The South Carolina State Prison System

The South Carolina Department of Corrections oversees the state prison and correctional facilities. Besides serving penal justice, the state department of corrections has the task of safeguarding society by taking dangerous persons off the streets. The system's administrative structure also provides a platform for incarcerated persons to self-develop, thus giving them an opportunity for a fresh start in life. During this period, the system takes responsibility for the inmates’ feeding, housing, and security. Persons admitted to the South Carolina state prison system have received convictions and/or sentences from South Carolina State Courts.

What Is The Difference Between Jail and Prison in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, the difference between a jail and a prison is the amount of time spent in incarceration. The state’s prison system typically houses persons serving sentences of over three months. While jails are under the watch of county security departments, the authorities may refer high-risk pretrial offenders to the prisons, being a more secure facility. The South Carolina Prison System also has administrative oversight of local jails by way of hierarchy. County or city jails and custody centers are for temporary confinement or sentences less than three months.

How Many Prisons Are In South Carolina?

The headquarters of the South Carolina Corrections Department is situated at:

P. O. Box 21787
4444 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896–8500
corrections.info@doc.sc.gov

There are twenty one correction institutions in South Carolina. These institutions are categorized into four levels:

Community-based pre-release/work centers (level 1A)
Livesay Correctional Institution
Level 1”A” Camp formerly Livesay PRC (L1-A)
SC DHEC Food Safety Inspection
Palmer Pre-Release Center (L1-A)
Joseph McFadden, Warden
2012 Pisgah Road
Florence, SC 29501
Telephone: (843) 661–4770 or (803) 734–9487

Minimum security (level 1B)
“B” Camp formerly Northside CI (L1-B)
George Dodkin, Warden
104 Broadcast Drive
Spartanburg, SC 29303
(803) 734–1375 or (864) 594–4915

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 580
Una, SC 29378

Manning Reentry/Work Release Center (L1-B)
Region 2
Wilfredo Martell, Warden
502 Beckman Drive
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 935–6000

Goodman Correctional Institution (L1-B)
Level 1
Steve Duncan, Warden
4556 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
Phone: (803) 896–8565

Medium Security (level 2)
Allendale Correctional Institution (L2)
Region 2
McKendley Newton, Warden
1057 Revolutionary Trail
Fairfax, SC 29827
Phone: (803) 632–2561 or (803) 734–0653

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 1151
Fairfax. SC 29827

MacDougall Correctional Institution (L2)
Region 1
Warden (vacant)
1516 Old Gilliard Road
Ridgeville, SC 29472
Phone: (843) 688–5251 or (803) 737–3036
or 843–875–0880

Evans Correctional Institution (L2)
Region 1
Donnie Stonebreaker, Jr., Warden
610 Highway 9 West
Bennettsville, SC 29512
Phone: (843) 479–4181 or (803)896–4900

Graham (Camille Griffin) Correctional Institution (Women L2) Region 2
Lisa Engram, Warden
4450 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
Phone: (803) 896–8590

Kershaw Correctional Institution and Reentry Center (L2) Region 2
Tonya James, Warden
4848 Goldmine Hwy
Kershaw, SC 29067
Phone: (803) 896–3300

Ridgeland Correctional Institution (L2) Region 1
LeVern Cohen, Warden
5 Correctional Road
Ridgeland, SC 29936
Phone: (803) 896–3200 or (843) 726–6888

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2039
Ridgeland, SC 29936

Trenton Correctional Institution (L2)
Evonne Willingham, Warden
84 Greenhouse Road
Trenton, SC 29847
Phone: (803) 896–3000 or (803) 278–0010
(803) 275–3301

Leath Correctional Institution
Patricia Yeldell, Warden
2809 Airport Road
Greenwood, SC 29649
Phone: (803) 896–1000 or (864) 229–5709

Turbeville Correctional Institution
Kenneth Sharp, Warden
1578 Clarence Coker Hwy
Turbeville, SC 29162
Phone: (843) 659–4800 or (803) 896–3100

