Crime Statistics
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division collates and publishes annual crime data submitted by various South Carolina county law enforcement agencies. According to the 2017 publication, the overall crime rate in Berkeley county held steady with only a 1.3% decline in reported property and violent crimes compared to figures reported in 2016.
The county recorded a total of 5,537 reported crimes, of which larceny was the most popular, accounting for 60.3% of the total crimes. On the violent crime end, aggravated assault was the most popular with 524 reported incidents which accounted for 9.46% of the total crimes committed. Other property crimes such as breaking and entering, motor vehicle theft and arson made up 26.2% of the total crimes with 953, 488 and 13 reported crimes respectively while violent crimes made up the remaining 3.63% with 11, 112 and 116 reported incidents of murder, sexual battery, and robbery respectively.
Criminal Records
While the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office is tasked with providing security-related services and maintaining law and order throughout the county, the office does not dispense criminal history records to members of the public. State-wide requests for criminal history records or background checks are processed by the SLED CATCH of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
How to Get Criminal Records
Interested persons may request Berkeley county background checks or criminal history records from the SLED CATCH. Criminal history records typically include arrest history, court charges history and conviction information of the subject.
Requestors would be required to complete a criminal records check form with which the office will conduct a name-based search. Completed applications should be sent along with a self-addressed and stamped envelope and a non-refundable cheque or money order payment of $25 and to:
SLED Records Department,
P.O. Box 21398
Columbia SC 29221-1398
How to Get Police Reports
Berkeley county police reports are maintained and issued by the Records Section of the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office. Interested persons may request copies of police or incident reports from the office in-person as reports are neither mailed or faxed. Requestors will be required to present a photo ID and make a payment of $2 before accessing the requested records. However, this service is free for victims or witnesses. The Records Office is located at:
Berkeley County Sheriff's Office,
223 N. Live Oak Drive,
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
How to Find the Sex Offender Registry and Other Sex Offender Information
Sex offenders resident in Berkeley County are registered by the county Sheriff's Office, and information about their location and compliance status can be accessed on the Berkeley Sex Offender Registry. Interested persons may search the registry by the name of the offender or by their proximity to specific locations. Alternatively, Berkeley county residents may subscribe to the Email Alert System to receive notification about changes to sex offender locations within the county.
How to Find Inmate and Jail Information
Interested persons may access information about currently incarcerated persons in Berkeley county by using the Sheriff's Office Inmate Search Tool. Inmates can be searched using their full names. However, partial searches are also allowed. Other jail related information, including inmate welfare and visitation, may be viewed on the Information Page of the Berkeley County Detention Center.
Court Records
Where and How to Get Court Records
The office of the Berkeley County Clerk of Courts is the central repository for court records of criminal cases heard in the Court of General Sessions, cases heard in the Court of Common Pleas and Family Court cases in Berkeley county. Interested persons can access records using the Berkeley County Circuit Public Index either remotely or at the Clerk's office with the public access service center.
Requestors are required to search the index by the name of the court, case file number or the name of the plaintiff/defendant. To self-serve using the service center, interested parties may visit the office at:
300-B California Avenue
P.O. Box 219
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Location of All Courts in County
Listed below are the physical and mailing addresses and the contact information of all courts in Berkeley County South Carolina.
