Charleston County Inmate Booking Search
Charleston County offers a dedicated online portal for searching 72 hour booking records and current inmate data. The Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center in North Charleston processes all county arrests. With a maximum capacity of 1,693 inmates, it is one of the largest facilities in the state. The county provides a free inmate search tool at its own web address, making it easy to look up recent bookings by name. Records show mugshots, charges, bond amounts, and court dates. This page covers how to use the Charleston County search tools and what data you can expect to find in booking records.
Charleston County 72 Hour Booking Portal
Charleston County runs a dedicated inmate search portal separate from the main county website. This tool is built for one purpose: finding current inmates and recent booking data. You search by name and get results that show the person's charges, bond status, mugshot, and court dates. The system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no cost to use it and no account needed.
The Charleston County inmate search portal is shown below.
This is the main search tool for looking up anyone currently held at the Al Cannon Detention Center.
The 72 hour booking data within this system reflects the most recent arrests. When someone is booked at the detention center, their record appears in the search tool shortly after processing. This gives the public quick access to new booking information. Under Section 17-1-60, booking records in South Carolina are subject to publication, and Charleston County follows this requirement through its online portal.
Al Cannon Detention Center Overview
The Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center sits at 3841 Leeds Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405. You can reach the facility by phone at (843) 529-7300. It is the central booking and holding facility for all of Charleston County, which includes the cities of Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, and Goose Creek.
The facility can hold up to 1,693 inmates at one time. It is among the largest in South Carolina. The Chief of Detention is Cary Bryant, and the Chief Deputy is Patrick Morris. Staff process arrests around the clock. Each booking creates a record with the standard data points: name, charges, mugshot, bond, and court schedule. Fingerprints are collected and sent to SLED under Section 23-3-120, which links every Charleston County arrest to a statewide criminal record.
Visitation at the detention center follows a set schedule. In-person visits run Sunday through Saturday from 8 to 11 in the morning and 1 to 4 in the afternoon. Video visitation is also available. One key rule: inmates must be in custody for at least 72 hours before they can receive visits. This ties directly to the 72 hour booking window, during which the arrest is processed and records are made public.
Note: Video visitation is offered as a way to connect with inmates who are held at the Al Cannon Detention Center.
How to Search Charleston County Booking Records
The search process is simple. Go to the Charleston County inmate search page and type in the name of the person you are looking for. Results load on screen. Each entry shows the basic booking details. Click on a result to see the full record, which may include:
- Mugshot from the time of booking
- Full list of charges
- Bond amount and type
- Scheduled court dates
- Booking date and time
- Current custody status
This tool covers current inmates at the Al Cannon Detention Center. It does not show historical records for people who have been released. For older records, you would file a FOIA request with the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. The FOIA process is covered by Section 30-4-30(d)(3), which grants access to jail records for the past three months.
Charleston County Sheriff's Office Records
The Charleston County Sheriff's Office manages the detention center and all booking records. Beyond the online search tool, the office handles FOIA requests for records that are not available on the web. Submit your request in writing. Include the person's name, date of arrest, or booking number if known. The county reviews each request and responds within the timeline set by state law.
The sheriff's office page is shown here.
Use this page to find contact details for records requests and other services from the sheriff's department.
Some records fall under exemptions. Section 30-4-40(a)(3) protects data linked to open investigations or sensitive operations. Most 72 hour booking data in Charleston County is standard and released without issue. Names, charges, dates, and bond are all considered public information.
Charleston County Government and Public Data
The Charleston County government website is the hub for all county services. From there, you can reach the sheriff's office, the clerk of court, and other departments that handle public records.
Below is the Charleston County government homepage.
This site links to every county department and provides forms for public records requests.
Charleston County is the most populated county in the state. Its booking volume reflects that size. The Al Cannon Detention Center processes thousands of bookings each year. Section 24-13-50 requires monthly reports from the facility, which feed into state records and add to the public data available over time. These reports track inmate counts, admissions, and releases on a regular schedule.
Statewide Tools for Charleston County Records
State databases add depth to what you can find at the county level. The SCDC public search shows anyone in the state prison system who may have started with a Charleston County arrest. The SLED CATCH portal links fingerprint data from the original booking to a criminal history record. Court records are available through the SC Judicial C-Track portal.
For real-time custody updates, VINELink lets you register for alerts. You pick the inmate and the system notifies you when their status changes. This works for inmates at the Al Cannon Detention Center and throughout South Carolina. It is a useful tool if you need to know when someone is released or transferred.
Nearby Counties
Charleston County borders several other counties in the Lowcountry and coastal regions. Their booking records are available through their own systems: