Dorchester County SC Arrest Records Search | Jail & Court
Dorchester County, South Carolina · Current inmates, past bookings, court cases and Sheriff records
Find a Dorchester County Arrest and Verify What Happened Next
Dorchester County’s official inmate system can search current confinements, admissions, releases, names, charges and arresting agencies. The court record must then be checked separately to determine how the criminal charge was actually resolved.
This guide also covers report requests, Bond Court, preliminary hearings, Public Defender help, jail visitation questions, inmate mail and money safeguards, victim services, SLED criminal histories, record corrections and expungement.
DORCHESTER RECORD ROUTER
LIVE CHECK
INMATE CONFINEMENTS
DCSO
CURRENT
ADMITS
RELEASES
1ST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
DISPOSITION
BOOKING + COURT MATCHED
Arrest does not mean conviction. A jail charge describes an allegation connected to booking. Prosecutors may change or decline charges, and a court case can end in dismissal, acquittal or another non-conviction result.
Current inmates
Use Current Confinements.
Past booking
Use Admits or Releases by Date Range.
Date limit
Booking date-range searches are limited to 31 days.
Criminal court
Dorchester is in South Carolina’s 1st Judicial Circuit.
SLED CATCH
Base statewide criminal-history fee: $25.
Choose the record that answers your question
INMATE CONFINEMENTS
Is the person in jail?
Check current confinement, admission and release information.
Best first step after a recent Dorchester County booking.
ARRESTING AGENCY
What did police report?
Request the arrest or incident report from the agency that created it.
A jail booking is not the complete police narrative.
COURT PUBLIC INDEX
What happened to the charge?
Check the docket, charge, court events and final disposition.
Use the court record to separate arrest allegations from outcomes.
BOND COURT
Can the person be released?
Bond Court handles release decisions for qualifying criminal charges.
Verify every charge and hold before arranging a surety bond.
SLED CATCH
What appears statewide?
Run a South Carolina name-based criminal-history search.
CATCH does not include wanted-person information.How to search Dorchester County jail records
Open the Sheriff’s Inmate Lookup
Dorchester County’s official page redirects to the Sheriff’s Citizen Connect booking system.
Open official Inmate Lookup
Select Current Confinements for someone held now
Use this view before assuming the person remains in the detention center.
Use Name when you know the person
The name search contains separate first, middle and last-name fields.
Start with first and last name
Add the middle name only when necessary to separate similar people.
Open every plausible result
A matching name alone is not enough to confirm identity.
Save booking identifiers
Record any displayed confinement number, arrest date, admission date, release date and case information.
Record the arresting agency
This tells you where to request the police report.
Write down every listed charge
Separate multiple charges rather than treating the booking as one offense.
Search the court next
Use the Dorchester Public Index to see what happened after the arrest.
Use all six Dorchester County booking filters
| Search | Best use | Inputs | Important rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Confinements | Determine who is presently listed. | Open current booking list. | Recheck before visiting or sending money. |
| Admits by Date Range | Find people admitted during a known period. | Start and end date. | Maximum search window is 31 days. |
| Releases by Date Range | Find people released during a known period. | Start and end date. | Release does not mean dismissal. |
| Name | Find one person or prior confinements. | First, middle and last name. | Confirm identity using more than name. |
| Charges | Find confinements involving a specific allegation. | Charge wording such as DUI. | Booking wording may differ from court wording. |
| Arresting Agency | Separate Sheriff’s arrests from other agencies. | Select agency. | Request the incident report from that agency. |
Fast search trick: If the exact date is unknown, use Last 24 Hours or Last 7 Days before building a custom date range.
Understand a Dorchester County booking result correctly
| Field | Meaning | Does not prove | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confinement | A county detention episode. | That every allegation became a formal charge. | Match the court case. |
| Admission date | When the person entered the confinement system. | The date of the alleged crime. | Compare with arrest and incident dates. |
| Release date | When the listed confinement ended. | Dismissal or innocence. | Check the court disposition. |
| Charge | An allegation connected to the confinement. | Guilt or conviction. | Check the formal court charge. |
| Arresting agency | The law-enforcement agency connected to the arrest. | The jail created the incident report. | Send report requests to this agency. |
| Bond information | A release condition connected to the case. | That another hold will not prevent release. | Confirm with Bond Court and jail. |
| Mugshot/photo | A booking image when made public. | Criminal responsibility. | Match official identifiers. |
Make sure the record belongs to the correct person
First and last name match
Middle name or alias is consistent
Age or birth date is consistent when available
Admission or arrest date fits the known event
Arresting agency fits the location
Booking identifier matches another record
Court case follows the same incident
Charge chronology makes sense
Minimum identity rule: Confirm at least two independent identifiers before sending money, publishing an allegation or treating a same-name result as belonging to a specific person.
