Charleston County Felony Records
Charleston County felony records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street in Charleston. All felony cases in Charleston County go through the General Sessions Court as part of the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Charleston County is one of South Carolina's most populous counties with over 400,000 residents. The Clerk of Court keeps all criminal case files, indictments, warrants, bonds, and sentence sheets. You can search Charleston County felony records through the online Public Index or visit the courthouse in downtown Charleston.
Charleston County Quick Facts
Charleston County Clerk of Court
Julie J. Armstrong serves as the Charleston County Clerk of Court. The office processes legal actions of a civil or criminal nature, keeps and maintains all case records including records of judgments, schedules civil jury and non-jury trials, and collects and disburses money as ordered by the court. The Clerk of Court is located at 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, in downtown Charleston.
The Clerk of Court offers several online services for Charleston County felony records including Circuit Court Search, Day Book Search, Bondsmen Data, and Online Juror Summons. Records from 1990 to present are available. A $31 fee is charged for a record search in advance, plus $4 per retrieved record. Copy fees are $0.25 per page with certified copies available for $10 per document.
The Charleston County government website at charlestoncounty.org provides online services including the ability to apply for services, pay fees, access public records, review transparency data, and find emergency information for residents of one of South Carolina's largest counties.
Charleston County's official site includes the Clerk of Court department page with links to online records search, circuit court access, and information on obtaining copies of Charleston County felony case documents.
| Clerk of Court | Julie J. Armstrong |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Broad Street, Suite 106 Charleston, SC 29401 |
| Phone | (843) 958-5000 |
| clerkofcourt@charlestoncounty.org | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Copy Fees | $0.25 per page; certified copies $10 per document |
| Public Index | publicindex.sccourts.org/charleston |
Charleston County Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Charleston County Sheriff's Office is one of the largest full-service Sheriff's Offices in South Carolina. Sheriff Carl Ritchie was elected in November 2024. The Sheriff's Office is accredited by CALEA, the American Corrections Association, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. The main office is at 3691 Leeds Avenue in North Charleston.
The Charleston County Sheriff's Office department page at charlestoncounty.org provides information on the Sheriff's full-service operations, Detention Center management, monthly activity reports, and news releases related to Charleston County felony arrests and public safety.
The Charleston County Sheriff serves the entire county, with deputies responding to calls, managing the Detention Center for pre-trial detainees held on felony charges, and maintaining arrest records that become part of the General Sessions Court file.
Monthly activity reports and news releases from the Charleston County Sheriff's Office are published online. For arrest records, contact the Sheriff's Records Division. The Detention Center accommodates various inmate classifications including those held pre-trial on felony charges in Charleston County. For inmate information, contact the Sheriff's Office at (843) 958-5000 or visit the county website.
Searching Charleston County Felony Records
The Charleston County Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/charleston provides free access to Circuit Court and Summary Court records. Felony records from 1990 forward are searchable by party name or case number. The Clerk of Court also offers an online Circuit Court Search with more detail, but that service carries the $31 search fee plus $4 per record retrieved.
When searching Charleston County felony records in person, visit 100 Broad Street in downtown Charleston. Security screens all visitors at the entrance. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can search by name or case number and make copies. For certified copies of felony indictments, sentence sheets, or other court orders, contact the Clerk of Court at (843) 958-5000 ahead of your visit.
SLED CATCH at catch.sled.sc.gov provides statewide criminal history including all Charleston County felony records. The $25 search plus $1 online fee covers all 46 South Carolina counties. Results are updated monthly. For Charleston City criminal court records, the Charleston Municipal Court at 180 B Lockwood Boulevard handles city-level cases with records available online in PDF format.
Note: As of January 1, 2026, home address information is no longer displayed on the public index for both new and existing cases in all South Carolina counties, including Charleston County, to protect privacy.
Ninth Circuit and Charleston County Felony Cases
Charleston County is part of the Ninth Judicial Circuit along with Berkeley County. The Ninth Circuit Solicitor prosecutes all felony cases in General Sessions Court for both counties. When a felony charge is filed in Charleston County, the case proceeds through bond hearing, grand jury indictment, and then trial or plea in General Sessions Court. The Solicitor's Office is located in Charleston.
The Charleston FOIA Request Portal at charleston-sc.gov handles requests for City of Charleston records under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10. The fee schedule for City records includes administrative ($19.24/hour), manager ($33.88/hour), director ($66.07/hour), and copy fees of $0.10 per page for black and white. For court records specifically, requests go to the Clerk of Court, not the city.
Felony charges in Charleston County are classified under Title 16 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Class A felonies carry up to 30 years and include crimes like murder, kidnapping, and armed robbery. Every Charleston County felony record shows the charge, statute citation, class, and sentence. Charleston County also prosecutes federal crimes through the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, which maintains offices in Charleston at the party index available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Cities in Charleston County
Charleston County includes several major cities. All felony cases for residents of Charleston County are filed at the Charleston County General Sessions Court.
Nearby Counties
Charleston County is part of the Ninth Judicial Circuit with Berkeley County. The following nearby counties maintain separate General Sessions Court felony records.