Berkeley County, South Carolina Inmate Search

An inmate search is a query to a detention or correctional institution for public information about inmates currently detained or sentenced to a period of incarceration by the court system.

In Berkeley County, South Carolina, such inquiries are submitted to the Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), which oversees the county’s main detention facility, the Hill-Finklea Detention Center (HFDC).

Nonetheless, not everyone arrested in Berkeley County is detained under county jurisdiction. Where the inquiry pertains to a state-sentenced inmate, the appropriate agency to approach is the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC). Conversely, federal inmate details can be retrieved from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

Still, in certain cases, an arrested person may not be immediately transported to the HFDC. Sometimes, police departments-like the Goose Creek and Summerville PDs, which supervise the most active municipal jurisdictions within the county-may detain an individual at the station for initial questioning or paperwork. When this happens, real-time information about the arrestee’s custody status may be sourced from the arresting department.

Notably, Standard 1005(h) of the SCDC Jail Standards, Minimum Standards for Local Detention Facilities, prohibits any detention in a temporary holding facility from exceeding six hours. Once this period lapses, the arrestee is transferred to the county facility for booking or released if no charges are filed.

Juveniles who are arrested in Berkeley are typically managed through a separate system, with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (SCDJJ) retaining custodial authority.

How to Find an Inmate in Berkeley County Jail

Members of the public looking for an inmate who may have been in the Hill-Finklea Detention Center have the option to call the BCSO’s Records Management Office at (843) 719-4557 (during business hours), the jail’s 24/7 main line at (843) 719-4546, or search the jail’s online roster. The latter two options are useful for finding persons currently in custody. However, contacting/visiting the Records Section may be the better option when seeking information about released individuals.

Hill-Finklea Detention Center (Berkeley County Jail)

300 California Avenue

Moncks Corner, SC 29461

While the jail functions as a specialized facility, it remains a division of the Sheriff’s Office. As such, inquiries can also be made to this department, especially regarding procedural information or official records/reports. The BCSO’s main headquarters (listed below) houses the Records Office.

Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office

223 North Live Oak Drive

Moncks Corner, SC 29461

[Inmate Name][Booking Number]

How to Use the Berkeley County Jail Roster

Here’s how to access the Berkeley County jail roster to find a local inmate:

• Navigate to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s official website at https://sheriff.berkeleycountysc.gov/ on any internet-connected device.
• Scroll down the homepage and select the "Inmate Lookup" link.
• On the subsequent page (i.e, the Inmate Lookup interface), enter the person’s name, the charge(s), the arresting agency, or the date range of the arrest. The system also accepts partial search terms.
• Click the "Submit" button.

After submitting the query, the system will then display a comprehensive list of all inmate records that correspond to the provided criteria.

What Information is Included in the Berkeley County Inmate Roster

Individuals searching the Berkeley County inmate (jail) roster online can obtain the following details:

• Personal Data: The inmate’s full name, race, sex, and photograph (mugshot).
• Booking Information: The precise date and time the individual was formally booked into the facility.
• Arrest Information: The arresting agency (e.g., Hanahan Police Department, Moncks Corner Police Department, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office).
• Charges Detail: Charge description and bond amount.

It should be noted that the jail roster only shows "public" information, i.e., records deemed open to the general public under South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act. Confidential information, such as juvenile offender records and protected health data, is exempt from the public’s access.

Contact Details for Berkeley County Jail or Sheriff’s Office

To inquire about inmates at the Berkeley County Jail or Sheriff’s Office, one must have the correct contact information, which includes the addresses or telephone numbers listed below.

Agency	Physical Address	Phone Number
Berkeley County Hill-Finklea Detention Center	300 California Avenue Moncks Corner, SC 29461	Main Line - 24 Hours: (843) 719-4546 Main Line - Business Hours (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.): (843) 719-3998 Booking: (843) 719-4876 Records: (843) 719-4557
Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office	Main Headquarters/Administrative Offices: 223 North Live Oak Drive Moncks Corner, SC 29461	(843) 719-4465 (See contact information for district headquarters, substations, and key staff.)

Jail Facility Overview in Berkeley County

The Berkeley County Hill-Finklea Detention Center, or Berkeley County Jail, is a secure detention facility located in the county seat of Moncks Corner. The facility’s original design capacity is 290 inmates. However, a major expansion project to address chronic overcrowding, which broke ground in May 2023, is expected to double the jail’s rated capacity to house over 600 inmates.

The Hill-Finklea Detention Center primarily houses adults (male and female) who have been accused of various crimes or are serving sentences typically under 90 days. S.C. Code Ann. § 24-3-20(A) dictates that individuals convicted of a state offense and sentenced to over three months (90 days) of imprisonment be transferred to the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

Unlike adults, juveniles charged with criminal offenses in Berkeley County are typically not held locally (S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-820(B)) but are instead transported to the SCDJJ Juvenile Detention Complex in Columbia. However, the Family Court may cede jurisdiction to the Court of General Sessions for juveniles charged with serious offenses to stand trial as adults. In these cases, the juvenile may be held at the Hill-Finklea Detention Center following standards set out in S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-820(C).