No Dorchester County booking found? Check this in order
The arrest is very recent
Booking, fingerprinting, medical intake and system entry may still be underway.
The person was already released
Switch from Current Confinements to Releases by Date Range.
The date is uncertain
Search Last 24 Hours, Last 7 Days or a custom range of 31 days or less.
The name differs
Remove the middle name and test maiden names, suffixes and alternate spellings.
Another agency or county handled custody
Search the jurisdiction where the person was actually booked.
The person received a citation rather than jail confinement
Search the appropriate Magistrate or Municipal Court instead.
The case reached state prison
Search South Carolina Department of Corrections custody.
The record is restricted
Juvenile, expunged and legally confidential information may not be public.
Missing-booking call script
I am trying to confirm the confinement status of [full legal name]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency]. Can you confirm whether the person is being processed, currently confined, released, transferred or listed under another spelling or identifier?
Follow the arrest from jail intake to final disposition
Law-enforcement event
A Sheriff deputy, municipal officer, highway patrol officer or another agency creates the underlying arrest or incident record.
Booking and fingerprinting
The detention facility creates the confinement record and records the charges supplied during intake.
Bond proceeding
A judicial officer reviews release for bailable charges and sets the applicable conditions.
Preliminary-hearing notice
A defendant charged with an offense not triable by a magistrate is informed of the right to request a preliminary hearing.
Solicitor review
The First Circuit Solicitor evaluates General Sessions prosecutions and may proceed, amend or otherwise resolve charges.
Criminal court proceedings
The case can include indictment, hearings, motions, plea proceedings, trial and sentencing.
Final disposition
Each charge may end in dismissal, nolle prosequi, acquittal, plea, conviction or another disposition.
Correction or expungement
Inaccurate criminal-history information may be challenged, while qualifying records can proceed through South Carolina expungement.
Request each record from the office that actually maintains it
| You need | Correct source | Provide | Avoid this mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current confinement | Dorchester County Sheriff | Full name and booking details. | Using the court docket as live custody proof. |
| Sheriff arrest/incident report | DCSO records portal | Name, date, location and report number. | Submitting it as a Clerk of Court request. |
| Summerville Police report | Summerville Police | Municipal agency report number. | Assuming DCSO owns the report because the jail held the person. |
| Highway Patrol report | South Carolina DPS/SCHP | Incident and citation information. | Requesting it from Dorchester Sheriff. |
| General Sessions court outcome | Dorchester Clerk of Court | Case number and defendant information. | Treating the jail charge as the disposition. |
| Statewide criminal history | SLED CATCH | Accurate name and DOB search information. | Assuming it includes wanted-person information. |
Request an arrest report without over-requesting
Important: Dorchester County requires all public-record requests directed to the Sheriff’s Office or Detention Center to go through its online records portal.
Confirm the Sheriff’s Office owns the record
Check the arresting-agency field in Citizen Connect.
Open the DCSO Records Requests page
Review the current county instructions.
Open Sheriff records instructions
Name the exact documents
Ask for the arrest report, incident report, probable-cause material or specified supplement instead of saying “everything.”
Add identifiers
Include the legal name, incident date, arrest date, location, report number and court case number when known.
Ask for electronic delivery
This may reduce copying and mailing work.
Set a cost ceiling
Ask the agency to notify you before charges exceed a specific amount.
Submit through the official county-designated portal
Save the request confirmation or tracking number.
Submit the DCSO public-record request
Copy-ready Sheriff’s records request
I request an electronic copy of the releasable arrest report, incident report, probable-cause material and specifically identified supplements concerning [full legal name] for the incident on or about [date] at [location]. Known identifiers include report number [number], confinement information [number if known] and court case number [number]. Please notify me before processing if the estimated cost will exceed $[amount].
Know what Dorchester County publishes before submitting
Record two years old or less
Allow at least 10 business days, excluding weekends and observed holidays, for the county’s response concerning availability.
Record more than two years old
Allow at least 20 business days, excluding weekends and observed holidays.
