The latest yearly review from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council shows a mixed picture for Charleston County. Overall crime has slipped, but the jail is fuller than ever.

Data pulled from courts, the local police and the Al Cannon Detention Center reveal that property crimes dropped by 523 cases, personal assaults fell by 102, and offenses against society decreased by 154 compared to previous years. These figures come from the daily booking records at the detention center.

Driving under the influence remains the top offense for both men and women, with first‑time DUI charges leading the list. Trespassing and shoplifting round out the most common allegations.

The jail’s average daily population has climbed sharply, up 57% since 2021. Inmates are also staying longer; the average length of stay rose by 14% in 2025. Still, most people—about two‑thirds—are released within a day.

The court system is tackling a backlog that was reported as nearly 8, 000 cases pending over eighteen months in July. By the end of the year, only 53% of cases remained open for more than a year, an eight‑point drop from the previous year. However, the time from charge to resolution has lengthened by 15‑21%, likely because of lingering cases.

Looking ahead, the council plans to focus on six key areas: mental health services, public safety initiatives, youth programs, support for survivors and victims, community outreach, and court efficiency.

These priorities aim to balance the goal of reducing crime with the need to manage a growing jail population and streamline judicial processes.


# Charleston County Crime Review 2025

**Overall trend:**  
- **Crime down** – Property crimes fell by **523 cases**, personal assaults dropped by **102**, and offenses against society decreased by **154**.  
- **Jail full:** The average daily population rose **57%** since 2021, and the average stay length increased by **14%** in 2025.  

---

## Key Offenses

| Rank | Offense | Notes |
|------|---------|-------|
| 1 | Driving under the influence (DUI) | Top offense for both men and women; first‑time DUI charges lead the list |
| 2 | Trespassing | Second most common allegation |
| 3 | Shoplifting | Third most frequent charge |

---

## Court System Backlog

- **Pending cases (July 2025):** ~8,000 over the past 18 months.  
- **Cases open >1 year:** down to **53%** (an 8‑point drop).  
- **Charge-to-resolution time:** lengthened by **15–21%**, likely due to lingering cases.

---

## Council’s Six Focus Areas

1. **Mental health services**  
2. **Public safety initiatives**  
3. **Youth programs**  
4. **Support for survivors and victims**  
5. **Community outreach**  
6. **Court efficiency**

These priorities aim to reduce crime while managing the growing jail population and streamlining judicial processes.  



Crime Trends Shift: Fewer Incidents, More Jail Time in Charleston

Key Offenses

Council’s Six Focus Areas

Actions

Rank	Offense	Notes
1	Driving under the influence (DUI)	Top offense for both men and women; first‑time DUI charges lead the list
2	Trespassing	Second most common allegation
3	Shoplifting	Third most frequent charge