Charleston Released Inmate Search
Charleston is the largest city in South Carolina by some measures and sits in Charleston County. Released inmate records for Charleston come from several official sources. The SCDC Released Inmate List covers those released from state prison. The Al Cannon Detention Center, run by the Charleston County Sheriff, holds most Charleston city arrests. The Charleston Police Department Records Division handles local records requests. This page covers all the main tools for finding Charleston released inmate records, from the state database to court records.
Charleston Quick Facts
Charleston Released Inmates in SCDC Database
The South Carolina Department of Corrections maintains the official statewide released inmate list. Charleston released inmates who served time in a state correctional facility appear in this database. To search for them, go to public.doc.state.sc.us/released-inmate-list and choose Charleston County from the dropdown. You can also enter a date range to narrow results. Each result shows the inmate name, SCDC number, release date, and county of commitment. Results appear ten at a time.
This database only covers releases from SCDC state prisons. It does not include people released from the Al Cannon Detention Center at the county level. County jail releases are tracked through the Charleston County Sheriff's Office system. The SCDC current inmate search at public.doc.state.sc.us/scdc-public is a different tool for finding people still serving time in state prison. Both tools are free and require no registration. Data in both systems reflects records as of midnight the previous day.
The SCDC main website at doc.sc.gov provides navigation to all inmate-related tools including the released inmate list, current inmate search, and release date calculation information. The department employs about 5,000 staff across 21 state correctional institutions. SCDC also provides FOIA request processing through FOIA@doc.sc.gov and an Ombudsman at Ombudsman@doc.sc.gov for questions or concerns.
Select Charleston County in the SCDC released inmate search to find state prison releases from the Charleston area.
Charleston Police Department Released Inmate Records
The Charleston Police Department serves the City of Charleston. The Records Division can be reached at (843) 743-7200. Arrest records and police reports are available through the Records Division. The department processes FOIA requests and offers online incident reporting for certain crimes. Crime mapping and statistics are also available on the department website at charleston-sc.gov/police.
Charleston Police Department arrests are housed at the Al Cannon Detention Center, which is operated by the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. The facility is located at 3841 Leeds Avenue, North Charleston, SC. Phone: (843) 202-1700. This is the largest county detention center in South Carolina, with a rated capacity of approximately 2,000 inmates. It operates multiple housing units organized by security level. Medical, mental health, and dental services are provided. Educational and vocational programs are also available at the facility. When a Charleston released inmate is discharged from Al Cannon, release procedures are coordinated between the city and county.
The Charleston County government portal at charlestoncounty.org is the primary online resource for county-level public records access and department contact information. Charleston County is the largest county by population in South Carolina. The county coordinates released inmate records between the sheriff's detention center and multiple municipal agencies including the Charleston Police Department and the North Charleston Police Department.
The SCDC main website at doc.sc.gov links to all inmate search tools used alongside Charleston Police released inmate resources.
SLED Criminal History for Charleston Released Inmates
SLED is South Carolina's central repository for criminal history records. All Charleston arrests are reported to SLED within 72 hours. The SLED CATCH portal at catch.sled.sc.gov offers online name-based criminal history searches. The standard fee is $25 per subject, plus a $1 convenience fee for online searches. You need the exact last name, first initial, and date of birth. Adding a Social Security Number can help narrow results when common names match multiple records.
CATCH results show conviction data, arrests from the past three years, and pending charges. The system does not include juvenile records, expunged cases, or restricted information. Results can be viewed and printed immediately after payment. A mail-in option is also available by using the SLED Criminal Records Check Form. SLED headquarters is located at 4400 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210. The main phone is (803) 737-9000. The Public Dissemination Unit at (803) 896-1443 handles questions about specific results.
The SLED main website at sled.sc.gov provides links to the CATCH portal, the Sex Offender Registry, the wanted persons database, and other law enforcement services. A CATCH search for Charleston released inmates will reflect all South Carolina reportable arrests and convictions tied to their name in the SLED database.