Berkeley County Circuit Court
300-B California Avenue,
P.O. Box 219,
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Phone: (843) 719-4400
Fax: (843) 719-4509
Berkeley County Family Court
300-B California Avenue,
P.O. Box 219,
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Phone: (843) 719-4500
Fax: (843) 719-4509
Berkeley County Probate Court
300-B California Avenue,
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Phone: (843) 719-4519
Fax: (843) 719-4527
Berkeley County Magistrate Court - Bond Court
300 California Avenue,
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Phone: (843) 719-4549
Berkeley County Magistrate Court - Central Traffic and Criminal Domestic
223 N Live Oak Drive,
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Phone: (843) 719-4050
Fax: (843) 719-4534
Berkeley County Magistrate Court - Goose Creek
303-B N Goose Creek Blvd,
Goose Creek, SC 29445
Phone: (843) 553-7080 Fax: (843) 553-7074
Phone: (843) 553-6099 Fax: (843) 553-7074 (Small Claims)
Berkeley County Magistrate Court - Moncks Corner
223 N Live Oak Drive,
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Phone: (843) 719-4535 Fax: (843) 719-4528 (Preliminary Hearings)
Phone: (843) 719-4264 Fax: (843) 719-4528 (Small Claims)
Berkeley County Magistrates Court - St. Stephen
113 Ravenell Drive,
St. Stephen, SC 29479
Phone: (843) 567-7400
Fax: (843) 567-3102
Bonneau Municipal Court
P.O. Box 70,
Bonneau, SC 29431
Phone: (843) 825-3385
Fax: (843) 825-2577
Goose Creek Municipal Court
519 N Goose Creek Blvd,
P.O. Drawer 1768,
Goose Creek, SC 29445
Phone: (843) 569-4230
Fax: (843) 569-4206
Hanahan Municipal Court
1255 Yeamans Hall Road,
Hanahan, SC 29410
Phone: (843) 576-5262
Fax: (843) 885-5053
Jamestown Municipal Court
7604 Highway 41,
P.O. Box 145,
Jamestown, SC 29453
Phone: (843) 257-2233
Fax: (843) 257-2233
Moncks Corner Municipal Court
118 Carolina Avenue,
P.O. Box 700,
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Phone: (843) 719-7918
Fax: (843) 719-7980
Saint Stephen Municipal Court
124 Hood Street,
St. Stephen, SC 29479
Phone: (843) 567-3116
Fax: (843) 567-7235
Where and How to Get Bankruptcy and Property Records
The Berkeley County Register of Deeds office maintains a variety of property records, including deeds, plats, federal and state tax liens and mortgage documents which have been recorded by its office in Berkeley county. The office provides public access to most records and provides certified copies of recorded documents at the rate of $2 (excluding copy charges). Interested persons may request these records by sending a written request indicating relevant information about the instrument, and the identity of its owner to:
The Register of Deeds Office
1003 US Highway 52
P.O. Box 6122
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Similarly, the Clerk of Court of the US Bankruptcy Court of the District of South Carolina manages records of bankruptcy cases filed in Berkeley County and provides access to these records. Interested persons may access a record of interest using any of the methods outlined in the case information page - the preferred method of retrieval may depend on the date of filing, the case status or judgment, etc.
Vital Records
Berkeley county vital records are primarily maintained by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. The Department responds to statewide queries for birth, death, marriage and divorce records. However, marriage and divorce records are also managed by the Berkeley County Probate Court and the Berkeley County Clerk of Courts respectively and may be requested from either office.
Where and How to Get Divorce Records
The Berkeley County Clerk of Courts maintains records of cases heard by the county Family Court which includes records of divorce and separation proceedings. These records are available on the Berkeley County Circuit Public Index which may be accessed remotely or by self-serving in the county clerk's office using the Public Access Service Center at:
300-B California Avenue
P.O. Box 219
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
To facilitate record search requestors will be required to have or obtain the names of the divorcees as well as the date of the divorce or the case file number.
Where and How to Get Marriage Records
Requests for certified copies of marriage records are processed by the Marriage License Division of the Berkeley County Probate Court. However, the records available on file are those which were licensed by the office in the first place. Interested persons may request these records by querying the office via mail using the Certified Copy of Marriage License Request Form. Completed applications should be sent along with a self-addressed envelope and the payment indicated on the form to:
Judge Of Probate
Marriage License Division
300-b California Avenue
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Where and How to Get Birth and Death Records
Berkeley County birth and death records are maintained and issued by the Vital Records Division of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Access to these records is restricted to only authorized persons, namely: persons named on the certificate, their parents, immediate members of the decedent's family, legal guardians and representatives of any of the above-mentioned persons and persons.
Interested persons may obtain certified copies of the record by completing and sending a Vital Records Birth Application or Vital Records Death Application, along with a payment of $12 and a copy of a government-issued ID (as indicated on the form) to:
DHEC Vital Records
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 898-3630
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
