CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — A new annual report examining Charleston County’s criminal justice system shows crime continuing to decline since 2024, but it also highlights growing pressure points that officials say are straining the courts and the jail — including a rising average daily inmate population and persistent case backlogs.
The Charleston County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council released its 10th annual report, which compiles and analyzes data from municipalities across the county. While the report notes areas of progress, it also points to “concerning” upward trends in case backlogs and average daily jail populations.
In 2025, the average daily population at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center was 1,270 people, and a majority of those inmates were being held pretrial, according to the report…