Charleston County Bench Warrant Records

Charleston County bench warrants are managed through a busy court system in Charleston, the county seat. As one of the largest counties in South Carolina, Charleston County has multiple courts and offices where bench warrant records are kept. The Clerk of Court at 100 Broad St handles circuit and family court records. The sheriff provides a warrant search tool. You can also search bench warrants online through the South Carolina Public Index. Charleston County is in Circuit Number 9 and has regular criminal court sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays at 8:30 AM. Bond court runs Monday through Friday at 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM, with weekend sessions at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM.

Bench Warrants in Charleston County

A bench warrant is a form of process issued from the bench for attachment or arrest. It comes from a judge, not from the police. Bench warrants in Charleston County tie back to existing court cases. They do not start new criminal charges. That is what arrest warrants do. A bench warrant brings someone back before the court to address an open matter.

Charleston County courts issue bench warrants for several reasons. The most common is failure to appear at a scheduled hearing. Other causes include failure to pay fines and breaking bond conditions. A person can also be tried in their absence if they miss their court date. After that, a bench warrant may be issued to enforce the judgment. Charleston County sees a high volume of these due to the size of the county and its court docket.

Charleston County Clerk of Court

The Charleston County Clerk of Court keeps all circuit and family court records. This includes bench warrants, case files, and court orders. The office is at 100 Broad St, Suite 106, in Charleston. You can search for bench warrants in person or request copies of court documents from the clerk.

Charleston County offers online access to circuit and family court records. This lets you search without visiting the courthouse. Staff can also help by phone if you need basic case information. For detailed records or certified copies, a visit to the clerk's office is best. Bring a valid photo ID when you go.

Search Bench Warrants Online

The Charleston County Public Index is the main free tool for searching court records online. Enter a name or case number to find cases. The Action tab on each case shows all court actions. Look for bench warrant entries on that tab. It will show the date the bench warrant was issued and the reason.

You can also use the statewide SC Courts case records search. This covers all 46 counties in South Carolina. Both tools pull from the same database. Use the statewide tool if you need to search more than just Charleston County at one time.

For municipal court matters in the City of Charleston, the Municipal Court at 180 B Lockwood Blvd handles those cases separately. Call (843) 724-7460 for municipal court bench warrants. North Charleston has its own eCourt Portal where you can search court records for cases in that city.

Note: Municipal court bench warrants in Charleston County are handled separately from circuit court warrants, so check both systems.

Charleston County Court Records

The South Carolina Judicial Branch provides online access to appellate and circuit court records through the C-Track Public Access system. This covers Charleston County along with all other counties in the state.

Charleston County's circuit court handles felony criminal cases, major civil disputes, and family court matters. All bench warrants from these divisions are maintained by the clerk and available for public review.

Charleston County Sheriff

The Charleston County Sheriff serves all bench warrants issued by the courts. The sheriff also provides a warrant search tool that lets you check for active warrants. Criminal records checks are available for $5 at the sheriff's office at 3691 Leeds Ave in North Charleston. Call (843) 202-1700 for more information.

If you have a bench warrant in Charleston County, it is wise to deal with it. Contact the sheriff or a lawyer. Turning yourself in shows the court you want to resolve the matter. Deputies will serve bench warrants during routine encounters like traffic stops, so it is better to act on your own terms.

Court Schedule and Bond Hearings

Charleston County runs criminal court sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays starting at 8:30 AM. If you have a bench warrant, your case may be scheduled for one of these sessions after you are brought back before the court. The schedule is steady, which means cases move through fairly quickly in Charleston County.

Bond court in Charleston County runs on a regular schedule:

• Monday through Friday at 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM
• Weekends at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM

Under Rule 13, anyone arrested on a bench warrant must receive a bond hearing within 24 hours. Charleston County's frequent bond court sessions help meet this requirement. The court prefers rescheduling over bench warrants when possible, but the high case volume in Charleston County means bench warrants are issued regularly.

Bench Warrant Laws

South Carolina statutes govern bench warrants in Charleston County. Under S.C. Code Section 22-5-115, magistrates may issue a summons first rather than a warrant. If the person does not appear after the summons, a bench warrant follows. This two-step process applies in Charleston County magistrate courts.

For bond violations, S.C. Code Section 38-53-70 allows the court to issue a bench warrant when someone breaks their bail conditions. The surety has 90 days to produce the person or face bond forfeiture. Given the number of cases in Charleston County, bond violation bench warrants are common here.

The Summary Court Bench Book tells magistrates to use bench warrants sparingly. Rescheduling is the preferred option. But when a person ignores the court repeatedly, a bench warrant is the tool available to bring them back. These rules protect both the court's authority and the rights of the person in Charleston County.

Municipal Courts in Charleston County

Charleston County has municipal courts in addition to the circuit and magistrate courts. The City of Charleston Municipal Court is at 180 B Lockwood Blvd. It handles city ordinance violations and minor criminal cases within the city. Bench warrants from this court are separate from circuit court warrants.

The North Charleston Municipal Court operates its own court system as well. North Charleston has an eCourt Portal where you can search records online. If you think a bench warrant was issued by a municipal court in Charleston County, contact that specific court. The circuit court clerk does not handle municipal court bench warrants.

Note: Each municipal court in Charleston County maintains its own bench warrant records, so you may need to check multiple courts.

Public Records Access

Bench warrants in Charleston County are public records. The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act under S.C. Code Section 30-4-30 gives you the right to request these records. Submit a written request to the clerk or sheriff. Include the person's name and any case numbers.

The response time is 10 business days. An extension to 20 business days is allowed when needed. Copy fees apply. Given the volume of records in Charleston County, complex requests may take the full statutory period. Simple lookups can often be done faster, especially through the online Public Index.

Cities in Charleston County

Charleston County includes several cities, each with their own municipal courts. Bench warrants may be issued at the county or city level. Check the court that handled your case.

Charleston and North Charleston are the two largest cities in the county. Both have separate municipal courts that can issue bench warrants.

Nearby Counties

Charleston County borders several other South Carolina counties along the coast and inland. Bench warrants are county-specific. If you are not sure which county issued a warrant, search the ones near where you live.

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