, the date, the type, and the facility. Each check catches a different mistake. A wrong name match is the most common error, and a wrong date is next. The steps below take only a few minutes and save hours of confusion later.
Confirming the Inmate Identity
Start with a full name, a birth date, and a booking number when you have one. A middle name or a suffix can separate two people with the same first and last name. Compare the charge and the arresting agency too. A release record rarely shows a photograph on the public page. Call the jail when two entries look alike, and ask staff to compare the numbers.
Matching the Booking Number
The booking number is the strongest link between a booking and a release. Copy it exactly, including any leading zeros. A release entry should carry the same number as the intake record. A mismatch may mean a data error or a different person. Ask the jail to read the number back to you. Write it on the same page as the release date. A photo of the screen helps too.
Confirming the Release Date
A release date should match the custody log kept by the jail. A family may remember the lobby visit rather than the paperwork time. A late release can carry the next day’s date. A court order may set a date that the jail meets later. Compare the roster, the release slip, and the jail log. Ask for a written confirmation when a deadline depends on the date.
Checking the Release Type
The release type tells you which office holds the next record. A bond points to the clerk and the bondsman. A sentence completion points to the jail’s calculation. A transfer points to the receiving agency. A court order points to the judge who signed it. Read the type before you call, so the first question reaches the right desk. Ask for the office name and a direct line.
Verifying the Release Facility
The facility field should name the building where the release happened. Most county releases occur at the Leeds Avenue detention center. A court holding area, a hospital, or another jail can appear too. The county roster may not name a state prison that took custody later. Call the facility that appears on the entry, and ask where the person went next. Ask for the receiving agency and a phone number.
Released Inmate Record Limitations
A public release record carries limits that a reader should know. The page is a summary, and it leaves out medical, safety, and family detail. It may lag behind the jail’s own system by hours or days. It drops entries after a short window too. Anyone who needs a full account should pair the roster with court files and a telephone call to the facility.
Release Data Publication Delays
Publication runs on a schedule that varies with jail staffing. A release at midnight may not post until the next shift. A holiday weekend adds another day. A system change can pause posts for hours. A delay says nothing about the release itself. Call the jail when a pickup depends on a time, and treat the website as a secondary source. A written request can confirm a date later.
Incomplete Release Information
Some entries show a name and a date but little else. A blank reason or type usually means the paperwork has not closed. A destination field stays empty by design. A court case number may be missing when the jail does not hold it. Note the blanks, and ask the records unit which ones can be filled. Do not read a blank as a negative answer.
Updated Release Entries
An entry that changes can mislead a reader who checks once. A corrected date or a new reason replaces the earlier view. A screenshot from last week may no longer match the page. A court file may carry a third version. Record the date of every check, and confirm the key facts with the jail before you rely on them. Ask which version the jail calls current.
Restricted Information
South Carolina law lets agencies withhold some records. Medical and mental health detail stays private. A victim’s address and a juvenile’s identity stay closed. Information that could endanger a person may be removed from a public entry. A redaction is not an error. Ask the records unit whether a court order can release a withheld item. A subpoena may be needed for a closed file, so ask a lawyer before you file one.
Release Does Not Determine Case Outcome
A release ends custody, and it does not end a case. A person on bond still faces charges and court dates. A dismissal may follow a release, or a trial may come months later. A release on a technical rule can leave the charge active. Check the clerk’s docket for the current status. Do not treat a release as proof of innocence or of guilt.
Search Problems
Most release searches fail for a handful of reasons. A surname may carry two spellings, a booking number may be wrong, or the entry may sit outside the public window. A release may not be posted yet. A transfer may appear as a release in another county. Take the likeliest cause first, then telephone the jail when the page and the paperwork disagree. Write down what each attempt returned.
Released Person Not Found
Start with the exact name used at intake, then try a middle name or a suffix. Widen the date range by a few days. Check whether the person moved to another facility. A federal hold may keep a person out of the county roster. If nothing appears, call the detention center and ask whether the person has been released. Give the name and the arrest date on the call.
Release Date Not Listed
A missing release date can mean the entry is still open. A person in custody has no release date yet. A recent release may not have posted. A transfer may close the county entry without a date. Call the jail for the custody status. Ask for the release time in writing when a court, an employer, or an insurer needs it. A stamped copy carries more weight than a screenshot.
