North Charleston Criminal Court Records
North Charleston criminal court records span two court systems. Felony cases are handled by the Charleston County Circuit Court, while misdemeanors, traffic violations, and ordinance matters go through the North Charleston Municipal Court. North Charleston is the third largest city in South Carolina and generates a significant volume of criminal filings each year. The SC Public Index for Charleston County provides free online access to circuit court case information. Local courts and the SC Judicial Branch are your main resources for searching criminal court records in North Charleston.
North Charleston Quick Facts
Criminal Court Records for North Charleston Residents
Felony criminal court records for North Charleston originate in the Charleston County Circuit Court. The Charleston County Clerk of Court maintains all felony case files, including those arising from North Charleston. The Clerk's office provides certified copies of court documents and supports public record searches by name or case number. Certified copies carry the official court seal and are required for most legal uses.
The 9th Circuit Solicitor's Office handles felony prosecutions for cases that come out of North Charleston. Victim services and pre-trial intervention programs are available through the Solicitor's office for eligible individuals. The Sheriff's Office operates the detention center where North Charleston arrestees may be held. An online inmate search is available through the Charleston County Sheriff's Office for locating individuals currently in custody.
Note: Both the city of Charleston and North Charleston feed into the same Charleston County Circuit Court, so felony records from both cities are searchable through the same county-level systems.
How to Search North Charleston Criminal Court Records
Start your search for North Charleston criminal court records at the SC Public Index for Charleston County at publicindex.sccourts.org/Charleston. This free tool covers all circuit court felony cases filed in the county. Search by defendant name or case number to see charge information, filing dates, hearing schedules, and case status. North Charleston cases appear alongside other Charleston County filings in the same database.
For misdemeanor and traffic cases handled locally, the North Charleston Municipal Court maintains its own records. Public access is available at the court building during business hours. The court at northcharleston.org/government/municipal-court provides information about record access procedures. You can search by citation number, case number, or defendant name at the public terminals in the court office. Certified copies require a written request and payment of fees.
Municipal Court records in North Charleston are accessible within 15 business days of a FOIA request as required by state law. Sealed and expunged cases do not appear in any public search. For statewide criminal history searches, the SLED criminal records system is an additional resource covering agencies across the state.
South Carolina's Title 17 criminal procedure statutes govern how criminal court records are created and maintained across all courts in the state, including those in North Charleston.
These statutes set the rules for arrest, charging, hearings, and record-keeping that apply in every criminal case processed through North Charleston courts.
North Charleston Municipal Court
The North Charleston Municipal Court handles misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, and city ordinance violations within the city's boundaries. The court conducts bond hearings and preliminary hearings for felony arrests made in the city. Traffic ticket payments can be made online, by mail, or in person at the court. Court records are open for public inspection during business hours.
The Municipal Court works directly with the North Charleston Police Department on case processing and warrant service. Cases involving defendants who fail to appear result in bench warrants, and those records become part of the public case file. The court website at northcharleston.org/government/municipal-court has current information on schedules, payment options, and how to contact court staff. Records for the Municipal Court are maintained per state retention schedules, and older files may be transferred to archives.
North Charleston Police Department Records
The North Charleston Police Department maintains arrest records and incident reports for all offenses within city limits. The Records Division processes public requests for police reports at northcharleston.org/government/police/records. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. Incident reports are generally available within three to five business days. Arrest reports require a formal written request. Certain records are exempt from disclosure under FOIA, including active investigations and juvenile matters.
The Records Division has 15 business days to respond to records requests under state law. Fees are set by statute and cover per-page copying charges and certification costs. Certified copies of arrest reports are available for legal proceedings. Requests should include the date, time, location, and names of parties involved to help staff locate the correct file. The North Charleston Police Department is at northcharleston.org/government/police.
What Criminal Court Records Contain in North Charleston
Criminal court records in North Charleston hold documents created from the time of arrest through final case resolution. Felony files at the circuit court level include arrest warrants or indictments, bond hearing orders, all court notices, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and any post-conviction filings. The record shows each attorney appearance, every continuance granted, and any appeals.
Municipal Court records for misdemeanor and traffic cases include the citation or arrest report, court hearing notices, payment history, and the final disposition. If a defendant completed a court-approved program such as traffic school, that completion is noted in the case file. Bench warrant records are generated when a defendant does not appear in court as required.
Public Records Access in North Charleston
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act gives residents the right to access criminal court records held by public agencies. Both the Municipal Court and the circuit court follow FOIA rules when responding to requests. Most criminal filings are public once entered into the court system. The Clerk of Court and the Municipal Court each maintain separate access procedures for their respective records.
Records that are not public include sealed juvenile cases, active investigation files, and materials subject to court order. Expunged records are removed from public access after the court issues the order. The SLED criminal records database offers a statewide search option that draws on reports submitted by law enforcement agencies including those serving North Charleston. Victim-related resources are available through the SC Attorney General's office.
Note: FOIA requests submitted to any North Charleston court or police agency must receive a response within 15 business days under state law.
Expungement Options for North Charleston Residents
North Charleston residents with qualifying criminal records can petition for expungement through the South Carolina court system. A successful expungement removes the record from the Public Index, SLED databases, and other public systems. Eligibility is based on the type of charge, the case outcome, and whether prior expungements have been granted. Common qualifying situations include dismissed charges, not-guilty verdicts, first-offense misdemeanor convictions after a waiting period, and pre-trial intervention completions.
The 9th Circuit Solicitor's office must review and consent to expungement requests in most cases before a judge can sign the order. The process begins with an application through the Charleston County Clerk of Court. Detailed eligibility information is available at the SC Judicial Branch expungement page. Court forms can be downloaded at sccourts.org/forms. After the order is granted, SLED removes the record from its statewide criminal history database.
Charleston County Criminal Court Records
North Charleston is part of Charleston County, and all felony criminal court records for city residents are maintained at the county level. The Charleston County Clerk of Court handles felony filings and circuit court records for the entire county. For complete county-level court information, visit the page below.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Other cities in the Charleston metro area have their own local courts and county access points for criminal court records. Select a city below to learn more.