Charleston Bench Warrant Records

Charleston bench warrants are issued by judges at the Charleston Municipal Court when a person fails to appear for a scheduled court date or does not pay fines on time. The court is located at 180 B Lockwood Blvd in downtown Charleston. Searching for these warrants can be done through the Charleston County Public Index or by contacting the court directly. A bench warrant is not the same as an arrest warrant. It comes from the bench, meaning the judge, and it directs law enforcement to bring a person before the court. Many Charleston residents look up bench warrant records to check their own status or prepare for a court visit.

Charleston Municipal Court

The Charleston Municipal Court handles criminal and traffic cases that arise within city limits. The court sits at 180 B Lockwood Blvd, Charleston, SC 29403. You can reach the court by phone at 843-724-7460. The fax number is 843-724-7171. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Court Accounting can be reached at 843-724-7463 for questions about fines or payments.

Criminal court sessions take place on Tuesdays and Fridays starting at 8:30 AM. Traffic court runs Monday afternoons, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Bond court operates Monday through Friday at 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM. On weekends, bond hearings are held at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM. If you miss any of these sessions without notice, the judge may issue a bench warrant for your arrest. That warrant stays active until you resolve it with the court.

The Charleston Municipal Court website provides details about court schedules and payment options for anyone with a pending bench warrant.

The following image shows the Charleston Municipal Court page, which lists contact details and court schedules for bench warrant cases.

The court page is a good starting point for anyone who needs to check on a bench warrant in Charleston or find out when court is held.

Note: Court Accounting at 843-724-7463 can help with fine balances tied to a bench warrant in Charleston.

How Charleston Bench Warrants Work

A bench warrant in Charleston starts when someone fails to follow a court order. The most common reason is a failure to appear. When a person does not show up for a scheduled hearing, the judge issues a bench warrant from the bench. This is different from a standard arrest warrant, which law enforcement obtains based on probable cause of a crime. Bench warrants in Charleston focus on the act of not appearing or not following through on court obligations.

Under South Carolina law, Section 22-5-115 allows summary courts to issue either a summons or a bench warrant. The judge has the choice. A summons gives the person time to come in on their own. A bench warrant means officers can arrest the person on sight. Which one the court picks depends on the case. Serious offenses or repeat failures lead to a bench warrant more often.

Failure to pay fines can also trigger a bench warrant. If the court set a payment plan and the person stopped paying, the judge may issue a warrant. Bond violations fall under Section 38-53-70, which can result in up to 90 days in jail. These bond-related bench warrants in Charleston are taken seriously by the court.

In rare cases, a person may be tried in their absence. The court can proceed without them and issue a bench warrant afterward to enforce the sentence. This happens when the court has given the person enough chances to appear.

Search Charleston Bench Warrants

There are several ways to search for bench warrants in Charleston. The Charleston County Public Index is free and available online. You can search by name or case number. Look for entries under the Action tab to find bench warrant records. The system covers all courts within Charleston County, including the Municipal Court.

To search effectively, use the full legal name of the person. Select the right court from the dropdown if given an option. Results will show the case number, filing date, and current status. A bench warrant will appear in the case actions if one has been issued. The Public Index does not always show real-time data, so there may be a short delay between issuance and when it shows up online.

You can also call the court at 843-724-7460 during business hours. Staff can tell you if a bench warrant is active in the system. For a broader search, the Charleston County Sheriff offers a criminal records check at 3691 Leeds Ave in North Charleston for a $5 fee. This check may include bench warrant information.

The SLED CATCH system also provides criminal background checks for $25. This statewide search covers all South Carolina courts and may show bench warrants issued in Charleston or elsewhere in the state.

Note: The Public Index is free, but it does not replace a certified records check from the court or SLED.

Resolving Bench Warrants in Charleston

If you have a bench warrant in Charleston, the best step is to address it before law enforcement finds you. You can contact the court and ask about your options. In many cases, the court will allow you to come in and set a new court date. Paying any outstanding fines may also resolve the warrant.

