Berkeley County Inmate Lookup, Bond Court and Criminal Case Search
Trying to locate someone arrested in Berkeley County? Start with the Sheriff’s current inmate search, confirm whether the person is at Hill-Finklea Detention Center, check Bond Court, and then use the South Carolina Public Index to see what was actually filed in court.
This guide also routes families to video visitation, legal help, jail contact details, victim notifications, records requests and the next step when an inmate disappears from the county search.
The Sheriff’s lookup searches the current inmate population and accepts partial names.
843-719-4546, published as available 24 hours.
300 California Avenue, Moncks Corner, SC 29461.
Hill-Finklea states that visitation is conducted through video visitation.
Use South Carolina VINE or call 1-866-727-2846.
What Do You Need to Do Right Now?
Select the situation that matches your goal. The tool runs in your browser and does not collect names, case numbers or personal information.
Search the current population, then call the 24-hour detention line if booking has not appeared.
Confirm the bond type, amount, hearing and any separate hold before paying anyone.
Use the Public Index to check the filed case instead of relying only on a booking charge.
Confirm custody first, then follow Hill-Finklea’s current video-visitation instructions.
Contact the Berkeley County Public Defender or use the South Carolina Bar referral service.
Use the county FOIA portal for agency records or the Clerk of Court for the criminal case file.
How to Search Berkeley County Arrest Records by Name
The official Berkeley County Sheriff inmate lookup is the best starting point for someone who may currently be held at Hill-Finklea Detention Center. The Sheriff states that partial-name searches are allowed.
Use the Berkeley County Sheriff’s inmate search. It is the correct first source for someone who may currently be at Hill-Finklea Detention Center.
The Sheriff states that partial searches are allowed. Start with fewer letters if spelling, hyphenation or the full legal name is uncertain.
Check the name, charge, arresting agency, booking information and any displayed identifier. A same-name result is not enough.
The main line is 843-719-4546 and is published as available 24 hours. Have the legal name and approximate arrest time ready.
Use the county’s Magistrate and Bond Court contact page and confirm the current hearing information.
Open Case Records Search, choose Berkeley County and review the filed case rather than relying only on the booking charge.
Someone Was Arrested in Berkeley County Today—What Should You Do?
Use this order
- Confirm the arresting agency.
- Search the current inmate population.
- Allow time for intake and booking.
- Call Hill-Finklea at 843-719-4546 if no record appears.
- Ask for the booking number and Bond Court route.
- Check the court case after filing information becomes available.
Prepare before calling
- Full legal name and spelling
- Date of birth or approximate age
- Approximate arrest time and location
- Arresting police department or deputy
- Possible booking or incident number
- Your exact question about custody, bond or visitation
Berkeley County Bond Court Times, Release Steps and Bail Help
A bond hearing determines whether a detained person may be released and under what conditions. South Carolina court guidance says a bond hearing is generally held within 24 hours after arrest, although the charge, court and individual circumstances can affect the route.
Bond Court detail | Published Berkeley County information |
|---|---|
Telephone | |
Monday–Friday | 9:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. |
Saturday–Sunday | 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. |
Before attending | Call to confirm the current session, access method and case-specific details. |
How to check bond and move toward release
Use the inmate lookup or call Hill-Finklea. Do not discuss payment until the identity and booking are confirmed.
The person may still be waiting for Bond Court. Ask which court is handling the hearing.
Ask whether another warrant, charge or hold could prevent release after payment.
Confirm accepted methods with the detention center or court. Verify any professional bondsman through the South Carolina Department of Insurance.
Save the bond number, amount, fee, person paid, payment time and stated conditions.
Staff may need to confirm payment, clear holds, complete paperwork and arrange the physical release.
How to Find Berkeley County Charges, Court Dates and Case Disposition
Berkeley County is in South Carolina Judicial Circuit 9. Use the Judicial Branch case search for the filed court record, and use the court-roster search when you need a published schedule.
Use the official Judicial Branch page rather than a commercial background-check site.
Berkeley is Judicial Circuit 9 and County Number 08. Follow the Berkeley County case-record route.
Use the complete legal name when possible. Compare the filing date, court type and case number.
Review filed charges, hearings, attorney information, status and disposition. Booking allegations may later change.
Use the official roster search for published hearing schedules. Confirm last-minute changes with the Clerk of Court.
The Berkeley County Clerk of Court number is 843-719-4400. Have the case number ready.
Common court-status terms
Term | Plain-language meaning | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
Pending | The case has not reached a final disposition. | Review hearings and the court roster. |
Disposed | The court has recorded an outcome or completed the case. | Open the disposition and sentence entries. |
Dismissed | The court ended the listed charge or case without a conviction on that entry. | Check whether other charges or cases remain. |
Nolle prossed | The prosecution elected not to proceed with the charge at that time. | Review the complete charge history and ask the Clerk when needed. |
Bench warrant | A judge issued a warrant, often after a missed court requirement. | Contact the court or a qualified lawyer; do not rely on a private mugshot page. |
Time served | Custody already completed may satisfy all or part of the sentence. | Read the sentence and release information. |
How to Find a Berkeley County Public Defender or Criminal Lawyer
Berkeley County Public Defender
Use this route when the criminal case is in Berkeley County and the defendant wants to ask about court-appointed representation.