County-published paper-copy rates
| Paper size | Black & white | Color |
|---|---|---|
| 8.5 × 11 | $0.20 | $0.60 |
| 8.5 × 14 | $0.22 | $0.83 |
| 11 × 17 | $0.28 | $0.89 |
The Sheriff’s request page states that requesters are responsible for applicable fulfillment costs. Specialized records, staff search/review work or another format may therefore cost more than ordinary paper copying.
Search the Dorchester County court case after the arrest
Open the South Carolina Judicial Branch Case Records Search
Select Dorchester County.
Open official Case Records Search
Use the case number when known
This is safer than relying on a common name.
Otherwise search the defendant
Compare the name, court, charge and timeline against the booking.
Identify the correct court level
The matter may be in Magistrate, Municipal or General Sessions Court.
Find the filed charge
Do not assume the jail description remained unchanged.
Read the docket chronologically
Look for warrants, preliminary-hearing activity, indictments, pleas, orders and disposition.
Check each count separately
One charge can be dismissed while another produces a conviction.
Contact the Criminal Clerk when official proof is needed
Call 843-563-0231.
2026 privacy change: Beginning January 1, 2026, home-address information is no longer displayed on the South Carolina public case index for new or existing cases.
The Judicial Branch warns that Public Index information can be delayed or inaccurate and should not be treated as an official record of court action. Contact the Clerk when a certified or corrected record is required.
Magistrate, Municipal or General Sessions?
Magistrate Court
Handles many lower-level criminal offenses, bond proceedings, preliminary hearings and arrest/search warrants.
Municipal Court
A city arrest or ordinance case may remain in the municipality rather than Dorchester General Sessions.
General Sessions
The criminal side of Circuit Court handles more serious state criminal prosecutions.
Dorchester County Circuit Court
5200 E. Jim Bilton Boulevard
St. George, SC 29477
Clerk of Court: 843-563-0160
Criminal Clerk: 843-563-0231
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding holidays
5200 E. Jim Bilton Boulevard
St. George, SC 29477
Clerk of Court: 843-563-0160
Criminal Clerk: 843-563-0231
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding holidays
Check a possible Dorchester County warrant safely
Search the person’s court case
Find any warrant-related docket entry.
Check the date of every entry
An older warrant can later be served, recalled or otherwise resolved.
Check Citizen Connect Most Wanted separately
This can help with Sheriff’s publicly posted wanted-person information, but it is not a complete warrant database.
Open Sheriff’s Citizen Connect
Do not use SLED CATCH as a warrant search
SLED specifically states that wanted-person information is not included in a CATCH report.
Confirm with the court or law-enforcement agency
Use the newest official information before taking action.
Never confront or attempt to detain someone. A similar name, recalled warrant or stale webpage can create a dangerous mistake.
Understand Dorchester County Bond Court before paying
Dorchester County Bond Court
Troy Knight Judicial Complex
212 Deming Way, Box 10
Summerville, SC 29483
Phone: 843-832-0370
Fax: 843-832-0371
Troy Knight Judicial Complex
212 Deming Way, Box 10
Summerville, SC 29483
Phone: 843-832-0370
Fax: 843-832-0371
South Carolina requires a person booked and charged with a bailable offense to receive a bond hearing within 24 hours of arrest. Magistrates are responsible for setting bail and conducting bond proceedings.
Confirm the exact person
Match the legal name and confinement information.
List every charge
One booking may have multiple bond conditions.
Check for outside holds
A second warrant or jurisdiction can prevent release.
Find the current bond order
Do not rely solely on a screenshot or an older booking result.
Determine whether release is recognizance or surety
South Carolina court procedures use both personal-recognizance and surety bond forms.
Verify any bondsman independently
Do not send money based solely on an unsolicited phone call or text.
Keep the court and payment documents
Save the bond order, receipt, court date and conditions.
South Carolina’s general rule favors release on recognizance for qualifying noncapital offenses unless the court determines that recognizance will not reasonably assure appearance or would create unreasonable danger to the community.
Do not miss the preliminary-hearing request period
For a defendant charged with a crime not triable by a magistrate, South Carolina Criminal Procedure Rule 2 provides a right to request a preliminary hearing. The request must be made within 10 days after notice of that right.
Read the paperwork from Bond Court
Do not discard the preliminary-hearing notice.
Identify the date notice was provided
The request deadline runs from notice.
Request the hearing within 10 days
Follow the form instructions provided by the advising magistrate.
