Charleston County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds

Charleston County Detention Center

Address:
3841 Leeds Ave.
Charleston, SC 29405

Phone:

843-529-7300

Paying an Inmate's Bail or Bond in Charleston County

The Charleston County Sheriff recommends that you use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Charleston County.

  • You can pay a cash bond yourself, or use your home in Charleston County, or in some cases the state of South Carolina, but the benefit of using a bail bond agent is that they take responsibility for making sure the inmate shows up for court in Charleston County, and if they don't, then they take the financial responsibility.
  • The typical fee for a bond will be between 10-20% of the bail amount; usually 15%.  So if an offender has a bail of $10,000.00, their bond will be $1500.00.

Call 843-529-7300 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Charleston County inmate locator.


 

How do I find out if someone was arrested in Charleston County?

There are five ways to find out if someone was arrested in Charleston County:

1.    Look them up on the official jail inmate roster.
2.    Look them up on vinelink.com, a national inmate tracking resource.
3.    Call the jail at 843-529-7300. This is available 24 hours a day.
4.    Write or visit the jail and request information.  
You can reach them at:
Charleston County Detention Center
3841 Leeds Ave.
Charleston, SC 29405

5.    Do a search online using this person’s name, the town or city you think they were arrested in, and the crime you think they were arrested for. Sometimes the local newspaper, police department or sheriff’s office will have a daily police blotter published on their website.

What information is included in jail booking records and roster?

Jail booking records, also known as the jail roster, typically include the following information:

•    Full name of the inmate
•    Inmate's physical characteristics (age, sex, height, weight, etc.)
•    Inmate’s mugshot(s)
•    Booking number, Inmate ID#, Jacket #, etc.
•    Booking date and time
•    Charges or offense details – the applicable statute
•    Bond or bail amount, if applicable
•    Court date, if set, plus the court name and location
•    Previous arrests in this jurisdiction, conviction details, and sentence

  • Note that not all this information will be included. Most booking records and jail inmate rosters contain only the basic information such as name, date of arrest and the criminal charge.
  • The amount and quality of the information depends on the state’s laws and the jail’s policies.

How often are jail booking records and rosters updated?

Most jails update their records at least once per day. Some booking information is updated as often as every 15 minutes in the roster. From the time a person is first arrested until when they are booked in the jail, it can be as short as a couple of hours, up to 24 hours, or even longer if they were arrested during a major event such as a protest or riot in which hundreds of people were arrested at the same time.

How do I find an inmate in the Charleston County Detention Center?

There are seven ways to find an inmate in Charleston County or the Charleston County Detention Center:

1.    Look them up on the official jail inmate roster.
2.    Look them up on vinelink.com, a national inmate tracking resource.
3.    Call the jail at 843-529-7300. This is available 24 hours a day.
4.    Call local police departments in Charleston County. Sometimes the local jails will hold recent arrestees for up to 72 hours before transporting them the Charleston County Detention Center.
5.    Check with the jails in neighboring counties and look up their rosters. It is always possible they were arrested there instead of Charleston County.
6.    Write or visit the jail and request information.  
Charleston County Detention Center
3841 Leeds Ave.
Charleston, SC 29405

7.    Do a search online using this person’s name, the town or city you think they were arrested in, and the crime you think they were arrested for. Sometimes the local newspaper, police department or sheriff’s office will have a daily police blotter published on their website as well.


How do I find an inmate in a South Carolina state prison?

You can find an inmate in the South Carolina Department of Corrections by searching for them on the State Prison Locator, Vinelink.com (a nationwide inmate locator resource), or by calling the Department of Corrections.

How do I find an inmate in federal prison?

  • The United States Bureau of Prisons maintains an up-to-date inmate locator where you can look up any inmate that has been in federal prison from 1982 to the present day. 
  • If they are currently in custody, you can see what institution they are in.
  • If they are in transport, meaning they are being shuttled from one prison to another, that information will not be available. If they are no longer in custody, it will list their discharge date.
  • Other information provided is their BOP Registry Number (inmate ID#), their race, age and release date.
  • If they are in custody, there are links to how to visit them, send them money, communicating with them and sending the prison a concern you may have about them.

How do I find a detainee in an ICE facility?

  • The US Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement maintains an up-to-date online detainee locator of all foreign detainees aged 18 and older that are in the custody of ICE. 
  • When searching by name, a detainee's first and last names are required and must be an exact match. When inputting a hyphenated last name into the Online Detainee Locator System, include the hyphen for the locator to find the individual (e.g., Doe-Smith).
  • You can also search by using an A-number (Alien Registration Number) if you have it at the same link. The A-Number must be exactly nine digits long. If the A-Number has fewer than nine digits, add zeros at the beginning.
  • You are also required to select the detainee's correct Country of Birth from the drop-down menu provided on the page.