Address: 219 N. Highway 52, Moncks Corner, SC 29461Phone: 843-899-2777
South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral
Use this route when you want a referral to a participating private attorney.
Phone: 803-799-7100
Telephone hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–noon and 1:00–5:00 p.m.
Online referral: Available 24 hours.
Public Defender application route
- Confirm that the charges are pending in Berkeley County.
- Call the Public Defender office and ask where the application is submitted.
- Prepare income, household, employment and case information.
- Ask whether the Clerk requires a current application fee or supporting documents.
- Confirm whether counsel has actually been appointed before assuming representation has begun.
Questions to ask a private criminal lawyer
- Do you regularly handle this type of charge?
- Who will personally appear in court?
- What work is included in the quoted fee?
- Are investigation or expert costs separate?
- How will updates be provided?
- Can I receive the complete fee agreement in writing?
Hill-Finklea Video Visitation: What Families Should Check
The Berkeley County Sheriff states that visitation at Hill-Finklea Detention Center is conducted strictly through video visitation. Confirm that the person remains in custody before creating or funding an account.
Check the current inmate lookup or call 843-719-4546 before scheduling.
Use the Sheriff’s page so you are following the current approved visitation provider.
Create the required account through the provider linked by the official detention-center page.
Review the provider’s available times, device requirements, account rules and any current fee before scheduling.
Enter the inmate name and identifier exactly as required. Keep confirmation details.
Ask whether the inmate was moved, the facility is under a restriction or the provider account needs support.
How to Contact or Support a Berkeley County Inmate
Communication and deposit vendors can change. The safest route is to start with the official Hill-Finklea page or call the detention center before sending mail or funding an account.
Inmate telephone calls
- Ask which provider currently handles calls.
- Confirm how a family account is created.
- Check blocked-number and billing support.
- Do not use three-way calling unless the current rules permit it.
- Report technical billing problems to the approved provider.
Mailing an inmate
- Confirm the current mailing address and format.
- Use the inmate’s complete name and identifier.
- Include a valid return address.
- Ask about photographs, cards and prohibited enclosures.
- Recheck the address after a transfer.
Sending money
- Confirm the approved deposit provider.
- Verify the inmate name and booking number.
- Check deposit limits and processing fees.
- Keep the confirmation number and receipt.
- Never pay through a link sent by an unverified caller.
Where Did the Berkeley County Inmate Go?
A person who no longer appears in the current county population may have been released, transferred, sentenced to SCDC, moved to federal custody or listed under another name variation.
Possible reason | Where to check | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
Released from county custody | Call Hill-Finklea and check SC VINE | Name, booking number and expected release date |
Transferred to another county | Ask the detention center for the receiving jurisdiction | Name, date of birth and original booking details |
Moved to state prison | Full name, SID or SCDC number | |
Probation or parole supervision | Name, SID, birth year or county | |
Federal custody | Full name or federal register number | |
Search spelling problem | Retry the Berkeley inmate lookup with a partial surname | Previous surname, alias or spelling variation |
How to Request Berkeley County Arrest Reports and Court Files
Sheriff or county record
Use Berkeley County’s official FOIA portal when you need an older agency record that is not available through the current inmate lookup.
Prepare:
- Person’s complete name
- Incident or booking number
- Approximate date and location
- Arresting agency
- A specific description of the record requested
Criminal court file
Use the Clerk of Court when you need filings, dispositions or court documents rather than a Sheriff incident report.
Clerk phone: 843-719-4400
Address: 300-B California Avenue, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Published hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding holidays
Have the case number, full legal name and approximate filing date ready.
Berkeley County Custody Notifications and Victim Assistance
South Carolina VINE
VINE provides custody information and available notifications. It is useful when a victim or family member needs to know about a release or custody change.
Telephone: 1-866-727-2846
Ninth Circuit Solicitor victim assistance
The Berkeley County Solicitor’s Office administers a Victim-Witness Assistance Program for qualifying criminal cases.
Use the office for case-related victim support, court-process information and referral to the appropriate advocate.
Berkeley County Jail, Court and Legal-Help Contacts
Hill-Finklea Detention Center
- 300 California Avenue, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
- 843-719-4546
- Main detention line published as available 24 hours
- Use for current custody, booking, visitation routing and facility questions
Berkeley County Bond Court
- Moncks Corner court route
- 843-719-4593
- Weekdays: 9:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m.; weekends: 8:00 a.m., 6:30 p.m.
