Charleston Booking Reports
Charleston booking reports contain arrest and detention records created by the Charleston Police Department and processed through the Charleston County detention system. The city is the largest in South Carolina with roughly 150,000 residents. Searching for booking reports in Charleston starts with knowing which agency handled the arrest. The Charleston Police Department handles city arrests, while the Charleston County Sheriff runs the Al Cannon Detention Center where most people are booked. Both agencies maintain records that the public can request under state law. This page covers how to search booking reports in Charleston, where to look, and what to expect.
Charleston Quick Facts
How to Search Charleston Booking Reports
There are several ways to find booking reports in Charleston. The method you pick depends on how much detail you need and how recent the arrest was. Most booking reports from Charleston are processed at the county level, so the county inmate search tool is often the best place to start.
The Charleston County Sheriff maintains an online inmate search at inmatesearch.charlestoncounty.org. You can look up current and recent inmates by name. The results show booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and custody status. This tool covers all arrests booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center, which includes arrests made by the Charleston Police Department. It is free to use and does not require an account. Results load quickly and show basic booking data right away.
You can also request booking reports directly from the Charleston Police Department. Their Records Division at 180 Lockwood Boulevard handles public records requests. Call (843) 743-7200 to ask about a specific report. The department keeps arrest reports, incident reports, and booking data for city arrests. Written requests are processed under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, S.C. Code Ann. 30-4-30.
The city also runs a FOIA portal at charleston-sc.gov where you can submit requests online. All Charleston Police Department FOIA requests go through this portal. Response times are 10 business days for records less than two years old and 20 business days for older records.
For statewide criminal history checks, use the SLED CATCH system at catch.sled.sc.gov. This covers booking reports and arrest records from across South Carolina, not just Charleston.
Note: The county inmate search only shows people currently or recently in custody. For older booking reports in Charleston, submit a FOIA request to the police department or sheriff.
Charleston Booking Report Contents
A booking report from Charleston contains a detailed record of the arrest and processing of an individual. These reports are created when a person is brought to the Al Cannon Detention Center at 3694 Leeds Avenue in North Charleston.
The Charleston County Sheriff's Office at (843) 202-1700 oversees the detention center and maintains all booking records. Each booking report in Charleston typically includes the following information:
- Full name, date of birth, and physical description
- Booking date, time, and booking number
- Arresting agency and officer information
- Charges and charge types
- Bond amount and bond status
- Mugshot photographs
Some fields in Charleston booking reports are restricted. Medical information and social security numbers are not released to the public. Juvenile records are also kept separate under South Carolina law. The public portion of a booking report is available under S.C. Code Ann. 30-4-50, which requires that records identifying people in custody be made available for the preceding three months without a written request.
The screenshot below shows the City of Charleston homepage, which links to police department services and public records.
Charleston provides several online tools for residents who need to access booking reports and other public safety records through the city website.
Where Charleston Arrests Are Processed
When the Charleston Police Department makes an arrest, the person is taken to the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center for booking. This is the main jail for all of Charleston County. It sits at 3694 Leeds Avenue in North Charleston. The sheriff runs the facility and creates the booking report for each person brought in.
The detention center operates around the clock. Booking reports are generated as people come in, so records can be created at any hour. The Charleston Police Department at 180 Lockwood Boulevard keeps its own arrest records too. But the full booking report with mugshot, charges, and bond information is held at the county level.
This setup means you may need to contact two agencies when looking for booking reports in Charleston. The police department has the arrest report. The sheriff has the booking report. Both are public records. For most purposes, the county booking report contains more detail than the city arrest report alone.
The Charleston Police Department FOIA portal is shown below. All records requests for city police records go through this online system.
Submitting a request through this portal starts the clock on the statutory response deadline under South Carolina FOIA law.
Note: Bond hearings in Charleston happen within 24 hours of booking. The bond amount appears on the booking report once it is set by a judge or magistrate.
Booking Reports and FOIA in Charleston
South Carolina law gives the public a right to access government records. The Freedom of Information Act under S.C. Code Ann. 30-4-10 covers booking reports in Charleston. This law applies to all city and county agencies.
You do not need a written request for certain records. Under the statute, documents that identify people in custody must be available for at least three months without a formal request. This means recent Charleston booking reports should be accessible by simply asking at the detention center or police department. For older records, a written FOIA request is needed.
The Charleston Police Department charges fees for records. Black and white copies cost $0.10 per page. Staff time is billed at rates that vary by position, starting around $19 per hour. These fees are set by the city and posted on the FOIA portal. The county may have different rates for booking reports held at the detention center.
Below is the Charleston Police Department website, which provides contact information and links to records services.
The records division page on the Charleston Police Department site lists available report types and current fees for copies.
Statewide Tools for Charleston Booking Reports
Several state agencies maintain records that overlap with Charleston booking reports. These tools can help you find information when local searches come up short or when you need records from multiple jurisdictions.
SLED runs the main state criminal records database. The CATCH system at catch.sled.sc.gov provides criminal history information from across South Carolina, including Charleston. This system covers arrests reported under S.C. Code Ann. 23-3-120 and is useful for checking whether someone has booking reports beyond just Charleston.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections runs an inmate search at doc.sc.gov. This covers people serving state prison sentences, not those in the Charleston County jail. If someone was convicted after being booked in Charleston and sent to state prison, their record would appear here.
VINELink at vinelink.com lets victims track custody status. You can register to get alerts when someone booked in Charleston is released or transferred. The South Carolina sex offender registry at scor.sled.sc.gov is another statewide resource. Court records from Charleston cases are searchable through the SC Judicial Department at sccourts.org.
The Booking Process in Charleston
After an arrest in Charleston, the process follows a set pattern. The arresting officer transports the person to the Al Cannon Detention Center. Staff at the facility handle intake. They take photographs, collect fingerprints, and record personal information. All of this goes into the booking report.
Charges are listed on the booking report as they stand at the time of processing. Charges can change later as the case moves through the court system. The initial booking report in Charleston reflects what the arresting officer charged at the scene or what a warrant specified. Under S.C. Code Ann. 17-1-40, arrest information is part of the public record in South Carolina.
Bond is typically set within 24 hours. A magistrate reviews the charges and sets a bond amount or denies bond. The bond information then appears on the booking report. Someone released on bond will have a release date and type listed. People held without bond stay in custody until their court date.
The Municipal Court in Charleston handles city ordinance violations. More serious charges go to the Charleston County Court of General Sessions. The court where a case ends up depends on the severity of the charges listed in the booking report.
Charleston County Booking Reports
Charleston is in Charleston County. All city arrests are processed through the Charleston County detention system. The county maintains the main booking database and operates the inmate search tool. For more about county-level booking reports, detention center details, and the sheriff's office, visit the full county page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Other cities in the Charleston area and across South Carolina also maintain booking reports. Pick a city below to learn about booking reports in that location.