Beaufort County, South Carolina Inmate Search

An inmate search in Beaufort County, South Carolina, enables the public to locate a person taken into police custody for criminal activity. This search reveals detailed information about the arrested individual, including their booking number, specific criminal charges, and bond information.

Beaufort County inmate searches are performed through the local Detention Center. The Center is notably distinct from the Sheriff’s Office and operates under the direct supervision of the Beaufort County Council. This custodial setup is unique to the county and differs from the usual procedure in many other jurisdictions, where the Sheriff’s Office manages the local jail.

As the single centralized holding facility in Beaufort County, the Detention Center is where individuals apprehended by law enforcement agencies-like the Bluffton Police Department and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (which serves Hilton Head Island via contract and other unincorporated areas)-are officially booked. Local police departments may use temporary holding cells for initial processing and fingerprinting. These cells, however, are not used for overnight or long-term stays. As stipulated in Standard 1005(h) of the SCDC Jail Standards, Minimum Standards for Local Detention Facilities, stays in holding cells are limited to a maximum of six hours. Inquiries about persons not yet booked into the county system should be directed to the arresting agency.

Typically, the Beaufort County Detention Center does not house juveniles or state/federal inmates, with the exception of juveniles waived to adult court for serious crimes and state-sentenced inmates classified as inmate workers (trusties) per S.C. Code Ann. § 24-13-660. State inmates can be tracked through the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC), and federal inmates via the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

How to Find an Inmate in Beaufort County Jail

One reliable way to locate a Beaufort County inmate is to contact the Beaufort County Detention Center. Additionally, the Center provides an Inmate Inquiry System (jail roster) for obtaining inmate information over the internet. The Beaufort County Detention Center is situated at 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, South Carolina.

How to Use the Beaufort County Jail Roster

The Beaufort County Detention Center provides an online Inmate Inquiry System, which serves as the county’s jail roster and is accessible to members of the public. To access and search the roster, a person can follow these steps:

• Visit the Center’s Website: On a browser with an internet connection, navigate to the Beaufort County Detention Center’s website and select the "Inmate Inquiry System" link under the Resources section.
• Choose the Inquiry Method: On the following page, select the preferred search option. Options include viewing the current inmate population sorted by last name or booking date, searching for inmates booked within the last 72 hours or last 90 days, and locating inmates released within the previous 15 days. Selecting any option generates a comprehensive list of matching names.
• Locate the Inmate: To find a specific inmate, either scroll through the complete list or use the browser’s built-in search function. For faster results, deploy the search function (press CTRL+F on PC or CMD+F on Mac) and enter a last, middle, or first name in the search box. Then, use the arrow buttons next to the search box (^ Œ„) to navigate to the correct entry.
• View Inmate Details or Sign Up for Notifications: Click once on the row containing the inmate’s name. This action will reveal further details about the inmate, including a link to register for notifications on the inmate’s custody status.

What Information is Included in the Beaufort County Inmate Roster

The Beaufort County inmate (jail) roster disseminates the following information about a jail inmate:

• Personal Data
  • Full name (last, first, and middle)
  • Photograph
  • Date of birth
  • Sex
  • Race
  • Gender
  • Height & weight
  • Residential information (street address and city/state/zip)
• Booking & Release Information
  • Booking Date
  • Booking Time
  • Booking Number
  • Release Date
  • Release Time
• Arrest Details
  • Arresting Agency
  • Arresting Officer
• Charges and Court Information
  • Statute
  • Offense (Fleeing to Evade Arrest or Detention, Driving Under Suspension, etc.)
  • Presiding Court (e.g, General Sessions Court, Beaufort County Magistrate)
  • Warrant Number
  • Bond Amount

The information available on the Beaufort County inmate roster is limited to that deemed public under South Carolina law. Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. Title 63, Chapter 19 (specifically §§ 63-19-2030 and 63-19-2010), juvenile offender records are not open to the public. Further, the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) forbids the release of records deemed confidential by statute or judicial order. For example, Social Security numbers and medical records are excluded from the public’s access.

Contact Details for Beaufort County Jail or Sheriff’s Office

Members of the public can get in touch with the Beaufort County Detention Center using the following details:

Agency	Physical Address	Phone Number
Beaufort County Detention Center	100 Ribaut Road Beaufort, SC 29902	(843) 255-5200

Jail Facility Overview in Beaufort County

The jail facility (Detention Center) in Beaufort County serves as the county’s main holding facility. The inmate population is generally categorized as follows:

• Pretrial Inmates: Individuals (males and females) arrested or charged in Beaufort County but who have not been convicted. This category also includes juveniles whose cases have been transferred from the Family Court to the adult court system after the Family Court relinquished its jurisdiction.
• Sentenced inmates: Individuals who have been ordered by the court to serve a period of incarceration. The Detention Center primarily houses those with shorter commitments, typically less than 90 days. Inmates with sentences exceeding 90 days are transferred to the South Carolina Department of Corrections, except where
  • The inmate is a person sentenced by the Family Court. These individuals serve their time at the county jail, regardless of sentence length.
  • The inmate meets the necessary qualifications to be transferred from SCDC custody back to the local jail as an "inmate worker," a sentenced individual who, per S.C. Code Ann. § 24-13-660, can perform various essential tasks to support the facility’s operations.

