The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) operates 21 correctional institutions housing approximately 15,000-17,000 incarcerated people. Here is a complete guide for families on locating a loved one, communicating, and visiting.
Finding Your Loved One: SCDC Inmate Search
SCDC provides a free public inmate search at dci.sc.gov — the South Carolina Department of Corrections inmate search. Search by name or SCDC number. The search returns current facility, sentence information, and projected release date.
Newly sentenced individuals go through reception at one of SCDC's assessment facilities before assignment to a permanent institution. Allow two to four weeks after sentencing for a permanent placement to appear.
Phone Calls: Securus Technologies
SCDC uses Securus Technologies for inmate telephone services. To receive calls:
- Create a free account at securustech.net
- Register the phone number you want calls received on
- Fund your AdvanceConnect account
- Confirm your number is on the inmate's approved call list
Inmates call out — you cannot call in. All calls except attorney-client calls are monitored and recorded.
Sending Money: JPay
SCDC uses JPay for inmate trust account deposits. Go to JPay.com, search the inmate under South Carolina DOC, and deposit by card. Fees apply.
Visiting South Carolina State Prisons
- Approved visitor list — the inmate submits visitor names through their case manager or unit officer
- Valid government-issued photo ID required at every visit
- Background check required for visitors over 18
- Dress code enforced — no camouflage, no khaki (inmate uniform color), no revealing clothing
- Visiting schedules vary by facility — check doc.sc.gov under each facility page
- SCDC allows visitation on Saturdays, Sundays, and some holidays — call the specific facility to confirm current hours
Key SCDC Facilities
- Broad River Correctional Institution — Columbia. Men, maximum security; houses death row.
- Lieber Correctional Institution — Ridgeville. Men, maximum security.
- Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution — Columbia. Women, all security levels.
- Lee Correctional Institution — Bishopville. Men, medium security. Site of the 2018 riot.
- Full facility list: doc.sc.gov.
Mail policy: SCDC uses a mail scanning program — incoming non-legal mail may be scanned and the digital image delivered to the inmate rather than the physical letter. Confirm current policy at (803) 896-8555 before sending physical items.
Key Resources
- SC Commission on Indigent Defense (capital cases): (803) 734-1343
- Death Penalty Resource Center (capital defense): dprc.org
- ACLU of South Carolina: aclusc.org — prison conditions and civil rights
- SC Parole and Community Supervision: dppcs.sc.gov — parole decisions and conditions
SCDC headquarters: 4444 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210. Phone: (803) 896-8555. Website: doc.sc.gov. Inmate search: dci.sc.gov.
Further reading for families
For practical guidance on supporting your loved one, see our step-by-step guides on how to bail someone out of jail, how to write a letter to an inmate, and why inmate phone calls are so expensive — and what families can do to reduce those costs.
Many of these services are run by private companies. See how the main providers work, including fees and how to sign up: Securus, ViaPath (GTL), JPay, Access Corrections, CorrLinks, GettingOut. For every phone, video, money, mail, and care-package company, browse our full inmate service provider directory.