Berkeley County Criminal History Records

Berkeley County criminal history records are kept by several agencies across the county. The Clerk of Court in Moncks Corner holds General Sessions case files, arrest records, and court documents going back many years. People searching criminal history in Berkeley County can start with the online Public Index or contact the Clerk directly. State-level checks are also available through SLED. This guide covers the main sources for Berkeley County criminal records and explains how to use each one.

Berkeley County Clerk of Court Records

The Berkeley County Clerk of Court is Leah Guerry Dupree. Her office is located at 300-B California Avenue, Moncks Corner, SC 29461. You can reach the office at (843) 719-4400 or by email at Leah.Dupree@Berkeleycountysc.gov. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

The Clerk maintains all General Sessions criminal case files for Berkeley County. These records include warrants, indictments, bond paperwork, and sentencing documents. Civil and Family Court records are held in the same office. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 plus $0.25 per page. The office accepts cash, check, money order, and credit card payments.

You can also mail records requests to PO Box 219, Moncks Corner, SC 29461. Include the name, approximate dates, and case type you are searching. Response times vary based on request volume.

Note: The Clerk's office can help locate case numbers and file dates, but cannot provide legal advice or confirm whether a record will affect any specific matter.

Berkeley County Public Index Case Search

The South Carolina Judicial Branch provides free online access to Berkeley County court records through the Berkeley County Public Index. This system covers General Sessions criminal cases, Common Pleas civil cases, and Family Court matters.

You can search by name, case number, or date range. Case numbers in General Sessions follow the format YYYY-GS-08-XXXX. The Public Index shows case status, hearing dates, charges, and docket entries. Actual documents are not downloadable. Visit the Clerk's office for certified copies or physical file review.

The system is available around the clock. Results are updated as clerks process filings, so very recent cases may not appear right away. Juvenile records are not included.

Note: A name search in the Public Index may return multiple people with similar names, so confirm case numbers and dates of birth before drawing any conclusions.

Berkeley County Arrest and Sheriff Records

The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for unincorporated areas of the county. The agency maintains incident reports, accident records, and arrest logs. To request sheriff's records, contact the Berkeley County Law Enforcement Center directly.

Arrest records held by local agencies are separate from the statewide criminal history maintained by SLED. An arrest entry in a local report does not necessarily mean there was a conviction. Court records from the Clerk's office show how cases were resolved.

Goose Creek and Summerville, the county's largest cities, have their own municipal police departments with separate records divisions. Requests for city police incident reports should go to those departments directly.

Note: Local arrest records are subject to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, found at Title 30, Chapter 4, which sets response time limits of 10 business days for recent records and 20 days for older ones.

SLED Criminal History Checks for Berkeley County

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, known as SLED, maintains the state's central criminal history repository. A SLED check covers all of South Carolina, not just Berkeley County. It is the most complete single source for state criminal history.

The SLED CATCH system at catch.sled.sc.gov allows name-based criminal history searches for a $25 fee. This is a statewide name check that returns conviction history tied to a person's name and date of birth. It does not include arrests that did not result in a conviction unless those records were submitted to SLED.

Fingerprint-based checks are more thorough and can be requested through SLED at PO Box 21398, Columbia SC 29221, by calling 803.896.1443. Fingerprint requests are more precise and eliminate false matches caused by similar names.

Note: SLED checks cover South Carolina records only and do not include records from other states or federal agencies.

Berkeley County Magistrate Court Records

Magistrate courts in Berkeley County handle traffic violations, misdemeanor offenses, bond hearings, and preliminary hearings for more serious charges. They also handle civil claims up to $7,500. These courts operate locally and their records may not all appear in the statewide Public Index.

Contact the Berkeley County Clerk of Court office at (843) 719-4400 for guidance on locating magistrate court records specific to your search. Magistrate judges are spread across the county, so the handling court may depend on where an offense occurred.

Note: Bond hearing records and magistrate-level case dispositions can be important when trying to understand the full arc of a criminal matter in Berkeley County.

SC DOC Inmate Search and Probation Records

People currently or previously incarcerated in South Carolina state prisons can be found through the SC Department of Corrections inmate search. This tool is free and covers individuals sentenced to state custody. It shows sentence length, release information, and facility assignments.

For people on probation, parole, or seeking pardons, the SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services has information at dppps.sc.gov. A pardon does not expunge a record but can restore certain civil rights. Expungement under Section 17-1-40 removes eligible records from public view entirely.

Note: Pardon and expungement are separate legal processes with different effects on what appears in public record searches.

Sex Offender Registry for Berkeley County

The South Carolina Sex Offender Registry is maintained by SLED and is searchable at scor.sled.sc.gov. The registry lists registered sex offenders by name, address, and offense. You can search by county to view registrants in Berkeley County specifically.

Registration is required under South Carolina law for people convicted of covered offenses. The registry is updated regularly. It is a public resource and does not require any fee or account to use.

Note: The registry reflects current address registrations, but changes in residency can create short gaps between updates.

Berkeley County FOIA Requests

The Berkeley County FOIA Coordinator is Ms. Amanda Troy, Clerk to Council. Her address is PO Box 6122, Moncks Corner, SC 29461-3707. You can reach her at (843) 719-4093 or at amanda.troy@berkeleycountysc.gov. County agencies must respond to FOIA requests within 10 business days for records under two years old, and 20 business days for older records.

FOIA requests can cover incident reports, agency records, and other public documents not already available through the court system. Keep requests specific to reduce response delays. Fees for copies and staff time may apply depending on the scope of the request.

Note: Some records are exempt from disclosure under South Carolina FOIA, including active investigation files and records protected by court order.

SC Courthouse Directory and Resources

The Berkeley County Courthouse is at 300-B California Avenue, Moncks Corner, SC 29461. The SC Courthouse Directory maintained by the SC Judicial Branch lists contact information for all 46 counties. Berkeley County shares the 9th Judicial Circuit with Charleston County.

The SC Judicial Branch case records search page explains how to use the Public Index and what types of cases are included. This is a useful starting point for people who are new to searching court records in South Carolina.

Nearby Counties and Related Resources

Berkeley County borders Charleston, Dorchester, Colleton, and Orangeburg counties. Criminal cases sometimes involve agencies or courts in neighboring counties, especially near county lines. If a search in Berkeley County does not return results, checking bordering county Public Index systems may help.

• Charleston County Criminal History
• Dorchester County Criminal History
• Colleton County Criminal History

The SC Judicial Branch also provides a general case records search page that links to all county Public Index systems from one location.

Note: Each county's Public Index is maintained separately, so a full cross-county search requires checking each one individually.