How to Search for Someone in the Al Cannon Detention Center Inmate Locator

Head to the Charleston County Sheriff's Office forms page - you'll find a direct "Inmate Search" link under online services. Once you open the search tool, you can look up booking records by name or by inmate number, depending on what information you have.

Searching by name? You'll need to enter at least three characters of the last name before the system runs the search. Short entries won't work. Here's a tip: the more complete the last name, the faster and more accurate your results. The search returns everyone whose last name starts with what you typed, so entering just three letters can pull up a long list.

Know roughly when someone was booked? Use the Booking Date From/To fields to narrow your results. This is especially helpful for same-day or recent bookings. Watch the date format: enter dates as MM/DD/YYYY. January 5, 2026 would be 01/05/2026.

Got the person's inmate number? Use it. This pulls up a specific record directly - no scrolling through similar names. It's the fastest way to confirm you've found the right person, especially when the name is common.

In the search results, you’ll see a printer icon for an individual record. Selecting that printer icon opens a printable version of the booking details, which you can print right away or save using your browser’s print options (for example, saving as a PDF for your records).

Can't find someone? Don't assume they aren't in custody. Try a few variations: enter more of the last name instead of just three letters, or add booking date filters if you know the timeframe. Still no luck? Call the Sheriff's Office at (843) 202-7200 or (843) 202-7222. For general questions, you can also email PublicInfo@CharlestonCounty.org.