Eligibility and placement for the inmate work program are determined in accordance with SCDC policies regarding inmate pre-release and community work/educational programs, the SC Minimum Standards for Local Detention Facilities, and the applicable statutes and ordinances.

The Beaufort County Detention Center has a maximum capacity of 255. In 2024, the facility recorded an average daily population of 189 inmates, with the average stay for an inmate being six days.

Juveniles (11-17) arrested or charged with delinquent acts in Beaufort County are typically transported to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (SCDJJ) Juvenile Detention Complex in Columbia, SC.

The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice operates the Juvenile Detention Center as a secure, short-term facility, one of its five secure facilities. The youth housed here include

• Those detained by law enforcement for alleged offenses committed before they turned 18.
• Those awaiting trial on charges involving serious and violent crimes.
• Those required to undergo a secure evaluation before their case is finalized.

Though the SCDJJ does not provide the specific capacity of the Complex, it indicates in its 2025 Annual Accountability Report that the total 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
Beaufort County Detention Center	Office: 100 Ribaut Road Beaufort, SC 29902 Mail: PO Drawer 1228 Beaufort, SC 29901	(843) 255-5200	24 hours a day, full week	Send an email to the Detention Center through the county’s CitizenGram Contact Form
SCDJJ Juvenile Detention Complex	Beaufort County SCDJJ Office (Low Country Region): 1905 Duke Street Room 220 Beaufort, SC 29902 Mail: P.O. Box 1484 Beaufort, SC 29902	(843) 525-1351	24 hours a day, full week	The SCDJJ maintains dedicated email addresses for various inquiries regarding its detained juvenile population. These addresses are specified on the agency’s Contact page.

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Beaufort County Detention Center

Members of the public can deposit money into a Beaufort County inmate’s account in two ways: by U.S. mail or online through the jail’s vendor. U.S. mail deposits are sent to the Beaufort County Detention Center via money order or cashier’s check. Depositors should call the facility at (843) 255-5179 for mailing procedures and correct address formats.

On the other hand, online deposits through the approved vendor’s website require account setup, and depositors will need to know the inmate’s name and number. These details are obtainable from either the facility’s online Inmate Inquiry System (jail roster) or by calling (843) 255-5208.

Inmate Search by Jail Facility

The Beaufort County Detention Center maintains an Inmate Inquiry System (jail roster) online, providing members of the public with convenient access to details on current bookings and the existing inmate population. Interested individuals can use this system to conduct an inmate search.

Regarding youth held in secure custody at the SCDJJ Juvenile Detention Complex, no searchable roster exists. In line with S.C. Code Ann. §§ 63-19-2030 and 63-19-2010, juvenile records are exempt from public dissemination. Generally, these records can be viewed only by legally entitled parties, such as the parents and counsel.

Notably, an exception applies if a youth is charged in adult court (i.e., the Circuit Court - General Session Court). S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-1210 (7) explicitly removes confidentiality provisions regarding identity and fingerprints for waived juveniles.

Facility Name	Availability of Inmate Search/Roster	How to Access Information	Limitations/Notes
Beaufort County Detention Center	Yes	Use the Inmate Inquiry System (jail roster) on the county’s website.	Displays public inmate records only.
SCDJJ Juvenile Detention Complex	No	Contact the SCDJJ directly	No public roster exists due to strict confidentiality laws.

Beaufort County Visitation Rules and Schedules

Visits with inmates at the Beaufort County Detention Center are permitted both on-site at the jail facility and remotely via video.

Family and friends who wish to visit online will need to sign up through the approved vendor’s website. Timeslots and days for online visits are scheduled based on housing assignment (Alpha 1, Bravo 2, etc.), and visitation restrictions may apply depending on an inmate’s disciplinary status or security level. The jail does not impose a limit on the number of visitors, but a fee applies for each online visit.

On the other hand, the Beaufort County Detention Center allows on-site visits every day except Sunday, mirroring the off-site visit schedule. However, all on-site visits must conclude by 3:30 p.m.

Visitor regulations for on-site visits limit the party to a maximum of two adults and one infant. On-site visitors are expected to comply with the facility’s rules, including maintaining appropriate conduct and attire, as anyone who intentionally violates them may be subject to criminal prosecution or a permanent visitation ban. Visitors must also consent to a security check or a search of their person before entering the visiting area.

Mailing and Commissary Information

Inmates at the Beaufort County Detention Center are allowed to receive unlimited mail, as well as write to anyone, so long as their letters satisfy U.S. Postal Service regulations.

Individuals addressing correspondence to a Beaufort County inmate should use the following format:

[Inmate Name] #_______

Beaufort County Detention Center

Pod (Housing Unit) #____

P.O. Drawer 1228

Beaufort, SC 29901-1228

(The first dash is reserved for the inmate’s number, and the second is for the number of their pod or housing unit.)

Senders should note the following rules for correspondence at the Beaufort County Detention Center:

• All incoming mail, excluding privileged mail, is inspected for contraband.
• All mail must have a complete return address.
• Oversized post or greeting cards, perfumed letters, polaroids, and photographs larger than 5" x 7" are rejected.
• Each inmate is only allowed a maximum of six photographs.
• Books and magazines are only accepted when sent directly from the publisher.
• Packages are rejected by the facility unless the sender obtains prior approval.

Persons who want to deposit money for commissary use can review the "How to Send Money to an Inmate in Beaufort County Detention Center" section on this page.