NOTE: If an alien is arrested for a state crime, you will still be able to locate them in the police jail or the county jail where they were arrested. If it was a misdemeanor crime, they would do their time in the Charleston County Detention Center or the county jail where they were arrested and convicted.
If they were convicted of a South Carolina state felony and sent to state prison, and not deported, then you can locate them in the South Carolina state prison system.

How do I find an inmate in juvenile detention?

In the United States, a juvenile is a person under the age of 18. If a juvenile is arrested for a crime, it is unlikely that their name will be publicly listed on an inmate search page or detention center roster, or will be released to the public. Only the juvenile’s parents or legal guardians will be given that information.

If the crime is a serious felony such as Capital Murder, some states will release their name to the public, either when they are first arrested or after they are convicted. However, in general, it is unlikely that an inmate who is a juvenile will have their name released in any public way.

How can I see if someone is in jail or prison in Charleston County or the state of South Carolina?

For online searches, if you want to see if someone is in jail in Charleston County, go here

If you want a list of all the other county jail inmate searches in South Carolina, go here.

If you want a list of all the county jails in the United States, go here.  

If you want to look up an inmate in any of the South Carolina state prisons, go here. To look up the prisons in South Carolina, go here.

How do I get information on someone in jail in Charleston County?

If you want detailed information on a particular inmate in in jail in Charleston County, and you can’t find it online in the jail inmate roster, your only other option is to either call the jail at 843-529-7300, go to the jail in person and ask, or write them at:  
Charleston County Detention Center
3841 Leeds Ave.
Charleston, SC 29405


That said, most jails will limit the amount of information that they give to the public about an inmate in their roster because the offender is considered innocent until proven guilty, and thus is afforded a certain amount of privacy.

Once an offender is convicted, you are far more likely to find out information about them.

If you are good at using Google, you can dig into a person’s past and learn as much information about anyone as someone in the media can. 

You can also search a website that has all the public records about people. One of the best online websites we found will cost you only $1.00.

Who can I call to find an inmate in Charleston County?

To find an inmate in custody or ask about their roster in Charleston County call 843-529-7300 24 hours a day.

Does the jail or prison have to keep the inmate in the county or state where they are charged or convicted?

No.  Even though 99.9% of all pre-trial and convicted inmates are kept in the state where they were arrested and/or convicted, they can be kept in any US jail or prison that will have them. This is seen in circumstances where a jurisdiction is overcrowded, or an inmate is moved for their safety. That said, a person must stand trial where they were arrested unless the presiding judge or prosecuting attorney agrees to move the offender’s trial to a different jurisdiction if it is likely they will not get a fair trial.

What if I can’t find an inmate and I know they are in custody in Charleston County?

If you know an inmate is in custody in Charleston County, and you can’t find them, it can mean one of several things:

1.    Either you or the jail has the spelling of the inmate’s name wrong.
2.    The jail has not yet updated their booking information or roster.
3.    The inmate has already been released.
4.    The inmate has either been arrested or is being housed in another jail.
5.    The inmate is underage; therefore, it is illegal to post their information, or the inmate you are trying to find had their age incorrectly listed as someone under age 18.

I know the person was arrested and in jail, but my search in the roster comes back as “no record found.” What happened?

Same answer as that above. If you know an inmate is in custody in Charleston County, but your search comes back in the roster as “no record found.”, it can mean one of several things:

1.    Either you or the jail has the spelling of the inmate’s name wrong.
2.    The jail has not yet updated their booking information or roster.
3.    The inmate has already been released.
4.    The inmate has either been arrested or is being housed in another jail.
5.    The inmate is underage; therefore it is illegal to post their information, or the inmate you are trying to find had their age incorrectly listed as someone under age 18.


I was released from jail in Charleston County, but my record still shows. When will it go away?

If your record of arrest and booking is still showing online, even though you were released, it is because some jails allow that information to remain public indefinitely. Unfortunately, even though the charges against you may have been dropped, many jails will not erase that information from their public records voluntarily.

In a situation like this your only option will be to get an attorney and request they petition the court to force the jail to remove this information. That said, if you were in fact found guilty of the crime you were arrested for, it is unlikely they will remove the information surrounding your arrest and conviction.

An inmate’s family member just died; how can I let them know right away?

The death of a family member is one of the few times, if not the only time, that a jail will take a message for an inmate. Because of the sensitivity of the tragic news, when a family member has died, the news will be transmitted by a member of the clergy, a counselor or someone who is very high ranking within the jail. 

