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About the Sheriff's Office
Today, the Charleston County Sheriff's Office is one of the largest full-service Sheriff's Offices in the State of South Carolina. Charleston County is South Carolina's seventh largest county geographically and its third-most populous. As a political subdivision, Charleston County has been in existence since 1682, as one of three original counties in South Carolina.
The Sheriff's Office serves a complex and diverse population which continues to experience steady population growth. Latest U. S. Census reports indicate a population of 365, 209 in an area of 916.0 square miles. Along with its cultural, recreational, and historical attractions, Charleston County boasts 90 miles of coastline and 192 miles of creeks and rivers.
The agency is proud to be internationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, the American Corrections Association, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care reflecting the commitment of the Sheriff's Office to continually improve the quality of law enforcement service provided to the citizens of Charleston County.
At any time, the public is encouraged to comment on anything regarding the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office on the CALEA website.
News Releases
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do Sheriff's deputies have authority within the municipalities?
A: The Sheriff has jurisdiction throughout Charleston County, but deputies normally do not respond to routine, non-emergency calls for service within the jurisdictions of municipal law enforcement agencies. Sheriff's Office deputies will assist other law enforcement agencies upon request and will respond to situations within the County when deemed necessary to ensure public safety. The Sheriff's Office does engage in certain routine activities such as civil process, detention and warrants on a countywide basis. The Sheriff has the authority to enforce state law throughout the County, including incorporated areas. Deputies do not have the authority to enforce a city ordinance within the limits of the municipality unless that ordinance has been adopted as a County ordinance.
Q: I'm confused about jurisdiction. How do I know who to call when I have an emergency?
A: When you call 9-1-1 during an emergency, your call is automatically directed to the appropriate law enforcement agency for your area.
Q: Have all of the inmates at the Detention Center been convicted of a crime?
A: No, the center accommodates a variety of inmate classifications, including pre-trail detainees.
Useful Links
Fraternal Order Of Police
Local And State Law Enforcement
- Berkeley County Sheriff's Office
- City of Charleston Police Department
- Dorchester County Sheriff's Office
- Folly Beach Public Safety
- Isle of Palms Police Department
- Mount Pleasant Police Department
- North Charleston Police Department
- South Carolina Attorney General
- South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy
- South Carolina Highway Patrol
- South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
- South Carolina State Transport Police
- State Law Enforcement Division
- Sullivan's Island Police Department
- Summerville Police Department
Federal Resources
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
- Bureau of Justice Assistance
- Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Federal World Information Network
- The Intelligence Community
- Library of Congress
- National Institute of Justice
- Partnerships Against Violence (Pavnet Online)
- U.S. House of Representatives
- U.S. Senate
- The White House
Other Law Enforcement Areas
- Police Officer's Internet Directory
- Cop Net
- Criminal Justice Links
- Law Enforcement Sites
- National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
- South Carolina Law Enforcement Web Page
- COPS
State/Local Criminal Justice
- The C-SPAN Networks
- National Center for State Courts
- National Criminal Justice Association
- Rand Corporation
Other Related Pages
- The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. - { CALEA }
- Missing and Exploited Children
- South Carolina Aquarium
- Charleston County
- Charleston County's Clerk of Court
- Ninth Circuit Solicitor's Office
- Charleston Net
- WCBD - NBC - Channel 2
- WCIV - ABC - Channel 4
- WCSC - CBS - Channel 5
- Upcoming Public Auctions
- GovDeals - Online Surplus Auctions
- National Criminal Enforcement Association
- The National Center for Victims of Crime
- South Carolina Sheriff's Association
- South Carolina Law Enforcement Agency
- Concealed Weapons Permit for South Carolina
- South Carolina Registry of Sex Offenders