Here is what typically happens when resolving a Charleston bench warrant:

• Call the court at 843-724-7460 to ask about your case
• Confirm the fine amount with Court Accounting at 843-724-7463
• Appear at 180 B Lockwood Blvd during business hours
• Pay fines in full or ask the judge for a new payment plan
• Get written proof that the warrant has been recalled

Some people hire an attorney to handle the bench warrant on their behalf. A lawyer can sometimes appear in court without the person being present and get the warrant lifted. This is not always possible, but it works in some Charleston cases. The judge has the final say.

Bond court may also be relevant. If you were arrested on a bench warrant in Charleston, you will go before a bond court judge. Bond hearings happen daily. The judge will set conditions for release and schedule a new court date.

Charleston Police and Warrants

The Charleston Police Department enforces bench warrants issued by the Municipal Court. Officers can arrest a person on a bench warrant during a traffic stop, a call for service, or any other encounter. The department is based at 180 Lockwood Blvd, Charleston, SC. The phone number is (843) 577-7434.

The following image shows the Charleston Police Department page, which provides contact information and service details.

If you are stopped by Charleston police and there is an active bench warrant in the system, officers will see it during a routine records check. Clearing the warrant before an encounter is always better than being arrested on it.

Public Records and FOIA in Charleston

South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act gives the public the right to request government records, including court records tied to bench warrants. The City of Charleston has its own FOIA portal with a fee schedule and submission form. FOIA requests must be answered within 10 business days. If extra time is needed, the agency has up to 20 business days.

The image below shows the Charleston FOIA portal where you can submit records requests related to bench warrants.

The portal lists fees for copies and search time. Not all bench warrant records require a FOIA request. Many are available through the Public Index at no cost. FOIA is more useful for records not posted online, such as internal reports or case files.

The Summary Court Bench Book explains how summary courts in South Carolina handle bench warrants. Judges follow this guide when deciding whether to issue a bench warrant or a summons in Charleston cases.

Family Court Bench Warrants

Charleston Family Court can also issue bench warrants. Rule 13 of the South Carolina Family Court Rules allows for bench warrants in limited situations. This rule is used sparingly. When a family court bench warrant is issued, the person must be brought before a judge within 24 hours for a hearing.

Family court bench warrants in Charleston typically involve contempt of court. A parent who fails to follow a custody order or does not pay child support as ordered may face a bench warrant. These cases go through the Charleston County court system rather than the Municipal Court.

Note: Family court bench warrants under Rule 13 require a hearing within 24 hours of arrest, which is faster than most other bench warrant processes in Charleston.

South Carolina Bench Warrant Laws

All bench warrants in Charleston follow state law. Title 17, Chapter 13 of the South Carolina Code covers warrants and arrest procedures. This chapter defines how warrants are issued, served, and returned. It applies to every court in the state, including Charleston Municipal Court.

The SC Courts case records search is another tool for finding bench warrant records statewide. This portal connects to the public index for each county. You can select Charleston County and search for bench warrants by name or case number. The system is maintained by the South Carolina Judicial Branch.

Key statutes that affect bench warrants in Charleston include Section 22-5-115 on summons and bench warrant authority, Section 38-53-70 on bond violations, and the FOIA statute for public access to records. Together, these laws shape how bench warrants are issued, enforced, and searched in Charleston.

Charleston County Bench Warrants

Charleston is part of Charleston County. The county court system handles cases beyond what the Municipal Court covers, including General Sessions and Family Court matters. For more details about bench warrants at the county level, including magistrate courts and the county sheriff, visit the Charleston County bench warrants page.

View Charleston County Bench Warrants

Nearby South Carolina Cities

People in nearby cities may also need to search for bench warrants in their own courts. Pick a city below to find bench warrant information for that area.

View Major South Carolina Cities