Jail management understands that a sudden death of a loved one could cause a violent emotional response that jeopardizes the safety of staff or other inmates.

An inmate’s family member just died; will they be allowed to attend the funeral?

The death of a family member is one of the few times, if not the only time, that a jail will allow an inmate, whether it pre-trial or post-conviction, to be allowed outside of the jail. Even if they are allowed outside the jail, they will have to have at least two armed escorts. An inmate attending a funeral is an extraordinary cost, use of staff and potential danger to the public. That is why it is rarely allowed.

This is not always the case though, and whether an inmate can attend a funeral depends on the inmate’s security classification, whether the jail has the staff to handle it, official jail policy, whether or not the inmate has an attorney that can push the right people, including the judge overseeing the inmate’s case, etc.

What determines whether an inmate is placed in low or high security facilities?

An inmate’s security classification depends on the following:

1.    The inmate’s current crime.
2.    The inmate previous crimes.
3.    The inmate’s history for violence within the walls of the facility.
4.    The inmate’s gang affiliation.
5.    The jail's current distribution of inmates.

What information is available about an inmate?

The information that a jail or court releases publicly about an inmate depends on the laws in the state, the policy of the jail, and the sheriff’s or warden’s individual decision.

Jail booking records and rosters can include more or less, the following information:

•    Full name of the inmate
•    Inmate's physical characteristics (age, sex, height, weight, etc.)
•    Inmate’s mugshot(s)
•    Booking number, Inmate ID#, Jacket #, etc.
•    Booking date and time
•    Charges or offense details – the applicable statute
•    Bond or bail amount, if applicable
•    Court date, if set, plus the court name and location
•    Previous arrests in this jurisdiction, conviction details, and sentence

What is vinelink.com?

Vinelink, which you will see referenced when discussing public information about offenders and inmates, is a national public roster that both allows the public to look up and see the person’s status, plus be able to track their movements, whether it involves being transferred from one facility to another or being released from custody.

The tracking feature is especially helpful for those who are victims of, or witnesses to, a crime and fear that the release of an offender may be dangerous to them or someone close to them.

Anyone can register with Vine to receive automated notifications via email, text or phone. It is available in 48 states and 2,900 jails and prisons.

Here is a short video explaining why it started and how it works.

How do I find old Charleston County jail and inmate records from years ago?

To find jail records that go back many years really depends on how far you want to go back, however you would need to send a written request to the county sheriff as follows:
Charleston County Sheriff
Att: Jail Records
3841 Leeds Ave.
Charleston, SC 29405

Let them know the inmate’s name, any aliases, date of birth, the date range that the inmate may have been incarcerated, the crime they were charged with/convicted of, and any other helpful information you can think of.

How can I have my jail record sealed?

To have your jail records sealed, you will have to have the crime you were convicted of expunged. You should know up front that not all crimes are eligible for expungement.
1.    Hire a lawyer that specializes in expungement.
2.    If your crime is eligible, they will contact the District Attorney's office in the judicial district where you were charged or convicted. 
3.    They will file a petition with the court where you were charged or convicted.
4.    The entire process may take 1-2 years.

Where can I get Prison records from the state of South Carolina?

To get prison records from the state of South Carolina, you will need to send a written request to the state prison system in South Carolina.

Let them know the inmate’s name, any aliases, date of birth, the date range that the inmate may have been incarcerated, the crime they were charged with/convicted of, the name of the facility you believe they were incarcerated in, plus any other helpful information you can think of.
 

Who do I call to find out the Bond for an Inmate?

Please call the jail at 843-529-7300 for the type of bond and any information that is required for a particular individual at Charleston County Detention Center.
A bond is set according to a court-approved schedule.
The purpose of the bond is to assure the offender's appearance in court.

In South Carolina, Victim Services must schedule all bond hearings, guilty pleas, and other proceedings for defendants at the County Detention Center when there is a victim of a crime involved in the case.  

South Carolina law requires that all victims must be notified of all scheduled hearings for a defendant and be given the opportunity to attend those hearings.

Instructions on how to post Bail or Bond in Charleston County

Because Charleston County and South Carolina can change their bail bond procedures, it is always best to call either the Charleston County Detention Center at 843-529-7300, or the court in the jurisdiction (i.e. Municipal Court, District Court, etc.) where the offender was charged, right after an arrestee has been booked. 