The SLED CATCH portal at catch.sled.sc.gov is the official online tool for Charleston released inmate background checks.
VINELink Victim Notification for Charleston Releases
VINELink provides free, confidential victim notification for South Carolina. The service covers SCDC state facilities and many county jails including the Al Cannon Detention Center. Charleston residents can register at vinelink.com to receive alerts when an offender's status changes. Changes include release, transfer, escape, or death in custody. Alerts are delivered by phone, email, text, or TTY.
The system runs 24 hours a day. The offender cannot see who has registered. VINELink is a useful tool for any Charleston resident who wants to know when a specific person is released from either the Al Cannon Detention Center or a state SCDC facility. You do not need to contact the jail or SCDC directly once you are registered. This is especially helpful for crime victims who prefer not to have any contact with the correctional system.
VINELink at vinelink.com sends free release alerts for Charleston inmates held at the Al Cannon Detention Center and SCDC facilities.
Probation and Parole Records in Charleston
The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services supervises many Charleston released inmates after their discharge. The main SCDPPPS office is at 2221 Devine Street, Ste. 600, Columbia, SC 29250. Phone: 803-734-9220. After-hours emergencies: 800-263-7191. A local Charleston area office handles supervision for the lowcountry region.
The online offender search at dppps.sc.gov lets you search by last name, first name, state ID (SID), or birth year. Results show current supervision status for individuals on probation or parole in the Charleston area. Parole and pardon hearing schedules are also available on the site. Hearings are finalized approximately 30 days before the actual date and are open to both victims and supporters. Automated pardon records are available for hearings held after July 7, 2021. Online fee payment for probation fees and restitution is also available through the portal.
SCDPPPS supervises Charleston released inmates on probation or parole through the Charleston area local office.
Charleston Court Records and Public Index
The SC Judicial Branch Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org covers all Charleston County court records. Select Charleston County to search Circuit Court, Family Court, Magistrate Court, and Municipal Court cases. You can search by name, case number, or filing date. Case information includes charges, hearing dates, dispositions, judge assignments, and attorney information. Basic access is free. Full documents require a request to the Clerk of Court.
Charleston Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases within the city limits, including traffic violations and city ordinance matters. Case records from the municipal court appear in the Public Index. For certified copies of case documents, contact the Charleston County Clerk of Court. For Charleston released inmates, the Public Index shows the full history of court activity tied to their name across all county and municipal courts.
South Carolina public records law is found at scstatehouse.gov. Under the SC Freedom of Information Act, records identifying confined persons for the preceding three months are available for public inspection on demand. This applies to records from the Al Cannon Detention Center and Charleston Municipal Court alike.
Charleston Sex Offender Registry
Some Charleston released inmates must register as sex offenders. The South Carolina Sex Offender Registry is maintained by SLED at scor.sled.sc.gov. You can search by name, city, county, or zip code. Searching by the city of Charleston will show all registered sex offenders currently residing in the city. The registry covers adult offenders age 17 and over. Results include the offender's identity, conviction records, current residence, and photographs.
Annual or quarterly registration is required depending on the severity of the offense. Non-compliance carries criminal penalties. The sex offender registry is a separate database from the SCDC released inmate list. Both are useful for researching Charleston released inmates with specific offense histories. The College Report feature on the sex offender registry also shows offenders registered as students at South Carolina colleges, which is relevant for the Charleston area given the presence of multiple colleges.
Search the SLED Sex Offender Registry by city of Charleston to find registered sex offenders among Charleston released inmates.
Charleston County Released Inmate Records
Charleston is located in Charleston County. The Al Cannon Detention Center in North Charleston is where most Charleston city arrests are processed and held. For full Charleston County detention records, inmate search tools, and county-level resources, visit the Charleston County released inmates page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Find released inmate records for cities near Charleston using the links below.