Charleston Background Check Records
A Charleston background check pulls together criminal records, arrest reports, and court case files from across Charleston County. Charleston is the largest city in South Carolina with roughly 150,000 residents. The city sits in Charleston County, and all court records for Charleston go through the county court system. You can search for records through the Charleston Police Department, the Charleston Municipal Court, or the Charleston County public index. Each source holds different types of records, so a full background check in Charleston may require searching more than one database.
Charleston Quick Facts
Charleston Police Records Search
The Charleston Police Department is the main source of local criminal records in Charleston. The department handles arrest reports, incident reports, and accident reports. You can search these records by name through the police department website. Reports are filed for every call that results in an official police action in Charleston.
The Charleston Police Department website provides a searchable database for accident, arrest, and incident reports. Go to the Charleston Police Department page to start your search. You will need a name or case number. Results show basic report data. For full copies of reports, you may need to submit a formal request under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. Response times vary, but the department must reply within 15 business days.
The Charleston Police Department serves the city limits of Charleston. It does not cover North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, or other nearby cities. Each of those has its own police department. If you need records from outside the Charleston city limits, you will need to check with the correct agency for that area.
Charleston police reports cover a wide range of records. Arrest reports show the charge, date, and the name of the person arrested. Incident reports document crimes that were reported but may not have led to an arrest. Accident reports cover vehicle crashes within city limits.
The police department site also links to press releases that cover major incidents and arrests in Charleston.
Criminal Court Records in Charleston
Charleston criminal court sessions run on Tuesdays and Fridays starting at 8:30 AM. The court handles cases that originate from arrests within the city. You can call 843-724-7460 for court schedule details. The Charleston Criminal Court page has current session information and guidelines for attending.
Criminal cases in Charleston start at the municipal level. Minor offenses stay in municipal court. More serious charges move up to the Charleston County court system. A background check in Charleston should cover both levels to get a full picture. The municipal court handles misdemeanors and city ordinance violations. Felony cases go to the Court of General Sessions at the county level.
Note: Criminal court records in Charleston are public under South Carolina law, but some juvenile and sealed records are not available.
How to Run a Background Check in Charleston
There are several ways to run a background check in Charleston. Each method gives you access to different types of records. The right approach depends on what you need.
Start with the Charleston Police Department records search for local arrest and incident data. This covers city-level records only. Next, check the Charleston Municipal Court for case dispositions on misdemeanors and ordinance violations. For felony records and county-level cases, use the Charleston County public index.
For a statewide criminal history check in South Carolina, use the SLED CATCH system. CATCH stands for Citizens Access to Criminal Histories. It is run by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. You can search by name and date of birth. Results include criminal convictions from across the state, not just Charleston. This is the most thorough single source for a criminal background check in South Carolina.
SLED also maintains the main SLED website where you can find sex offender registry data and other public safety resources.
- Charleston Police records for local arrests and incidents
- Charleston Municipal Court for city-level case outcomes
- Charleston County public index for county court cases
- SLED CATCH for statewide criminal history
- SC Department of Corrections for prison records
Charleston Press Releases and Public Notices
The City of Charleston posts press releases through its civic alerts page. These releases often include details about major arrests, investigations, and public safety operations. While not a formal records database, press releases can provide useful context for a Charleston background check.
Press releases name suspects in serious cases. They also describe the charges and circumstances. This can help confirm information found in other record sources. The alerts page is updated regularly and covers all city departments, not just the police.
You can browse releases by date or search by keyword. Older releases remain available in the archive.
Charleston County Court System
Charleston is in Charleston County. All criminal cases that go beyond the municipal court level are handled by the Charleston County court system. The county runs the Court of General Sessions for criminal matters and the Court of Common Pleas for civil cases. Background checks in Charleston should include a search of county-level records for a complete picture.
The South Carolina courts system provides an online public index for case searches. You can look up cases by name or case number across all Charleston County courts. The SC Courts case records search covers criminal, civil, and family court filings. This is a free tool and does not require an account. Results show case numbers, filing dates, charges, and case status for records in Charleston County.
For older records or records not yet in the online system, you may need to visit the Charleston County Clerk of Court in person. The clerk maintains physical files going back decades. Some older Charleston records have been digitized, but not all.
The county system also handles bond hearings, preliminary hearings, and grand jury proceedings for Charleston cases.
Note: Court records in Charleston County are public, but there may be a delay between a case filing and its appearance in the online index.
South Carolina State Records for Charleston
A thorough background check in Charleston may also pull from state-level sources. The South Carolina Department of Corrections maintains records of all people currently or formerly incarcerated in state prisons. You can search the SC Department of Corrections inmate database by name.
The SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services tracks individuals on probation or parole. This can be relevant when running a background check on someone who lives in Charleston but was convicted elsewhere in the state. Probation and parole records show the original offense, supervision terms, and compliance status.
South Carolina's criminal code is found in Title 23, Chapter 3 of the SC Code. This statute governs how criminal records are maintained and shared. It also defines what information SLED must provide through the CATCH system. Understanding this law helps you know what to expect when requesting records for a Charleston background check.
Charleston County Records Page
Charleston is in Charleston County. All criminal and civil court filings for Charleston go through the county system. For more details on county-level records, court contacts, and additional search tools, visit the full Charleston County page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
These cities are near Charleston. Each has its own police department and municipal court with separate records.