Understand its purpose
The preliminary hearing determines whether sufficient evidence exists to warrant detention and trial; it is not the final trial.
Know when the hearing can disappear
The preliminary hearing is not held if the defendant is indicted by a grand jury or waives indictment before the hearing.
Speak with defense counsel promptly
Ask how the preliminary hearing affects the specific case.
Get a Dorchester County Public Defender
Dorchester County Public Defender
1452 Boone Hill Road, Suite B
Summerville, SC 29483
Phone: 843-821-9800
Fax: 843-871-0523
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding holidays
1452 Boone Hill Road, Suite B
Summerville, SC 29483
Phone: 843-821-9800
Fax: 843-871-0523
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding holidays
Ask for appointed counsel when liberty is at risk
State and federal law provide counsel for qualifying indigent defendants facing incarceration.
Complete financial eligibility screening
The office serves qualifying people who cannot afford private counsel.
Identify the case type
The Dorchester office handles General Sessions, Transfer Court and Probation Violation Court matters.
Ask about Magistrate representation
Local magistrates may appoint a public defender when the charge threatens a jail sentence.
Bring the case information
Have the court case number, charges, court date and confinement information.
Keep case facts off non-privileged jail communications
Discuss defense strategy through confidential attorney channels.
Get case information and victim assistance
Law-enforcement stage
Ask the investigating agency for its victim advocate when immediate safety, report or notification assistance is needed.
Prosecution stage
After the case reaches the First Circuit Solicitor, use Victim and Witness Services for prosecution-stage assistance and rights information.
Record the report number
Keep the investigating agency’s case number.
Record the court case number
Use it once prosecution begins.
Ask about custody or release notifications
Do not rely only on repeatedly refreshing the public jail page.
Ask about court-date notification
Confirm upcoming hearings and any changes.
Contact the First Circuit Solicitor
Dorchester County’s office can route victim and witness questions.
Open First Circuit victim and witness resources
First Judicial Circuit Solicitor – Dorchester County
101 Ridge Street, 2nd Floor
St. George, SC 29477
Phone: 843-871-2640
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
101 Ridge Street, 2nd Floor
St. George, SC 29477
Phone: 843-871-2640
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Confirm current visitation rules before traveling
Dorchester County’s current public Detention Center page does not publish a detailed 2026 visitor schedule, visitor-ID list, current video provider or visit charge. Do not rely on an old third-party jail schedule.
Confirm the person is still confined
Recheck Current Confinements immediately before scheduling or traveling.
Call the Detention Center
Use 843-832-0215.
Ask whether the visit is onsite, remote video or both
Request the current method rather than assuming a historical system remains active.
Ask for the housing-unit schedule
Visiting availability can depend on classification or housing.
Confirm visitor approval requirements
Ask whether advance registration or background screening is required.
Ask exactly which identification is accepted
Do this before driving to the jail.
Ask about minor visitors
Confirm age, guardian and documentation requirements.
Ask about clothing and prohibited items
Leave unnecessary electronics, bags and personal property outside.
Reconfirm the visit on the day
Emergency operations, security events and facility needs can suspend visitation.
One-call visitation script
I am calling about [full name], who is currently listed in Dorchester County custody. Please tell me the current personal-visitation method, available days and times, registration requirements, accepted ID, rules for minors, dress code, prohibited items, visit length, current video provider and any charge.
Do not use an unverified inmate mailing address
The county’s current public Detention Center page does not publish a detailed inmate-mail address or complete 2026 mail-content rules. Verify them directly before mailing important documents, photographs, books or money.
Confirm current confinement
Do not mail anything after a release or transfer.
Call 843-832-0215
Ask for the exact personal-mail address and inmate identifier required on the envelope.
Separate ordinary mail from legal mail
Ask for the privileged legal-mail instructions when sending attorney correspondence.
Ask whether mail is scanned
Some detention facilities route personal correspondence through outside processors.
Ask before sending photographs
Confirm dimensions, quantity and content restrictions.
Ask before sending books
Verify whether publications must come directly from an approved publisher or retailer.
Never put cash into ordinary inmate mail
Obtain the jail’s approved money-deposit method separately.
Verify the current jail provider before creating an account
The safest rule is simple: obtain the current telephone, video and commissary vendor directly from Dorchester County Detention Center before paying a third-party website.
Telephone
- Confirm the current provider.
- Ask whether calls are prepaid, collect or both.
