Find Felony Records in Charleston
Charleston felony records are filed with the Charleston County Clerk of Court through the General Sessions Court of the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Charleston is South Carolina's largest city and the county seat of Charleston County, with a population of around 150,000. All felony cases for Charleston residents go through General Sessions Court at 100 Broad Street. Municipal Court handles city-level misdemeanor and traffic cases. The Charleston County Public Index provides free online access to felony case records, and the SLED CATCH system covers statewide criminal history for all 46 counties.
Charleston Quick Facts
Charleston Municipal Court
The Charleston Municipal Court at 180 B Lockwood Boulevard handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and city ordinance violations for the City of Charleston. Chief Judge Thomas P. Morrison presides over the court, which also includes Administrative Judge Susan J. Herdina and Associate Judges Albert P. Shahid Jr. and Emmanuel J. Ferguson Sr. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Phone is (843) 724-7460.
Municipal Court jurisdiction covers cases where the maximum penalty does not exceed 90 days in jail. Cases handled include DUI, disorderly conduct, simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, public intoxication, false ID, criminal domestic violence, and all traffic tickets. Fines not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days fall within Municipal Court authority. The court can also hear cases transferred from General Sessions with penalties up to $5,000 fine or one year imprisonment.
The Charleston Municipal Court page at charleston-sc.gov provides contact information, court schedules, payment options, and guidance on appearing in court for Charleston misdemeanor and traffic cases, along with information on continuances, appeals, and the online payment portal.
The Charleston Municipal Court page at charleston-sc.gov covers procedures for responding to citations, paying fines online through the Municipal Online Payments portal, requesting continuances, and filing appeals to the Charleston County Court of Common Pleas for cases originating in Charleston Municipal Court.
Online payments for Charleston Municipal Court citations are available at the Municipal Online Payments portal. Search by citation number, driver's license number, and date of birth. Payments must be made at least 48 hours before a scheduled court date. Partial payments are not accepted online. Accepted methods include credit and debit cards online, and cash, money orders, and cashier's checks in person. Personal checks are not accepted.
Copy fees at Charleston Municipal Court are $0.10 per page for black and white copies, $0.20 per page for color, and $5.00 for a CD or DVD. FOIA requests must be submitted in writing. Submit to: Charleston Police Department, Attention: Records, 180 Lockwood Blvd, Charleston SC 29403. The standard fee for a police report is $5.00 plus copying fees.
The Charleston criminal trials information page at charleston-sc.gov explains how criminal cases progress through Charleston courts, from citation through Municipal Court proceedings, with details on trials, continuances, and the rights of defendants in Charleston misdemeanor cases.
The Charleston criminal trials page at charleston-sc.gov provides information on how the City Prosecutor handles cases in Municipal Court, the process for jury trials, and the options available to defendants appearing on Charleston charges, giving residents a clear overview of how the local court process works from start to finish.
| Address | 180 B Lockwood Boulevard Charleston, SC 29403 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (843) 724-7460 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Chief Judge | Thomas P. Morrison |
| Copy Fees | $0.10/page (B&W); $0.20/page (color); CD $5.00 |
Charleston County Clerk of Court and Felony Records
All Charleston felony cases are filed with the Charleston County Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston SC 29401. Clerk of Court Julie J. Armstrong maintains General Sessions criminal case records, Common Pleas civil case records, and Family Court records for Charleston County. Phone is (843) 958-5000, fax (843) 958-5193. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Copy fees are $0.50 per page.
The General Sessions Court of the Ninth Judicial Circuit handles all felony cases originating in the City of Charleston. When a felony arrest is made in Charleston, the case proceeds through bond hearing, grand jury indictment, and trial or plea at the Charleston County Courthouse on Broad Street. Every step generates a record filed with the Clerk of Court. The Ninth Circuit Solicitor's Office prosecutes all General Sessions felony cases for both Charleston and Berkeley counties.
The Charleston County Clerk of Court page at charlestoncounty.org provides information on General Sessions criminal case records, Common Pleas civil cases, and Family Court, with contact information for the courthouse on Broad Street and guidance on accessing Charleston County felony records through the Public Index and in-person requests.
The Charleston County Clerk of Court page at charlestoncounty.org provides complete details on all services maintained by Clerk Julie J. Armstrong, including criminal record access procedures, case lookup tools, and information on how the General Sessions Court processes felony cases originating in the City of Charleston and throughout Charleston County.
| Address | 100 Broad Street, Suite 106 Charleston, SC 29401 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (843) 958-5000 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Clerk of Court | Julie J. Armstrong |
| Copy Fees | $0.50 per page |
| Public Index | publicindex.sccourts.org/charleston |
How to Search Charleston Felony Records
The Charleston County Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/charleston provides free online access to General Sessions Court records for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Felony case records from 1990 forward are searchable by party name or case number. The system shows case status, charges, hearing dates, and disposition for Charleston felony cases. Accept the disclaimer before beginning your search.
In-person access to Charleston felony records is available at the Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street. Bring valid photo ID. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. For statewide criminal history covering all 46 South Carolina counties including Charleston, use SLED CATCH at catch.sled.sc.gov. The fee is $25 plus $1 online.
Charleston felony records are public under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10. The Clerk of Court must respond to FOIA requests within 10 business days. Records of dismissed charges are removed per § 17-1-40. Eligible first-offense convictions may be expunged after five years under § 22-5-910. Note: As of January 1, 2026, home address information is no longer displayed on the public index for all South Carolina counties.
Charleston General Sessions Court and Felony Classes
The Charleston County General Sessions Court handles all felony charges under South Carolina's six-class system defined in Title 16 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Class A felonies carry up to 30 years and include murder, kidnapping, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and armed robbery. Class B felonies carry up to 25 years. Class C felonies carry up to 20 years. Class D felonies carry up to 15 years. Class E felonies carry up to 10 years. Class F felonies carry up to 5 years. Every Charleston felony record shows the charge, statute citation, felony class, and sentence imposed.
Municipal Court misdemeanor convictions are separate from General Sessions felony records and are not part of the Public Index. For current inmate information for individuals serving state sentences, use the SCDC inmate search at doc.sc.gov. The sex offender registry is searchable at scor.sled.sc.gov. The Charleston County Sheriff maintains sex offender registration for the county under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-430.
Charleston County Felony Records
All felony cases filed in the City of Charleston are processed through Charleston County General Sessions Court. Access the full county-level records resource for complete felony case information.