- Use for Bond Court session and hearing-route questions
Berkeley County Clerk of Court
- 300-B California Avenue, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
- 843-719-4400
- Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding holidays
- Use for criminal cases, court files, dispositions and courthouse routing
Berkeley County Public Defender
- 219 N. Highway 52, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
- 843-899-2777
- Call before visiting to confirm application and appointment procedures
- Use to ask about court-appointed criminal representation
Berkeley County Sheriff Administration
- 223 North Live Oak Drive, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
- 843-719-4465
- Call before visiting for the correct division and current availability
- Use for general Sheriff routing, not immediate detention emergencies
South Carolina Bar Referral Service
- 803-799-7100
- Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–noon and 1:00–5:00 p.m.
- Use to request a participating private-lawyer referral
Hill-Finklea Detention Center and courthouse area map
Courthouse
The Berkeley County Courthouse is listed at 300-B California Avenue in the same government area.
Call before travelling
Confirm custody, visitor access, court location, document availability and public-entry instructions before making the trip.
Do not visit for online-only tasks
Start online for inmate searches, court records, VINE registration and FOIA requests.
Fix Common Berkeley County Arrest Search Problems
- Search with only part of the surname.
- Remove hyphens, suffixes and punctuation.
- Try a former or maiden surname.
- Confirm the arrest happened in Berkeley County.
- Check whether the agency was municipal, county, state or federal.
- Allow time for a new booking to enter the public search.
- Check the court record under the legal name.
- Use desktop mode if the Public Index is difficult on mobile.
- Permit required cookies, JavaScript and new windows on official portals.
- Save the booking and case numbers before closing the page.
- Call Hill-Finklea when current custody remains unclear.
- Check SCDC, VINE or another jurisdiction after a transfer.
How to Correct, Expunge or Request Removal of an Outdated Record
Take a screenshot and note the date, booking number and court case number.
Check the Sheriff record, Public Index and any SLED criminal-history response.
Contact the agency or Clerk responsible for the inaccurate government information.
Use the Judicial Branch guidance for the applicable General Sessions, Magistrate, Municipal or juvenile route.
Keep the signed order and confirm the change through the responsible agency.
Provide the exact URL and redacted official documentation through the publisher’s verified removal process.
Official Berkeley County Arrest, Jail and Court Links
Berkeley County Arrest Records FAQs
How do I search Berkeley County SC arrest records by name?
Start with the official Berkeley County Sheriff inmate lookup. Enter the surname or part of the name because partial searches are allowed. Open a likely result and compare the charge, arresting agency, booking details and identifiers. Use court records or a records request when you need more than current custody information.
What is the official Berkeley County inmate lookup?
The official lookup is published by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. It searches the current inmate population and allows partial-name searches. It is the best first source for someone who may presently be held at Hill-Finklea Detention Center.
How do I call Hill-Finklea Detention Center?
Call 843-719-4546. The Berkeley County Sheriff publishes this main detention line as available 24 hours. Have the person’s legal name, approximate arrest time and booking number ready when available.
When does Berkeley County Bond Court meet?
Berkeley County publishes Bond Court sessions Monday through Friday at 9:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Call 843-719-4593 to confirm the current session and access details.
How can I check a Berkeley County criminal court case?
Open the South Carolina Judicial Branch Case Records Search, choose Berkeley County and search by the legal name or case number. Review the filed charges, case status, hearings and disposition. Call the Berkeley County Clerk of Court at 843-719-4400 when the online entry is unclear.
How do I arrange a visit with a Berkeley County inmate?
Hill-Finklea Detention Center states that visitation is conducted strictly through video visitation. Confirm that the person is still in custody, open the official detention-center page and follow its SmartInmate link. Check the provider for current sessions and call 843-719-4546 when you need help.
How can I find bond help without being scammed?
Confirm the booking, bond amount, bond type and any holds directly with Hill-Finklea or Bond Court. If using a professional bondsman, verify the license through the South Carolina Department of Insurance database, obtain the complete fee agreement in writing and keep a receipt.
Where is the Berkeley County Public Defender office?
The Berkeley County Public Defender office is listed at 219 N. Highway 52, Moncks Corner, SC 29461, with telephone number 843-899-2777. Call to ask how the court-appointed counsel application is submitted and what financial information is required.
Why is a person no longer shown in the Berkeley inmate search?
The person may have been released, transferred to another county, moved to SCDC, entered federal custody or been listed under another spelling. Call the detention center, then check SC VINE, SCDC or the receiving jurisdiction as appropriate.
How do I request an older Berkeley County arrest record?
Identify the agency and prepare the incident number, name, date and location. Submit a specific request through Berkeley County’s official online FOIA portal. Use the Clerk of Court instead when you need the criminal court file rather than a Sheriff report.
Official-resource review completed August 5, 2026
This website is an independent informational resource. It is not affiliated with the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, Hill-Finklea Detention Center, Berkeley County government, the South Carolina Judicial Branch, SLED, SCDC or another government agency.
Official links, telephone numbers, addresses, published hours and Bond Court session information were checked during the latest review. Custody, visitation, fees, court schedules, office access and vendor procedures can change. Confirm time-sensitive details through the responsible official source.
Responsible-use notice: An arrest is not a conviction. Do not use a booking or mugshot listing to harass anyone or to make employment, housing, credit, insurance or other decisions that require a legally compliant consumer report.