- Ask how to unblock a telephone number.
- Treat ordinary calls as non-privileged.
Commissary
- Confirm the inmate identity first.
- Ask for the official deposit provider.
- Check the transaction fee before paying.
- Keep the confirmation number.
Property
- Ask whether property pickup is allowed.
- Confirm authorization requirements.
- Bring required photo ID.
- Ask whether appointments are required.
Family services call script
Please confirm the current approved provider for inmate telephone calls, remote video, commissary deposits and messaging. I also need the current fee schedule, account setup instructions and the identifier I should use for [full legal name].
When the Dorchester County search is no longer enough
Use Dorchester County for
- Current county detention
- Recent admission
- Recent release
- Local booking charges
- Local arresting agency
Use South Carolina DOC for
- State-prison custody
- SCDC inmate number
- Current state institution
- State-prison release information
- State-prison visitation instructions
Use SLED CATCH without confusing it with the jail search
SLED CATCH is a South Carolina-only name-based criminal-history search. It is not the Dorchester County live inmate roster, a nationwide FBI search, a sex-offender search or a wanted-person database.
Open SLED CATCH
Review the terms before paying.
Open official SLED CATCH
Enter the person’s legal name
CATCH uses a starts-with match for last and first name.
Enter date of birth accurately
Name and DOB differences can cause false positives or false negatives.
Use Social Security number only when appropriate
SLED can search it when provided.
Review multiple-match warnings
A Special Processing Required message may appear when several subjects match.
Print or save the report
Keep the transaction information if correction is later needed.
2026 SLED CATCH fees
| Service | Published amount | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Standard CATCH report | $25 | Non-refundable base criminal-record check fee. |
| 2026 online service fee | $1.43 per $25 report | Effective July 1, 2026. |
| Qualified charitable/reduced report | $8 | Only qualifying organizations receive the reduced rate. |
| Reduced-report service fee | $1.14 | Effective July 1, 2026. |
SLED’s CATCH terms also display online transaction/convenience-fee information. Review the final official checkout total immediately before purchasing because processor charges can change.
SLED Public Dissemination Unit
Phone: 803-896-1443
Published help hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Email: SLEDCATCHAcct@sled.sc.gov
Phone: 803-896-1443
Published help hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Email: SLEDCATCHAcct@sled.sc.gov
Fix the source of the error instead of only disputing the webpage
Identify where the error appears
Compare the Dorchester confinement result, police report, court docket and SLED history.
Save the inaccurate entry
Record the case number, charge, arrest date and exact incorrect field.
Obtain the correct court disposition
Contact the Criminal Clerk when the case outcome is missing or incorrect.
Correct local data at the source
Ask the agency or court responsible for the incorrect information to correct its record.
Challenge state-history information when appropriate
SLED’s AFIS unit provides a process for people disputing information on their criminal histories.
Open SLED criminal-history correction information
Recheck every connected database
Correcting one government source does not automatically update every private background report.
Correction is different from expungement. Correction fixes inaccurate information. Expungement legally removes an eligible arrest or conviction record through the proper court process.
Determine whether the arrest can be removed from the record
The First Circuit Solicitor—not SLED—starts the expungement process for qualifying Dorchester County General Sessions matters. A dismissed Magistrate or Municipal Court charge is handled through that court.
First Circuit lists eight major qualifying categories
Dismissed, no-billed or nol-prossed charges and not-guilty verdicts
Charges dismissed after successful PTI, AEP or TEP
Qualifying first fraudulent-check misdemeanor
Qualifying first drug-possession conditional discharge
Certain first misdemeanors carrying no more than 30 days and/or $500
Qualifying Youthful Offender Act convictions
Qualifying first failure-to-stop-for-blue-light misdemeanor
Certain eligible juvenile offenses
The Solicitor states that most traffic convictions, fish-and-wildlife convictions, felonies and heinous crimes cannot be expunged through this process, subject to the specific statutory exceptions.
Find every Dorchester County case
Search the Public Index and collect the case numbers.
Obtain certified dispositions
The Solicitor requires certified copies of the dispositions for the charges you want expunged.
Determine which court handled the charge
General Sessions, Magistrate and Municipal matters can follow different routes.
Download the First Circuit application
Complete it before visiting when practical.
Open Dorchester expungement instructions
Apply in the county where the charge occurred
Dorchester matters are handled through the First Circuit’s Dorchester process.
