Charleston Criminal History Records

Charleston Police Department Criminal Records

The Charleston Police Department (CPD) is headquartered at 180 Lockwood Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29403. The non-emergency line is (843) 577-7434. CPD holds incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records generated by officers working within city limits. These records form the foundation of many Charleston criminal history searches.

Walk-in access is available Monday through Friday. If you appear in person, CPD will provide crime reports from the last 14 days without a written request. For anything older than 14 days you must use the city's formal FOIA process, described in its own section below. Reports are not emailed or provided over the phone, so plan for an in-person or mail-based request. Municipal Court cases handled at 180 Lockwood Boulevard cover traffic offenses, city ordinance violations, misdemeanor charges, and preliminary hearings for felony matters.

Note: The Records Management Division does not process FOIA requests directly. All FOIA submissions for CPD records must go through the city's online portal, where staff redirect them to the appropriate records management team.

Searching Charleston Criminal History Through SLED

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division runs two systems that are useful for anyone researching Charleston criminal history. The first is SLED CATCH, an online name-based search that costs $25 per query. CATCH pulls from SLED's statewide criminal record database and returns convictions and other dispositions on file. It is the fastest single-source option when you need a broad look at someone's record across all of South Carolina, not just Charleston.

The second resource is SLED's Sex Offender Registry at scor.sled.sc.gov. That database is free and searchable by name, city, or ZIP code. For felony charges filed in Charleston County Circuit Court, the Charleston County Public Index is often a better starting point because it is free and covers a wide range of case types. Both tools complement each other well.

SLED also accepts mailed requests at PO Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221, or by phone at 803.896.1443. Written requests allow you to ask for a certified copy of a criminal history, which carries more weight in legal settings than a CATCH printout.

Note: SLED CATCH is name-based, so common names may return multiple results. Confirm any match against date of birth and other identifiers before drawing conclusions.

Charleston FOIA Requests for Criminal Records

All FOIA requests for City of Charleston records, including CPD records, go through the online portal at charleston-sc.gov. The portal routes each submission to the correct department automatically. South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act, codified at SC Code Title 30, Chapter 4, gives citizens the right to inspect and copy public records held by government bodies.

Charleston's fee schedule is tiered by staff level. Administrative review runs $19.24 per hour, manager review $33.88 per hour, director review $66.07 per hour, and redaction services $23.86 per hour. IT services cost $32.00 per hour. Police Department staff time is billed at $20.73 per hour. Paper copies are $0.10 per page in black and white and $0.20 for color. Digital media ranges from $5.00 for a CD or DVD to $15.00 for a mailed flash drive.

Response timelines depend on how old the records are. For documents less than two years old, the city must send a formal acknowledgment within 10 business days and produce the records within 30 calendar days. For records more than two years old, acknowledgment must come within 20 business days and production within 35 calendar days. Being specific in your request about dates, case numbers, and incident types will speed things along.

County Court Records for Charleston Residents

Charleston County Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, while magistrate and probate courts handle civil and lower-level matters. The Charleston County Clerk of Court is located at 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401, reachable at (843) 958-5000. The clerk's email is clerkofcourt@charlestoncounty.org.

The Charleston County Public Index is a free online tool provided by the SC Judicial Branch. It lists criminal cases by name, case number, and charge, including dispositions, sentence dates, and any associated bond information. Public Index is updated regularly and covers both pending and closed cases. You can use it to verify whether a person has a felony filing in Charleston County without paying any fee.

If you need certified copies of court documents, contact the clerk's office directly. Certification fees vary by document type. The SC Judicial Branch's broader case records search page can help you locate the right court if you are unsure whether a case was filed at the county or municipal level.

Note: Public Index shows case filings, not always final outcomes. Always check the full case detail page and confirm the disposition code before relying on a result.

Criminal Records Laws Affecting Charleston

Three statutes shape how Charleston criminal history records are created, shared, and restricted. The first is SC Code Section 23-3-115, which governs SLED's authority to collect, maintain, and disseminate criminal history records statewide. It sets out who may request a full background check and under what conditions SLED may release information.

The second is the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act at Title 30, Chapter 4. This law gives any person the right to inspect or copy public records held by a state or local body, including police departments and court clerks. It also sets the response timelines and fee structures that Charleston must follow.

The third is SC Code Section 17-1-40, which covers expungement. Under this statute, certain qualifying criminal records can be destroyed or sealed, removing them from public view. Once a record is expunged under Section 17-1-40, it no longer appears in most standard searches, though law enforcement agencies retain access under specific circumstances.

Expungement Options in Charleston

Charleston residents with qualifying charges may petition for expungement under SC Code Section 17-1-40. Eligible charges include first-offense misdemeanors that resulted in a not-guilty verdict or dismissal, certain youthful offender act convictions, and some drug offenses after completion of a diversion program. The filing fee is $250, paid to the Clerk of Court at the time of petition.

The process starts at the Solicitor's Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, which covers Charleston County. Staff there review the petition and verify eligibility before sending it to the court for a judge's signature. Once signed, the order is forwarded to SLED, CPD, and any other agency that holds the record. Each agency is required to destroy or seal its copy. The process typically takes several months from filing to completion.

After expungement, SLED removes the record from CATCH results and most background searches will no longer reflect it. However, federal background checks, certain professional licensing boards, and law enforcement agencies retain access to expunged records in some situations. Consulting with a Charleston criminal defense attorney before filing is advisable if you have questions about eligibility or the effect of expungement on a specific charge.

Note: Expungement does not apply to violent crimes, sex offenses, or most felony convictions, regardless of how much time has passed.

Charleston County Criminal History

Most felony cases involving Charleston residents are filed in Charleston County Circuit Court. The county clerk maintains those records and provides access through the Public Index portal.

View Charleston County Criminal History

Nearby South Carolina Cities

Other South Carolina cities near Charleston with their own criminal history resources include the following.

View Major South Carolina Cities