Summerville Felony Records

Summerville felony records are primarily maintained by the Dorchester County Clerk of Court through the First Judicial Circuit General Sessions Court. Summerville is a fast-growing town in the greater Charleston area that spans portions of Dorchester, Berkeley, and Charleston counties. Most Summerville felony cases go through Dorchester County General Sessions Court at the Troy Knight Judicial Complex in Summerville. The Summerville Municipal Court handles town misdemeanor and traffic matters. Free online case access is available through county Public Index portals, and SLED CATCH provides statewide criminal history.

Summerville Municipal Court

The Summerville Municipal Court is located at 200 South Main Street in Summerville, at the same location as Town Hall. Court phone is (843) 875-2010, Town Hall phone (843) 871-6000, fax (843) 871-0634. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Chief Judge Lawrence G. Jameson III presides. The court handles town municipal ordinances, state traffic laws, specific state criminal laws, and code enforcement violations with maximum penalties of $500 fine or 30 days imprisonment.

Summerville's position at the intersection of three counties means that felony cases originating there are processed through the General Sessions Court of the county where the offense occurred. Dorchester County handles the majority of Summerville's General Sessions caseload. Portions of Summerville in Berkeley or Charleston counties have their felony cases processed through those respective circuit courts. The Dorchester County Sheriff's Office at 212 Deming Way in Summerville, phone (843) 832-0300, maintains arrest records for the primary Dorchester County portions.

The Summerville Municipal Court page at summervillesc.gov explains the court's jurisdiction over town ordinance violations and state traffic laws, provides guidance for defendants on how to handle citations, and outlines the appeal process to the circuit courts of the county where the offense occurred.

The Summerville court dockets page at summervillesc.gov provides public access to scheduled hearing information for Summerville Municipal Court cases, helping defendants confirm their court dates and allowing attorneys and interested parties to review upcoming docket entries without requiring an in-person visit to 200 South Main Street.

Dorchester County Clerk of Court and Summerville Felony Records

The Dorchester County Clerk of Court Cheryl L. Graham is located at 5200 East Jim Bilton Boulevard, St. George SC 29477. Phone is (843) 563-0160, fax (843) 563-0178. The Dorchester County Family Court is at the Troy Knight Judicial Complex, 212 Deming Way, Summerville SC 29483, phone (843) 563-0181. The Dorchester County Sheriff's Office is also located at 212 Deming Way, Summerville, phone (843) 832-0300, with a Warrants Division at (843) 832-0330.

For portions of Summerville within Berkeley County, felony cases go to the Berkeley County Clerk of Court at 300 California Avenue, Moncks Corner SC 29461, phone (843) 719-4400. For the small portion of Summerville that falls within Charleston County, the Charleston County Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street, Charleston, phone (843) 958-5000, maintains those felony records. If you are uncertain which county covers a specific Summerville address, check with the arresting agency or the relevant Clerk of Court.

How to Search Summerville Felony Records

The Dorchester County Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/dorchester provides free online access to General Sessions Court records for the First Judicial Circuit. Felony records from 1990 forward are searchable by party name or case number. Also check the Berkeley County Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/berkeley and the Charleston County Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/charleston if the address falls in those counties.

For statewide criminal history, use SLED CATCH at catch.sled.sc.gov. The fee is $25 plus $1 online and covers all 46 South Carolina counties. Summerville felony records are public under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10. 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.

Summerville Felony Classes and General Sessions Court

Dorchester County General Sessions Court handles all felony charges for most of Summerville 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 Summerville felony record shows the charge, statute citation, felony class, and sentence imposed.

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 Dorchester County Sheriff maintains sex offender registration for the primary Summerville area under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-430.

Nearby County Felony Records

Summerville spans portions of three counties. Access each county's felony records resource based on where the case originated.

View All Cities