Dorchester County Booking Reports
Dorchester County booking reports come from the Sheriff's Office in Summerville. The county is in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina, and the Sheriff's Office processes all arrests made within its borders. Booking reports are public records in Dorchester County. They log each arrest with names, charges, and dates. You can request these records from the Records Division or search state databases that pull data from Dorchester County law enforcement. The county seat is St. George, though the Sheriff's Office is based in Summerville.
Dorchester County Quick Facts
Dorchester County Sheriff's Office Records
The Dorchester County Sheriff's Office is at 212 Deming Way in Summerville. The phone number is (843) 832-0300. This is where all booking reports for Dorchester County are kept. The Records Division inside the Sheriff's Office handles public records requests. They can pull booking reports, arrest records, and incident reports for you.
Dorchester County is part of the First Judicial Circuit. When someone is arrested here, the booking report is created at the detention center and stored by the Sheriff's Office. The report includes the person's name, charges, bond amount, and other arrest details. Dorchester County processes a high volume of arrests each year due to its growing population near the Charleston metro area.
| Office |
Dorchester County Sheriff's Office 212 Deming Way Summerville, SC 29483 Phone: (843) 832-0300 |
|---|---|
| Circuit | First Judicial Circuit |
| Records | Arrest reports, booking data, incident reports, inmate records |
Dorchester County Records Retention Rules
Dorchester County follows strict rules on how long booking reports and arrest records are kept. These rules come from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History and from S.C. Code Ann. Section 30-1-90. The retention periods are important because they tell you how far back records go and how long they will be on file.
Arrest reports and booking data in Dorchester County are kept forever. This means permanent retention. The Sheriff's Office does not destroy these records. Arrest warrants are kept for 10 years after they are served or expire. Fingerprint cards and booking photos are also kept on a permanent basis unless a court orders them to be expunged.
Incident reports tied to arrests in Dorchester County have different retention periods based on the type of case. For felony cases, the reports stay on file for 30 years after the case closes. For misdemeanor cases, the retention period is 10 years after closure. Non-criminal incident reports are kept for 5 years. Criminal history records go to SLED and are stored there permanently.
- Arrest reports and booking data: permanent
- Arrest warrants: 10 years after execution
- Fingerprints and photos: permanent unless expunged
- Felony incident reports: 30 years after case closure
- Misdemeanor incident reports: 10 years
- Juvenile arrest records: sealed at age 18 unless felony
Note: Juvenile arrest records in Dorchester County are sealed when the person turns 18, unless the charge was a felony offense.
Searching Dorchester County Booking Reports
There are several ways to search for booking reports in Dorchester County. The simplest is to call the Sheriff's Office at (843) 832-0300. Ask for the Records Division. Give them a name and approximate date. They can check their system and tell you if a booking report exists.
For a formal request, you can file under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act at S.C. Code Ann. Section 30-4-10. This law requires the Sheriff's Office to provide public records within set time limits. Write your request with the full name of the person, the date of arrest if known, and what you need. Send it to the Records Division at 212 Deming Way, Summerville, SC 29483. There may be copy fees.
State databases also carry Dorchester County data. The SLED CATCH system at catch.sled.sc.gov is the main criminal history tool in South Carolina. You can also check the South Carolina Department of Corrections inmate search at doc.sc.gov for people serving state prison time. The VINE system at vinelink.com tracks custody status for people booked in Dorchester County.
State Resources for Dorchester County Arrests
The state screenshot below shows the SCDC inmate search tool. If a Dorchester County arrest led to a state prison sentence, the person's record will appear in this system.
The SCDC search is free. It covers people in state custody. It does not cover people held at the Dorchester County Detention Center or those out on bond. For local custody status, call the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office directly.
The South Carolina Judicial Department at sccourts.org has a Public Index for court records. You can search by name to find cases in the First Judicial Circuit that covers Dorchester County. This shows case filings, hearing dates, and outcomes. It does not include the booking report itself but confirms that a case exists.
Dorchester County Detention Center
The Dorchester County Detention Center holds inmates who are booked in the county. The center keeps its own set of records that include booking photos, charge sheets, and housing assignments. The inmate roster is available to the public.
If you want to know whether someone is in custody at the Dorchester County Detention Center, call (843) 832-0300. Give the staff a name and they can check. For written records, file a request with the Records Division. The detention center processes bookings around the clock, so new records are added throughout the day and night in Dorchester County.
Note: Dorchester County detention records may take a few hours to appear in any online system after a booking occurs.
Public Records Requests in Dorchester County
The FOIA process in Dorchester County is straightforward. You have the right to see booking reports under South Carolina law. The Sheriff's Office must respond to your request within 15 business days. If they need more time, they must tell you why. Fees for copies are set by the county, and most requests involve a small per-page charge.
When you write your FOIA request for Dorchester County booking reports, be as specific as you can. Include the full legal name of the person. Add the date of arrest or a date range. State that you want the booking report, arrest report, or both. The more detail you provide, the faster the Records Division can find what you need. Mail or deliver your request to 212 Deming Way, Summerville, SC 29483.
Nearby Counties
Dorchester County is in the Lowcountry near Charleston. If the arrest was outside Dorchester County lines, check one of these neighboring counties.