>Berkeley County Arrest Records Online

Berkeley County, South Carolina Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Berkeley County, South Carolina?

Arrest records in Berkeley County, South Carolina are public documents accessible to all citizens pursuant to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq. These records are maintained as part of the public record to ensure transparency in governmental operations and accountability within the criminal justice system. The South Carolina Public Records Act specifically designates arrest records as public information that must be disclosed upon proper request, with certain limited exceptions for ongoing investigations or juvenile records as outlined in S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40.

Members of the public seeking arrest records may obtain them through various governmental agencies including the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office, the Berkeley County Clerk of Court, or the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). These agencies maintain repositories of arrest information as mandated by state statute and administrative regulations. Requestors should be aware that while the records are public, certain administrative fees may apply for document retrieval and reproduction in accordance with S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30(b).

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Berkeley County?

Berkeley County arrest records are available through several online platforms maintained by county and state agencies. The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office maintains a digital database that provides public access to current and recent arrest information pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-120, which authorizes law enforcement agencies to disseminate criminal history information.

The South Carolina Judicial Branch also maintains the Public Index, an online portal where court records, including those related to arrests and subsequent court proceedings, can be accessed. This system operates under the authority of the South Carolina Supreme Court's administrative order regarding public access to court records.

Online access to these records is subject to certain limitations established by S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40, which protects specific categories of information from disclosure, including but not limited to:

Information that would constitute an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy
Records of juveniles, except as provided for in S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-2040
Information that is of a sensitive nature related to ongoing investigations

Users of online systems must comply with terms of use agreements that prohibit the commercial use or mass harvesting of arrest record data without proper authorization.

How to Look Up Berkeley County Arrest Records in 2025

Berkeley County provides multiple channels through which members of the public may access arrest records. The following procedures have been established in accordance with S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30, which outlines the methods by which public records may be requested and obtained:

Submit a request through the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office website's inmate lookup feature, which provides real-time information on current detainees
Access the South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index for court records related to arrests and subsequent proceedings
Visit the Berkeley County Courthouse in person to request physical copies of arrest records
Submit a written FOIA request to the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office Records Division
Utilize the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) criminal history search service for comprehensive statewide arrest information

Requestors seeking records in person should visit:

Berkeley County Sheriff's Office
223 North Live Oak Drive
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Phone: (843) 719-4412
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Berkeley County Clerk of Court
300-B California Avenue
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Phone: (843) 719-4400
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30(b), agencies may charge reasonable fees for the search, retrieval, and redaction of records. Current fee schedules are available at each agency's public counter or official website.

Contents of a Berkeley County Arrest Record

Berkeley County arrest records contain standardized information as prescribed by S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-120 and the South Carolina Criminal Justice Records Improvement Plan. These records typically include the following elements:

Subject's full legal name and any documented aliases or known monikers
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, race, and physical descriptors
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory citations and descriptions of all charges filed
Case numbers and docket information for court tracking purposes
Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
Arresting agency identification
Booking photograph (mugshot)
Fingerprint classification data
Bond information including type, amount, and conditions if applicable
Detention status and facility location if the subject was incarcerated
Disposition information if the case has been adjudicated

The comprehensiveness of arrest records may vary based on the nature of the offense, the arresting agency's protocols, and the stage of the criminal justice process. Records maintained in the central repository are subject to quality control measures as outlined in S.C. Code Ann. § 23-3-130, which requires periodic audits to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Berkeley County

Under South Carolina law, specifically S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-910 through § 17-22-950, certain individuals may petition for expungement of arrest records in Berkeley County. Expungement is the legal process by which arrest records are removed from public access and, in some cases, destroyed.

Eligibility criteria for expungement in Berkeley County include:

Charges that were dismissed, nolle prossed, or resulted in not guilty verdicts
First offense convictions for certain misdemeanors after completion of sentence and a waiting period
Successful completion of Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI), Alcohol Education Program (AEP), or Drug Court Program
First-time youthful offender convictions after fulfillment of sentence requirements
Certain first-time simple possession of controlled substance offenses

The expungement process requires submission of a petition to the Berkeley County Solicitor's Office, payment of applicable fees as established in S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-940, and judicial review. If granted, an expungement order directs all relevant agencies to remove the record from public access.

Expungement petitions must be filed with:

Berkeley County Solicitor's Office
300 California Avenue
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Phone: (843) 719-4530
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Applicants should note that pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-950, certain governmental agencies may retain expunged records for limited purposes, and expungement in South Carolina does not necessarily affect federal records or records maintained in other jurisdictions.