Dorchester County Criminal History Records

Dorchester County criminal history records are held by the Clerk of Court in St. George and are searchable through the SC Judicial Branch's online Public Index. Dorchester County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit and is one of South Carolina's fastest-growing counties, with Summerville as its largest city. This guide explains how to search criminal records in Dorchester County through official county and state sources.

Dorchester County Clerk of Court

The Dorchester County Clerk of Court is located at 5200 East Jim Bilton Boulevard, St. George, SC 29477. The office phone is (843) 563-0160. Office hours are Monday through Friday during regular business hours. The Clerk maintains all official court records for Dorchester County including criminal, civil, and family matters.

General Sessions criminal case files at the Clerk's office include warrants, indictments, bond documents, case dispositions, and sentencing records. You can visit in person or submit a written records request by mail. Standard copies typically run $0.25 per page and certified copies carry a base fee plus per-page cost. The Clerk can confirm current fees when you contact the office.

Requests should include the person's full name, approximate filing date or year, and case type to help staff locate the correct record efficiently.

Note: Dorchester County has seen significant population growth in recent years, meaning the Clerk's office may handle a higher volume of requests than smaller county offices. Calling ahead before visiting is a good idea.

Dorchester County Public Index Case Search

The Dorchester County Public Index is a free online case search system provided by the SC Judicial Branch. It is available around the clock and allows searches by party name, case number, or date range. It covers General Sessions criminal cases, Common Pleas civil cases, and Family Court matters.

The system shows case status, charges, hearing dates, docket entries, and judge assignments. Documents cannot be downloaded. For certified copies or physical review, contact the Clerk in St. George. Juvenile records are excluded from all public searches.

Dorchester County's growing population means searches may return more results compared to smaller counties. Using a date of birth or case year alongside a name search helps narrow results significantly.

Note: New filings may take a brief time to appear in the Public Index after the Clerk processes them. Time-sensitive searches should be confirmed directly with the Clerk's office.

Dorchester County Criminal Court Records

General Sessions Court in Dorchester County handles felony charges and serious misdemeanor cases. The records are maintained by the Clerk in St. George and are the central source for criminal history in the county.

Summerville, which straddles the Dorchester and Berkeley county lines, is one of the larger cities served by courts in this area. Municipal and magistrate courts handle lower-level offenses, bond hearings, traffic violations, and civil claims under $7,500. Magistrate records may or may not all appear in the online Public Index depending on entry practices.

The SC Judicial Branch courthouse directory at sccourts.org lists courthouse contact information for Dorchester County. Dorchester County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit.

Note: Because Summerville extends into both Dorchester and Berkeley counties, cases from Summerville may appear in either county's court system depending on where the offense occurred.

SLED Criminal History Check for Dorchester County

SLED maintains the statewide criminal history repository at sled.sc.gov. A SLED search covers all 46 South Carolina counties including Dorchester, making it the most efficient option for a full South Carolina criminal history check.

The online SLED CATCH system charges $25 for a name-based search. Fingerprint-based requests can be submitted by mail to SLED Records, PO Box 21398, Columbia SC 29221, or by calling 803.896.1443. Fingerprint checks provide more precise results by tying a record to a known identity rather than just a name and date of birth.

The South Carolina statute governing SLED records is at Title 23, Chapter 3 of the South Carolina Code.

Note: SLED covers South Carolina state records only. Records from federal court or other states are not included.

Dorchester County Arrest Records and Sheriff

The Dorchester County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in unincorporated parts of the county. Arrest records, incident reports, and booking information are held by the Sheriff. Requests for these records fall under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act at Title 30, Chapter 4.

Summerville Police Department, St. George Police, and other municipal agencies maintain their own records separately from the Sheriff. Requests for incidents within city limits should go to the appropriate city agency. Arrest records show that a person was taken into custody. Court records from the Clerk show the outcome.

Note: FOIA requests to county agencies must receive a written response within 10 business days for records under two years old and 20 business days for older records under South Carolina law.

SC Inmate Search and Probation Records

People convicted in Dorchester County and sentenced to state prison appear in the free SC Department of Corrections inmate search. This tool shows incarceration status, sentence lengths, facility assignments, and release dates. Search by name or SC DOC number.

People on probation or parole in Dorchester County are supervised by the SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. This agency also processes pardon applications. Expungement of eligible records falls under SC Code Section 17-1-40.

Note: Pardon restores civil rights but does not erase a criminal record from public systems. Expungement removes eligible records from public view entirely when granted by a court.

Sex Offender Registry and Nearby Counties

The South Carolina Sex Offender Registry at scor.sled.sc.gov can be searched by county. Registered offenders in Dorchester County appear with name, address, and offense type. The registry is free, public, and maintained by SLED.

Dorchester County borders Charleston, Berkeley, Colleton, and Orangeburg counties. Cases with connections to these areas may have records in neighboring county court systems. Each county's Public Index is accessible through the SC Judicial Branch case records page.

• Charleston County Criminal History
• Berkeley County Criminal History
• Colleton County Criminal History

Note: SLED's statewide check is more efficient than individually searching all bordering county Public Index systems when conducting a broad South Carolina criminal history search.