Use the published expungement service times
The First Circuit currently handles expungements Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–4:30 p.m.
Prepare separate payments when fees apply
The published fees are paid to three different agencies.
Keep the Order for Destruction of Arrest Records
Save a certified copy permanently.
Allow SLED processing time
SLED advises allowing approximately four weeks after it receives the expungement order.
Run a fresh SLED check afterward
Use it to confirm the state repository was updated.
Published expungement fees when charges are not fee-exempt
| Agency | Fee | Payment rule |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor’s Office | $250 | Administrative fee. |
| Clerk of Court | $35 | Filing fee. |
| SLED | $25 | Verification fee. |
| Total | $310 | Separate certified check or money order for each agency. |
Important fee exception: First Circuit states that expungement is free when charges were dismissed or nol prossed, or the person was found not guilty, unless the dismissal resulted from plea negotiations.
First Circuit Solicitor – Dorchester Expungements
101 Ridge Street, 2nd Floor
St. George, SC 29477
Phone: 843-871-2640
General office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
101 Ridge Street, 2nd Floor
St. George, SC 29477
Phone: 843-871-2640
General office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Dorchester County jail, court and legal-help contact board
Dorchester County Detention Center
County-published facility location: 220 Hodge Road, Summerville, SC
Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office
212 Deming Way
Summerville, SC 29483
Summerville, SC 29483
Dorchester County Bond Court
212 Deming Way
Summerville, SC 29483
Summerville, SC 29483
Dorchester County Courthouse
5200 E. Jim Bilton Boulevard
St. George, SC 29477
St. George, SC 29477
Criminal Clerk
General Sessions criminal records and case assistance.
Public Defender
1452 Boone Hill Road, Suite B
Summerville, SC 29483
Summerville, SC 29483
First Circuit Solicitor
101 Ridge Street, 2nd Floor
St. George, SC 29477
St. George, SC 29477
SLED CATCH Help
Dorchester County Detention Center map
Dorchester County Courthouse map
Before traveling: Recheck current confinement, the correct courthouse, office hours, visitation status and identification requirements.
What this guide solves inside the page
Booking search
Current confinements, admits, releases, names, charges and arresting-agency filters.
Historical search
31-day custom windows plus Last 24 Hours and Last 7 Days shortcuts.
Report requests
Correct custodian, required details, FOIA response timing, copy rates and ready-to-use request wording.
Court verification
Magistrate versus General Sessions, Criminal Clerk contact, Public Index limitations and disposition checks.
Jail family help
Current-contact workflow for visitation, mail, telephone, video and commissary without relying on stale third-party rules.
Record relief
SLED CATCH, state-history corrections, eight expungement categories, fee exceptions and First Circuit filing steps.
Dorchester County arrest-record questions answered
How do I search Dorchester County arrest records?
Use the Sheriff’s Inmate Lookup, which connects to Citizen Connect. Choose Current Confinements, admissions, releases, name, charge or arresting agency.
Can I search people currently in Dorchester County jail?
Yes. Use Current Confinements in the Sheriff’s official booking system.
Can I find someone who was already released?
Yes. Use Releases by Date Range. You can also use Last 24 Hours, Last 7 Days or a custom range of up to 31 days.
How do I find the final court outcome?
Search the Dorchester County Public Index and review the criminal case. Contact the Criminal Clerk at 843-563-0231 when official verification is necessary.
How do I request a Sheriff’s arrest report?
All Sheriff and Detention Center public-record requests must be submitted through Dorchester County’s official online records portal.
How long does a Sheriff’s records request take?
The county publishes a minimum response period of 10 business days for records two years old or less and 20 business days for records more than two years old.
Where is Dorchester County Bond Court?
Bond Court is at the Troy Knight Judicial Complex, 212 Deming Way in Summerville. The published number is 843-832-0370.
How do I find the current jail visitation schedule?
Call the Detention Center at 843-832-0215. The current county webpage does not publish a detailed 2026 schedule, so confirm the visit method, housing schedule, ID rules and visitor requirements before traveling.
How much is a SLED criminal-history search?
The standard CATCH report has a $25 base fee. Effective July 1, 2026, SLED also publishes a $1.43 service fee for each $25 online report.
Can a Dorchester County arrest be expunged?
Some records qualify. The First Circuit Solicitor publishes eight qualifying categories. Certain dismissed, nol-prossed and not-guilty matters are free, while other eligible cases can involve separate Solicitor, Clerk and SLED fees.
