Charleston County Crime Numbers
In 2017, law enforcement agencies in Charleston County recorded 46 murders, 173 sexual batteries, 467 robberies, and 1,256 aggravated assaults. Reported cases of property crimes include 1,878 burglaries, 1,304 motor vehicle thefts, 9,448 larcenies, and 41 arsons. Between 2013 and 2017, violent crime rate went up in the county while property crimes declined. The five-year crime trend for Charleston County indicates risingmurder (58.6%), sexual battery (23.6%), robbery (38.2%), and aggravated assault (15.1%) rates. In the same period, reports of burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft fell by 10.7%, 7.1%, and 39.8% respectively.
Charleston County Criminal Records
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) provides background checks for all counties in the state through its Citizens Access to Criminal Histories (CATCH) portal. Citizens can either conduct a quick check on the SLED CATCH webpage or send a mail request to SLED. Both options offer name-based background checks for offenses and arrests in South Carolina. If you choose the online option, you can view and print criminal histories from the website. SLED charges $25 plus a $1 convenience fee for this service and accepts credit/debit cards for payment.
Some charities may qualify for a reduced fee of $8. SLED also provides background checks free of charge for school districts requesting criminal histories for regular and substitute teachers.
If you choose to submit your request by mail, start by downloading and completing a Criminal Records Check Form. Indicate on the form whether you want the background report certified and/or notarized. Mail the completed form to:
SLED Records Department
P.O. Box 21398
Columbia, SC 29221-1398
Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a money order or business, certified, or cashier’s check for $25 with your mail request.
Use the warrant search tool provided by the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office to ascertain if there is an active warrant for a person of interest. The Sheriff’s Office also provides criminal histories for arrests made by its officers. Use the Criminal Records Check Form to request a local background check for Charleston County. Submit the completed form to the Records Section of the Sheriff’s Office located at:
3691 Leeds Avenue
North Charleston, SC 29405
It is open to the public from Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The fee for each criminal history report is $5. Pay this amount with cash, personal check, or money order.
Charleston County Police Reports
The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office provides copies of incident and accident reports for events handled by its officers. Visit the Sheriff’s Office, at the address listed above, to request for these records. The Sheriff charges 50 cents per page for such criminal justice records.
Charleston County Sex Offender Information
The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office also provides a search tool for finding registered sex offenders in the county. This sex offender search queries the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry and allows the public to conduct name and geographic searches. You can search by zip code, city, and street address to find registered sex offenders living, working, and attending school in your community or neighborhood.
Charleston County Inmate Search
The Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center is the correctional facility in Charleston County. The Sheriff’s Office runs this detention center and provides a bookings search tool to help the public find individuals incarcerated in the facility. A Charleston County Inmate Search typically requires requesters to provide information to streamline the search results.
The Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center is located at:
3841 Leeds Avenue
North Charleston, SC 29405
It houses both male and female inmates and has a total population of 1,197. Friends and family can deposit money into inmates’ canteen accounts at the kiosk located in the lobby of the detention center. Alternatively, they can send money orders to the detention facility by U.S. Mail. Make out your money order to Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center and put the inmate’s name and number in the memo line.
Charleston County Court Records
The main courthouse in Charleston County is the Judicial Center. It houses the Circuit Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions, the Family Court, and two divisions of the Probate Court. All of these courts generate, maintain and disseminate Charleston County Court Records. Below are the addresses and contact details of these courts:
Common Pleas and General Sessions
100 Broad Street, Suite 106
Charleston, SC 29401-2258
Phone: (843) 958-5000
Fax: (843) 958-5020
Family Court
100 Broad Street, Suite 143
Charleston, SC 29401-2265
Phone: (843) 958-4400
Fax: (843) 958-4434
Probate Court - Commitment & Guardianship Division
Judicial Center
100 Broad Street, Suite 469
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 958-5180
Fax: (843) 958-5191
Probate Court - Estate Division
Historic Courthouse
84 Broad Street, Third Floor
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 958-5030
Fax: (843) 958-5044
Probate Court - Marriage License Division
Judicial Center
100 Broad Street, Suite 469
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 958-5183
Fax: (843) 958-5191
Search for the records of the Circuit Court on the Charleston County Public Index. The Charleston County Clerk of Court maintains the records of the Circuit Court and the Family Court. You can contact the Clerk’s Offices to request copies of these records. Visit the Clerk of Court during office hours (8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday) or send a mail request (containing case number and names of parties involved) to these addresses:
Clerk of Court/Common Pleas,
100 Broad Street, Suite 106,
Charleston SC 29401
Clerk of Court/General Sessions,
100 Broad Street, Suite 106,
Charleston SC 29401
Clerk of Court/Family Court,
100 Broad Street, Suite 143,
Charleston SC 29401
The Clerk charges 11 cents per page for copies of court records. There is a $1 fee for record certification. Payments are accepted in cashier’s checks and money orders made out to Charleston County Clerk of Court.
