Kathryn Dennis Jailed 30 Days for DUI

Former "Southern Charm" star Kathryn Dennis was sentenced to 30 days in jail on Friday, October 3, 2025, after being convicted of driving under the influence. The conviction stems from a May 20, 2024, incident in Goose Creek, South Carolina, where Dennis was involved in a three-car collision. According to inmate records from the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office, the 34-year-old was booked into the Berkeley County jail on Friday evening.

The sentence concludes a legal process that began over a year ago when police responded to the crash near US Highway 52 and Stephanie Drive. At the time, officers reported that Dennis had "glossy eyes and an odor of alcohol coming from her," and witnesses also told police they smelled alcohol on her.

The initial arrest occurred just after 10 p.m. on May 20, 2024, after Dennis was involved in the multi-vehicle accident. Police reports from the incident noted that officers found several miniature bottles of Fireball liquor in her vehicle, some of which were open and empty. Although she refused to submit to a breathalyzer test at the scene, she later admitted to doctors at a hospital that she had consumed alcohol "way earlier" in the day.

Dashcam footage from the arrest captured a distraught Dennis arguing with officers, claiming they were ruining her life and the lives of her children. In addition to the DUI charge, she was cited for having an open container of alcohol in her vehicle. This incident is the latest in a series of legal and personal troubles for the former reality TV personality, who has had a documented history of substance abuse struggles and a lengthy, public custody battle over her two children with ex-partner Thomas Ravenel.

The 30-day jail sentence delivered in a Berkeley County court represents a significant consequence for the first-offense DUI. Under South Carolina law, penalties for a first-time DUI can range from fines and license suspension to jail time, with the severity often influenced by factors such as the driver's blood alcohol content (BAC) and whether an accident was involved.

Since Dennis refused a breathalyzer, specific BAC levels were not part of the public record, but the collision itself served as an aggravating factor. Her conviction will also require the completion of an Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program (ADSAP) and likely a lengthy driver's license suspension. The sentence underscores a difficult period for Dennis, who departed from "Southern Charm" in 2023 after eight seasons and lost primary custody of her children that same year.

• Timeline of the DUI Incident: The legal saga began on the evening of May 20, 2024, when Kathryn Dennis was arrested by the Goose Creek Police Department following a three-car collision. She was charged with DUI and having an open container. After her release on bond, she was ordered to appear in court on June 4, 2024. The case proceeded through the legal system for over a year, culminating in her conviction and sentencing to 30 days in jail on October 3, 2025.
• Details of the Arrest: Responding officers at the crash site noted Dennis had "glossy eyes" and smelled of alcohol. A search of her vehicle uncovered mini bottles of Fireball liquor. She failed a field sobriety test and refused a breathalyzer. Bodycam footage revealed Dennis's distress during the arrest, where she told officers, "Ya'll are ruining my life — and my kids' [lives]," and expressed concern about how the arrest would affect her children.
• Legal Context and Penalties in South Carolina: Dennis was convicted of a first-offense DUI. In South Carolina, penalties for a first offense can include 48 hours to 30 days in jail, fines, and a six-month license suspension. Factors like causing an accident can lead to harsher sentences within that range. All DUI convictions also mandate the completion of an Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program (ADSAP) and the installation of an ignition interlock device.
• A History of Legal and Personal Struggles: This DUI conviction is not an isolated event. Dennis has a well-documented history of personal challenges, including entering rehab in 2016 after testing positive for marijuana during a custody dispute. She has faced multiple eviction notices for non-payment of rent and was also linked to a separate alleged hit-and-run incident in October 2023, where a vehicle registered to her struck a school resource officer.
• Custody Battle with Thomas Ravenel: A central theme of Dennis's life in the public eye has been her tumultuous relationship and subsequent custody battle with former "Southern Charm" co-star Thomas Ravenel, with whom she shares two children. After initially losing custody in 2016, she later gained joint custody. However, in February 2023, Ravenel was awarded sole custody, with Dennis granted supervised visitation every other weekend.
• Implications for Her Future: A jail sentence and a DUI conviction on her record will likely have lasting personal and professional repercussions. It could further complicate her child custody arrangement and negatively impact any future career opportunities in television or branding. The conviction adds to a public narrative of instability that has followed her since her departure from "Southern Charm."
• Status on "Southern Charm": Kathryn Dennis was a main cast member on Bravo's "Southern Charm" for eight seasons, with her volatile relationship with Thomas Ravenel and personal dramas forming a major part of the show's storyline. She announced her departure from the series in January 2023, just before losing primary custody of her children.