Multiple Matching Names
Common names return several entries, and some belong to other people. Compare the birth date, the middle initial, and the booking number. Read the charge and the arresting agency too. A release from another county may share a name with a local entry. Call the jail and ask staff to compare the numbers before you settle on an identity. A birth date is the fastest way to sort two entries.
Incorrect Booking Number
A booking number is short and easy to mistype. One wrong digit returns an empty result. Read the number from the screen instead of typing it from recall. When a number fails twice, switch to a name and date search. Staff can confirm a number over the phone and read it back to you. Keep the verified number with your notes. Read the digits aloud in pairs to avoid a slip.
Recent Release Not Yet Published
A fresh release may wait hours before it appears. A weekend or holiday release can wait longer. A family that knows the person has left should not rely on the page. Call the facility and ask for the release time. Staff can confirm the release before the public roster updates. Ask for the gate and the pickup area too. A lobby visit may take longer on a holiday.
Archived Release Entry
An older release drops off the public roster after a short window. The jail still holds its own custody record. Ask the records unit for three items: the booking number, the release date, and the intake name. A copy may carry a small fee. A written request with all three details is easier to process than a phone call. Ask for the fee before the office copies anything.
Updated Release Information
A release entry can change after you first read it. A date may be corrected, a reason may be rewritten, or a type may be added. Check the page again before a hearing or a deadline. Ask the jail which version it treats as current. A dated screenshot helps when two versions disagree. Keep the older copy with your notes. Check the page again the morning of any hearing.
Charleston County SC Released Inmates FAQs
These frequently asked questions cover the release topics readers raise most often. Every answer points to a record source and a first step. Jail staff can change a page or a counter schedule at any time, so call before you travel. A charge question belongs with the clerk, and a custody question belongs with the jail. Ask for the records clerk by name, and note the date of the call.
How Do I Find Recently Released Inmates?
Open the sheriff’s inmate search portal and look for the release list. Search by booking number when you have one, or by name and a date range. A release usually posts within a day, though weekends can lag. Write down the release date and the facility. Call (843) 529-7300 when the page shows nothing and you believe the person has left. Write the booking number on paper first.
Can I Search Released Inmates by Name?
Yes, a first and last name work in the portal search box. A common surname returns a long list, so narrow it with a birth date or a middle initial. The public list covers a short window, not every release in county history. A name spelled two ways needs two searches. A clerk at the jail can compare a name with the custody log. Ask the jail to read the booking number back.
How Can I Find an Inmate’s Release Date?
Start with the booking number on the public entry. The release date appears once staff close the custody file. A pending case may show no date at all. A court order can set a date that the jail meets later. Call the facility and ask for the scheduled or completed release time. Ask for a written confirmation when a deadline depends on it. Keep that note with the booking number.
What Information Is Included in a Release Record?
A release record usually lists a name, a booking number, a release date, and a release type. Some entries add a reason, an authorizing court, and a facility. Destination details stay private in most cases. Medical and juvenile information stays closed. A blank field often means the paperwork has not closed. The jail can explain a label that looks unfamiliar. Ask for the release type in plain words.
Why Is a Recent Release Not Listed?
A missing entry can mean a posting delay, a spelling difference, or a transfer to another agency. A release late on a Friday may not appear until Monday. A person moved to state custody may drop off the county page. Start with a date range and a variant spelling, then call the jail. A written request covers older releases. Ask for the fee before you send payment. Keep the reply for your file.
Can Release Information Be Updated?
Yes, a release entry changes when staff correct a date, a reason, or a type. A family can point out an error at the counter or by phone. The page shows the latest version, and it rarely shows what changed. Ask the records unit for the entry history when a correction matters to a court or an insurer. Keep every reply. A dated note helps if the entry changes again.
Does Release From Jail Mean the Case Is Over?
No, a release ends custody and leaves the case open in most instances. A person on bond still faces charges and future court dates. A dismissal may come later, or a trial may follow. A release on a procedural rule can leave the charge active. Check the clerk’s docket for the current status before you treat the matter as finished. Ask for the next court date at the same time.