Tyger River Correctional Institution (L2)
Lower and  Upper
Jake Gadsden, Warden
100–200 Prison Rd
Enoree, SC 29335
Phone: (803) 896–3501 or (803) 896–3601
(864) 583–6056

Wateree River Correctional Institution
Donald Beckwith, Jr., Warden
Highway 261
Rembert, SC 29128
Phone: (803) 432–6191 or (803) 896–3400

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 189
Rembert, SC 29128

High Security (level 3)
Broad River Correctional Institution (L3)
Michael Stephan, Warden
4460 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
Phone: (803) 896–2234

McCormick Correctional Institution (L3)
Charles (Tony) Burton, Warden
386 Redemption Way
McCormick, SC 29899
Phone: (864) 443–2114, (803) 734–0330

Perry Correctional Institution (L3)
Charles Williams, Jr., Warden
430 Oaklawn Road
Pelzer, SC 29669
Phone: (864) 243–4700

Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center (L3)
Terrie Wallace, Warden
4344 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
Phoen: (803) 896–1521

Lee Correctional Institution (L3)
Kenneth Nelsen, Warden
990 Wisacky Highway
Bishopville, SC 29010
Phone: (803) 428–2800 or (803) 896–2400

Lieber Correctional Institution and Reentry Center (L3)
Brian Kendall, Warden
136 Wilborn Avenue
P. O. Box 205
Ridgeville, SC 29472
Phone: (843) 875–3332 or (803) 896–3700

How Do I Search For An Inmate In South Carolina State Prison?

An inmate is someone currently incarcerated. The South Carolina Department of Corrections maintains a database of inmates in the system. Interested parties may search for an inmate using the ground location of the correctional institution. Use the address page to get directions to the facility. Another way to search for an inmate is to use the online database provided by the agency. Inquiring parties should have the registration number of the inmate as given by the Department of Corrections (SCDC number), and all the state identification numbers (SID). Have the full names of the inmates ready. If unsure of the name, check the phonetic match box. This should return all records of inmates with similar phonetic sounds. Identify the record of interest and click for more information. It should open up a PDF window of more detailed information.

Are Incarceration Records Public in South Carolina?

Incarceration records are a part of criminal history information in South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, members of the public have a right to access arrest and conviction information (including incarceration) in criminal records. Only law enforcement agencies and the persons listed in the record may access the entire information. If the record in question is under a seal by authorities, it may not be accessible to the public unless with the submission of a court order.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often simplify the search process by aggregating information from various jurisdictions and providing it to record seekers via a single database. Users are generally required to provide the following information to facilitate a search:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state where the person resides or was accused.

Third-party sites operate independently from government sources and are not sponsored by these agencies. Therefore, the accuracy and validity of the information they provide may not be guaranteed.

How to Look Up Jail Records in South Carolina?

Jail history and arrest records both form a part of a criminal history information of an individual in South Carolina. The primary custodian agency of this information, that is, the agency responsible for the initial documentation has a mandate to make these records available upon request to eligible persons. For example, jail information is available at the sheriff’s office of each county where the jail is located. Another way to look up jail records is to visit the sheriff’s office on the county website. Some sheriff departments list currently serving inmates and their basic information on the web page. Jail records of persons that have completed their sentences may not be available online and may require a visit to the sheriff’s department. The same applies to arrest records. Arrest records are available at the law enforcement agency that effected the arrest. A summary report of jail records and arrest records is a part of the rapsheets of any registered individual in South Carolina. The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Department (SLED) provides this summary information. Access to a full copy of criminal history information is given only to the persons listed in the records and delegated law enforcement agents. The online form on SLED requires social security numbers and fingerprints both of which are private information.

Can Jail Records be Expunged in South Carolina?

Yes, jail records may be expunged in South Carolina. It applies especially to temporary custody or pre-trial confinement that did not lead to a conviction. If it was a dismissed case, the involved individual has a right to request for expunction of all records associated with the case. Also, the laws of the state allow certain arrest charges and convictions to go under a seal in order to restrict public access. Some jail records, because of their association with felony charges, remain permanent public records, hence they are not subject to the possibilities of expunction.