Ask the staff at the Charleston County Detention Center or the Charleston County Court Clerk these specific questions:

  1. Is the defendant eligible for bail or a bond?
  2. How much will the bail or bond be, and what are the additional fees?
  3. Where do I go to pay it?
  4. Are there any days or times of the day or night when I cannot post bail?
  5. What types of payment are allowed? Cash? Money order? Credit card? What types of credit cards? Property or other collateral? Surety bonds?
  6. Do I have to use a bail or bond agent?

If you feel the bail is too high and you wish to get it reduced, contact a lawyer or the defendant's public defender and get them to look into what they can do to get a bail reduction. The sooner you get working on this the quicker you will get your loved one released. 

This entire process will go smoother and faster with a criminal attorney or bail agent handling it for you.

Option 1 - How to Post Bail using Cash for a Defendant at Charleston County Detention Center

The first option, a cash bond, is to pay the full bail amount in cash, cashier's check, or money order. Personal Checks are not accepted.

Depending on the crime, this amount could be anywhere from $100 to $75,000 or more.

To pay a cash bond, go to Charleston County Detention Center or to the court where the bail hearing occurred. Going directly to the jail will quicken the release of the defendant as any bail paperwork processed at the court will have to be transferred to the jail.

Cashier's Checks and Money Orders may be made out to Charleston County Detention Center where the defendant is being held, but usually to the Charleston County Sheriff's Office or to the Charleston County Court.

To purchase money orders visit any Western Union, Moneygram or Post Office.

Option 2 - How to Post a Private or Surety Bond for a Defendant at Charleston County Detention Center

In the event that someone does not have the full bond amount available to him or her, there is what is called a private bond or surety bond.

This is an agreement made with a bail agent or bondsman who will post the full bail amount. In return, the defendant and/or cosigner will pay a premium to the bail agent. This premium will be 10-15% of the full bail amount.



For example, if bail is posted at $5,000, then the premium will cost approximately $500-$750.

A bail agent will often require some form of collateral, for example, a lien on a house, a car or jewelry. This is to ensure that if the defendant skips bail, or does not appear in court, the bail agent has some sort of compensation for the full bail amount being paid.

Remember, by making an agreement with a bail agent the signatory takes responsibility for paying the full bail amount if the defendant does not appear in court.

Option 3 - How to Post a Property Bond for a Defendant at Charleston County Detention Center

If you are a landowner in Charleston County you may be able to post a property bond. Property within Charleston County may be used as collateral to bail someone out. All owners of the property must be present to sign the bond in order for this to happen.

To find if property located outside of Charleston County can be used as collateral, call a local bail or bond agent or contact a defense lawyer.

Click here for additional information on how to post bail at Charleston County Detention Center.

Who can post Bail or Bond for a Defendant at Charleston County Detention Center?

Anyone over the age of 18 who can produce a valid government-issued photo ID can post bail. Accepted forms of ID include a Photo Driver's License, Passport, or Motor Vehicle issued ID.

In many circumstances, if the defendant has the resources, they can post their own cash bail from jail.

Surety Bonds are arranged by a third party, typically a South Carolina state licensed Bail Bond firm.

Juveniles may only be bailed or bonded out of custody by a parent or legal guardian.

Charleston County Justice System Flowchart

When will the Cash Bail or Collateral be returned to me?

Money or collateral will not be returned until the defendant's court case is finished, so realistically it could take several months to years, depending on the severity of the charges. If a defendant posts his or her own bail, Charleston County Court may retain whatever amount of fines or fees have accumulated throughout the trial.

What happens to my Bail or Collateral if the Defendant misses Court?

The Charleston County Judge may order a failure to appear warrant for the person's arrest or the Judge may order a Bail Commissioner's Letter be issued that will be sent to the person with a new court date.

If cash bail was paid, the entire amount may be forfeited.

Charleston County Detention Center Inmate Mail Policies and Address - What Can You Send, and Where?

For inmates receiving mail in the Charleston County Detention Center there are different addresses and policies depending on the inmate's status, as well as what type of mail they are receiving; personal mail, legal mail, subscriptions or books sent from a third-party such as Amazon.

All mail is to be shipped to the Charleston County Detention Center:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate #
Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center
3841 Leeds Avenue
North Charleston SC, 29405


For complete information on mail policies, what you can send an inmate and what address to send them, check out our Inmate Mail page.


 

Charleston County Bail Bond Information

Because Charleston County and South Carolina can change their bail bond procedures, it is always best to call either the Charleston County Detention Center at 843-529-7300, or the court in the jurisdiction (i.e. Municipal Court, District Court, etc.) where the offender was charged, and do this right after an arrestee has been booked. 