The SCDJJ Juvenile Detention Complex in Columbia, SC, is a secure, short-term pre-trial facility that holds juveniles aged 11 and older. Youth detained at the complex include

• Juveniles detained by law enforcement for offenses allegedly committed before they turned 18.
• Juveniles awaiting trial for serious and violent crimes.
• Juveniles ordered to undergo a secure evaluation pending their case’s finalization.

The SCDJJ does not report a specific rated capacity for the complex. However, the agency’s 2025 Annual Accountability Report notes that the total daily population across all facilities and community placements can reach up to 500 youth at any given time.

Agency	Office and Mail Address	Phone Number	Office Hours	Email
Berkeley County Hill-Finklea Detention Center	300 California Avenue Moncks Corner, SC 29461	Main Line - 24 Hours: (843) 719-4546 Main Line - Business Hours (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.): (843) 719-3998	24 hours a day, full week	No designated official email address.
South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice - Juvenile Detention Complex	Berkeley County SCDJJ Office (Low Country Region): 109 West Main Street Moncks Corner, SC 29461 Mail: P.O. Box 1484, Beaufort, SC 29902	(843) 761-8194	24 hours a day, full week	Email addresses for public inquiries and other questions/requests are listed on the agency’s Contact page.

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Hill-Finklea Detention Center

Money can be deposited into a Hill-Finklea Detention Center inmate’s commissary account using one of three methods:

1. Mail a Money Order: Individuals can send a money order directly to an inmate’s account using the official mailing address format specified on the jail’s website.
2. In-Person Deposit: Money can be added at the kiosk located in the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office lobby. The kiosk accepts cash or credit card, but a small processing fee applies per transaction.
3. Online Deposit: The Detention Center contracts with a private service provider to facilitate deposits into an inmate’s account. To use this option, the depositor will need the inmate’s name, location, and ID number (obtained directly from the inmate).

Inmate Search by Jail Facility

To search for an inmate at the Berkeley County Hill-Finklea Detention Center, individuals can access the jail’s roster, which is featured on the Sheriff’s Office website.

To search for a juvenile detained at the SCDJJ Juvenile Detention Complex, direct contact with the SCDJJ is necessary. S.C. Code Ann. §§ 63-19-2030 and 63-19-2010 generally prohibit the public dissemination of juvenile offender records to protect the minor’s privacy. Under these laws, access is restricted to persons having a "legitimate interest," such as court officials, the juvenile’s parent or legal guardian, the attorney of record, and law enforcement for criminal justice purposes. However, S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-1210 (7) removes confidentiality provisions once a juvenile is waived to the jurisdiction of the adult court (Court of General Sessions).

Facility Name	Availability of Inmate Search/Roster	How to Access Information	Limitations/Notes
Berkeley County Hill-Finklea Detention Center	Yes	Use the Inmate Lookup tool (jail roster) on the County Sheriff’s website.	The portal only displays public records tied to currently booked inmates (those imprisoned at the time of the search). For release records, contact the Sheriff’s Records Management Office.
South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice - Juvenile Detention Complex	No	Reach out to the SCDJJ directly. Government-issued ID is required to verify relationship to minor or eligibility.	Absence of a public roster to comply with the SC juvenile record confidentiality laws.

Berkeley County Visitation Rules and Schedules

Visitation at the Berkeley County Hill-Finklea Detention Center is conducted exclusively by online (remote) video, utilizing the jail’s designated third-party vendor’s services. Family and friends must register on the vendor’s website to begin scheduling visits. Available timeslots and days are provided after registration, and visitors are required to follow all visitation rules, including maintaining appropriate behavior and attire. For direct communication with Detention Center personnel regarding inmate visitation, individuals can call the jail’s 24/7 main line at (843) 719-4546.

For visitation at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, one should review the SCDJJ guidelines.

Mailing and Commissary Information

Inmates at the Berkeley County Hill-Finklea Detention Center are permitted to receive personal mail, provided that the sender adheres to the policies established by the facility. Personal mail (letters/photographs) is not sent directly to the jail. Instead, it is routed through the jail’s approved vendor. The correct mailing address format is specified on the Detention Center’s website. Senders will need to include their name and return address on the envelope and ensure to use the inmate’s full name (as noted during the booking process).

The following rules apply to packages shipped directly to the facility:

• Books: Must be softcover and shipped directly from a publisher or bookstore.
• Magazines/Newspapers: Must be shipped directly from a publisher or bookstore via mail subscription only.
• Religious Materials and Publications: Must be softcover and shipped directly from a publisher, bookstore, or individual (author).

Package Address Format:

Berkeley County Detention Center

300 California Avenue

Moncks Corner, SC 29461

The Detention Center inspects all incoming mail for contraband (e.g., lipstick, glitter, glue, perfume). Any contraband discovered may lead to disciplinary action or criminal charges, or it will be returned to the sender.

To deposit funds to an inmate for commissary use, see the "How to Send Money to an Inmate in Hill-Finklea Detention Center" heading above.