Visit or call the various divisions of the Probate Court to enquire about obtaining their records. There are also 13 Magistrate Courts and 12 Municipal Courts in Charleston County. These are:
Charleston County Magistrates Court - Centralized Bond Hearing Court
3831 Leeds Avenue, Suite 200,
North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 746-9822
Fax: (843) 746-9960
Charleston County Magistrates Court - Centralized Preliminary Hearing Court
3831 Leeds Avenue, Suite 100,
North Charleston, SC 20405
Phone: (843) 745-2390
Fax: (843) 745-2395
Charleston County Magistrates Court - City of Charleston
995 Morrison Drive,
P.O. Box 941,
Charleston, SC 29402
Phone: (843) 724-6719
Fax: (843) 720-6785
Phone: (843) 724-6720 (Small Claims)
Charleston County Magistrates Court - East Cooper
1189 Sweetgrass Basket Pkwy, Suite 300,
Mount Pleasant, SC 29465
Phone: (843) 856-1205
Fax: (843) 856-1188
Charleston County Magistrates Court - James Island
615 Riverland Drive,
P.O. Box 12226,
Charleston, SC 29422
Phone: (843) 795-1140
Fax: (843) 406-2753
Charleston County Magistrates Court – McClellanville
10009 Highway 17 North,
McClellanville, SC 29458
Phone: (843) 887-3334
Fax: (843) 887-3901
Charleston County Magistrates Court - North Area 1
Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Services Building
4045 Bridge View Drive, Suite B125,
P.O. Box 60037,
North Charleston, SC 29419
Phone: (843) 202-6610
Fax: (843) 202-6620
Charleston County Magistrates Court - North Area 2
2145 Melbourne Avenue, Suite 100,
North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 745-2215
Fax: (843) 745-2334
Charleston County Magistrates Court - North Area 3
6185 Rivers Avenue, Suite E,
North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 553-4003
Fax: (843) 572-0013
Charleston County Magistrates Court - North Area Small Claims
Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Services Building
4045 Bridge View Drive, Suite B146,
P.O. Box 70235,
North Charleston, SC 29415
Phone: (843) 202-6650
Fax: (843) 202-6652
Charleston County Magistrates Court - Ravenel/Adams Run Area
5962 Highway 165, Suite 200,
Ravenel, SC 29470
Phone: (843) 889-8332
Fax: (843) 889-9202
Charleston County Magistrates Court - Wadmalaw/Johns Island
1527 Main Road, Suite 100,
Johns Island, SC 29455
Phone: (843) 559-1218
Fax: (843) 559-2378
Charleston County Magistrates Court - West Ashley Area
1720 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Unit 11,
P.O. Box 31861,
Charleston, SC 29417
Phone: (843) 766-6531
Fax: (843) 571-4751
Charleston Municipal Court
180 Lockwood Boulevard,
Charleston, SC 29403
Phone: (843) 724-7460
Fax: (843) 724-7171
Folly Beach Municipal Court
21 Center Street,
P.O. Box 48,
Folly Beach, SC 29439
Phone: (843) 513-1842
Fax: (843) 588-2476
Hollywood Municipal Court
5962 Highway 165,
Ravenel, SC 29470
Phone: (843) 889-8332
Fax: (843) 889-9202
Isle Of Palms Municipal Court
1207 Palm Blvd,
P.O. Box 508,
Isle Of Palms, SC 29451
Phone: (843) 886-8946
Fax: (843) 886-8005
Kiawah Island Municipal Court
21 Beachwalker Drive,
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Phone: (843) 768-9166
Fax: (843) 768-4764
Lincolnville Municipal Court
Physical: 141 West Broad Street,
Lincolnville, SC 29458
Mailing: P.O. Box 436,
Summerville, SC 29484
Phone: (843) 873-3261
Fax: (843) 873-3267
McClellanville Municipal Court
405 Pinckney Street,
McClellanville, SC 29458
Phone: (843) 887-3712
Fax: (843) 887-3094
Mount Pleasant Municipal Court
100 Ann Edwards Lane,
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 884-6796
Fax: (843) 856-2514
North Charleston Municipal Court
2500 City Hall Lane,
P.O. Box 190016,
North Charleston, SC 29419
Phone: (843) 740-2601
Fax: (843) 745-1051
Ravenel Municipal Court
5962 Highway 165,
Ravenel, SC 29470
Phone: (843) 889-8332
Fax: (843) 889-9202
Seabrook Island Municipal Court
2001 Seabrook Island Road,
Seabrook Island, SC 29455
Phone: (843) 768-9121
Fax: (843) 768-9830
Sullivans Island Municipal Court
2050-B Middle Street,
P.O. Box 427,
Sullivan's Island, SC 29482
Phone: (843) 883-5734
Fax: (843) 883-3009
Charleston County Vital Records
The Family Court maintains divorce records in Charleston County and can issue certified copies of divorce decrees. You can view these records at the Family Court during business hours and request for copies too. The court also accepts mail requests for divorce decrees. Include case number, names of parties involved, and the date the divorce judgement was issued in your mail request. Send this, along with a money order for $10, to:
Family Court
100 Broad Street, Suite 143
Charleston SC 29401
The Marriage License Division of the Charleston County Probate Court issues certified copies of marriage licenses. You can request for these in person or by mail. Complete a Certified Copy of Marriage License Request Form. Bring or mail this form to:
Honorable Irvin G. Condon
Judge of Probate
Marriage License Division
100 Broad Street, Suite 469
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 958-5183
Each certified copy of marriage license costs $5. Pay with cash, money order, or credit card when requesting for the record in person. Only money order is accepted for a mail request. Make this payable to Probate Court.
Residents of Charleston County can obtain other types of divorce and marriage records from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). This agency issues certified copies of Marriage Certificates and Reports of Divorce. To obtain any of these records, bring or mail a completed Vital Records Marriage/Divorce Application (also available in Spanish) to DHEC State Vital Records Office at 2600 Bull St., Columbia, SC 2920. The office issues vital records between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Include a photocopy of a valid photo ID and a cashier’s check or money order for copy fees with your mail request.
The DHEC charges $12 for the first copy of these vital records and $3 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Make your check or money order payable to SC DHEC. Those requesting for these records in person can pay with cash and credit/debit cards.
The Vital Records of South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control also issues certified copies of birth and death certificates for all the counties in the state. Use the following forms to request for these records: Vital Records Birth Application (Spanish) and Vital Records Death Application (Spanish). Bring or mail the completed form and fee to the DHEC State Vital Records Office address above. The fees for certified copies of birth and death certificates are the same as for marriage and divorce records.