Ask the staff at the Charleston County Detention Center or the Charleston County Court Clerk these specific questions:

  1. Is the defendant eligible for bail or a bond?
  2. How much will the bail or bond be, and what are the additional fees?
  3. Where do I go to pay it?
  4. Are there any days or times of the day or night when I cannot post bail?
  5. What types of payment are allowed? Cash? Money order? Credit card? What types of credit cards? Property or other collateral? Surety bonds?
  6. Do I have to use a bail or bond agent?

If you feel the bail is too high and you wish to get it reduced, contact a lawyer or the defendant's public defender and get them to look into what they can do to get a bail reduction. The sooner you get working on this the quicker you will get your loved one released. 

This entire process will go smoother and faster with a criminal attorney or bail agent handling it for you.


 

How to Rent a Tablet for an Inmate in Charleston County Detention Center

To rent a tablet for an inmate in Charleston County follow these instructions:

  • Register here.  It is recommended you use Chrome or Firefox.
  • Pay for the subscription using Paypal.
  • You get charged the 1st of each month. 
  • You get charged a full month even if it's only used for a partial month.
  • No activation or early termination fees.
  • Your Charleston County inmate will recieve their tablet in 3-5 business days, after you pay.


If you have any questions:

For all Charleston County information on Tablet Rentals for your inmate, check out our Tablet Rental Page.


 

How to Send a Text or Email Message to an Inmate in Charleston County Detention Center

To send a text or email message to a Charleston County inmate, do the following:

Charleston County Detention Center uses Securus eMessaging for Inmate Email.

Register here. (You are already registered if you signed up with Securus for 'Phone' or 'Remote Visitation' in Charleston County or any jail or prison in the country).
Steps: 
1.  Sign up for eMessaging
2. Find your Charleston County inmate.
3. Purchase a book of Securus ‘stamps’.
4. Type & Send message.

For all Charleston County information for sending secure messages to an inmate in Charleston County Detention Center, including instructions, video examples, fees, limits, tablet rentals and more, check out out Text/Email an Inmate Page.


 

How an Inmate Makes a Phone Call to You or Others from Charleston County Detention Center

To set up a phone account so that your inmate can call you from Charleston County do the following:

1. Enroll in an account with Securus Technologies.

2. Choose one of three account types, Securus Debit, Advance Connect or Direct Bill.
3. Choose [facility_name_1}, then connect with your inmate.
4. If you have any questions, call Securus: 972-734-1111 or 800-844-6591.

To find out fees, how to's, calling times, limits on phone calls and other systems Securus has do that you can communicate with your Charleston County inmate, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: All of your inmate's phone calls are recorded and stored. It is advised not to discuss their pending case.


 

How to Schedule and Visit an Inmate in Charleston County Detention Center

To schedule and set up a visit, either at-the-jail or remotely from your home, follow these instructions:

  • Register and/or log in.
  • Select Charleston County Detention Center, then your inmate.
  • Review the days, available hours and the cost of remote and on-site visits in Charleston County.
  • Schedule your visit.

To get more complete instructions, and understand visit lengths, times, locations, fees and all the other rules including children, dress codes and more, check out or Visit Inmate Page.
NOTE: All visits are recorded and whatever you say and do will be monitored. It is best to never discuss sensitive information regarding your inmate's pending case.


 

How to Deposit Money into an Inmate's Account in Charleston County Detention Center

To deposit money into the account of an inmate in Charleston County, follow these instructions:

  • Create an account with Touchpay Services, a GTL company.
  • Select South Carolina.
  • Select Charleston County Detention Center
  • Enter the Inmate ID of your inmate.  This can be found by calling 843-529-7300 or by looking up the inmate's name in the Inmate Search link.
  • Enter your billing information and send money.
  • You can also deposit cash using the kiosk at the Charleston County Detention Center.  To do this you need the Inmate's ID Number and the Facility Locator Number for Charleston County.

For all the information you need regarding making an inmate deposit, what it costs, how much you can send, how long it takes for your inmate to receive funds and more, and to get the Facility Locator Number, check out our Send Money Page.


 

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Charleston County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Charleston County Detention Center follow these steps:

  • Register here to create an account with icaregifts for Charleston County.
  • Choose South Carolina, then Charleston County Detention Center, and then the products you want shipped to them, and input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Charleston County at any one time.
  • There are a total of fourteen (14) pre-determined icaregift packs available to choose from. 
  • The gift packs for inmates in Charleston County range in price from $10.49 for ten pre-stamped envelopes, 2 pens and a pad of writing paper, to $104.99 for a box of 85 snack and food items.

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Charleston County Detention Center, as well as sending money to the inmate so that they can purchase their own items, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Charleston County.


 

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