Do Prisons Only Release Inmates on the First of the Month?

No. Inmates are released when their sentence is served, and that date falls on whatever day the calculation lands on. There is no policy at Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center or at any other facility that holds inmates until the first of the month if their actual release date falls earlier.

The release date is calculated based on the sentence length minus applicable good time credits, and that result is a specific calendar date. If that date is the 14th of a month, the inmate is released on the 14th. If it falls on a weekend or holiday, many facilities will release the inmate on the last business day before the date rather than holding them longer, which means in some cases people come home a day or two earlier than the official date.

If you have heard that Kirkland or any similar facility only releases on the first of the month, that information is not accurate. The release date is tied to the sentence calculation, not to an administrative schedule.

The most reliable way to confirm an exact release date is to check the South Carolina Department of Corrections inmate locator or contact the facility directly and ask to speak with a case manager.