South Carolina prison visitation rules, contact vs. non-contact facilities, and the contraband arrest policy

INTRO

South Carolina's Department of Corrections (SCDC) operates 21 correctional institutions housing approximately 17,000 people. The statewide visiting program runs through the GTL scheduling platform and was significantly updated on February 12, 2026, when SCDC transitioned to a unified online application process.

Two things define South Carolina's system in this directory. First, SCDC publicly divides its facilities into contact visit and non-contact visit institutions - and publishes the list. Nine facilities use plexiglass booths for all visits. Twelve allow contact visits. Knowing which type of facility applies before you travel determines the nature of the visit itself. Second, SCDC's contraband policy is stated in the simplest possible terms on the family page: "Anyone caught bringing contraband into SCDC will be arrested and prohibited from visiting again."

All visits must be scheduled at least 15 hours in advance through the GTL scheduler. No walk-ins.

South Carolina uses commercial bail bonds - bail_banned = false.

CONTACT VS. NON-CONTACT - WHICH FACILITY ARE YOU VISITING?

SCDC is one of the only states in this directory that publicly lists, by name, which facilities are contact and which are non-contact.

NON-CONTACT FACILITIES (visits in booths separated by plexiglass):

- Broad River Correctional Institution

- Kershaw Correctional Institution

- Kirkland Correctional Institution

- Lee Correctional Institution

- Lieber Correctional Institution

- McCormick Correctional Institution

- Perry Correctional Institution

- Ridgeland Correctional Institution

- Turbeville Correctional Institution

CONTACT VISIT FACILITIES:

- Allendale Correctional Institution

- Camille Graham Correctional Institution (women's)

- Evans Correctional Institution

- Goodman Correctional Institution

- Leath Correctional Institution

- Livesay Correctional Institution

- MacDougall Correctional Institution

- Manning Correctional Institution

- Palmer Correctional Institution

- Trenton Correctional Institution

- Tyger River Correctional Institution

- Wateree River Correctional Institution

Contact visit rules and non-contact visit rules are published in separate PDFs at doc.sc.gov/family. Review the rules for the specific facility type before visiting.

APPLICATION PROCESS - UPDATED FEBRUARY 12, 2026

SCDC updated and simplified its visitor application process effective February 12, 2026. All applications are now handled online through a unified system.

Apply online: scdoc.gtlvisitme.com/app

Documents required when applying:

- Adults: driver's license

- Minors: long-form birth certificate

If SCDC needs additional documents, they will contact you by email. Adults with a valid South Carolina driver's license can complete the process entirely online. Those without a valid SC driver's license may still need additional steps - contact visitation@doc.sc.gov for guidance.

ALREADY APPROVED?

If you are already an approved visitor in the ViaPath/Vismanager system and have been assigned a visitor identification number, no action is needed. Log into the system to check your application status. The scheduling process has not changed.

Email for visitation questions: visitation@doc.sc.gov

Once approved: the inmate receives a copy of their approved visiting list weekly when changes are made. Approved visitors are notified by email.

REASONS FOR DENIAL:

- Providing false information on the visitation application

- Former inmate (exceptions exist for immediate family members)

- Criminal record or pending criminal charges

- Posing a threat to safe and secure facility operation

- Arriving inappropriately dressed or under the influence of alcohol or drugs

- Refusing to go through security screening

GTL SCHEDULING - 15-HOUR ADVANCE REQUIREMENT

All visits - in-person and virtual - must be scheduled through the GTL scheduling tool at scdoc.gtlvisitme.com/app. No walk-in visits are accepted.

15-HOUR ADVANCE REQUIREMENT:

All visits must be scheduled at least 15 hours ahead of the visit time. This is one of the more specific advance scheduling requirements in the directory - not 24 hours (Rhode Island), not 48 hours (New Jersey), but specifically 15 hours. Plan accordingly.

Visitation Inquiry Line: 803-896-1838

Press 1: visitation application process questions

Press 2: up-to-date information about cancelled visitation due to security concerns

Leave a message with your phone number and staff will return your call.

Cancellations: listed on SCDC's agency website and X (Twitter) account at @SCDCNews.

VISITING HOURS AND FREQUENCY

Standard schedule for all SCDC institutions: Saturdays and Sundays, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM in 2-hour blocks.

Visit caps:

- Maximum 4 in-person visits per month per inmate

- Maximum 1 visit per weekend

- Each visit: up to 4 visitors, 1 of whom must be an adult

TYGER RIVER EXCEPTION:

Tyger River Correctional Institution allows only 1 visit per weekend, and back-to-back visits on the same weekend cannot be accommodated. This restriction is explicitly published to ensure equal access for all inmates at that facility.

Families of inmates in non-general-population housing units: schedule visits by calling the institution directly rather than through GTL.

VISITOR LIST - 15 MAXIMUM, CHILDREN RESTRICTIONS

Each inmate is allowed a maximum of 15 approved visitors on their visiting list.

MINOR CHILDREN - RELATIONSHIP RESTRICTIONS:

Minor children may be on the approved visiting list only if they are:

- The inmate's brothers or sisters

- The inmate's children (natural or legally adopted)

- The inmate's stepchildren

- The inmate's grandchildren or step-grandchildren

Nieces and nephews: specific criteria must be met before an inmate can have minor nieces or nephews on their visiting list - contact SCDC for current requirements.

Note: children of all ages can visit, but must be on the approved list in the appropriate relationship category.

IDENTIFICATION FOR CHILDREN:

- Age 10 and older: must present government-issued photo ID at every visit

- Age 9 and younger: must show a long-form birth certificate (not a short-form abstract)

THE CONTRABAND ARREST POLICY

SCDC states this clearly on its family page: "Anyone caught bringing contraband into SCDC will be arrested and prohibited from visiting again."

Two consequences, both permanent. Arrest - not just loss of privileges. And a lifetime ban from visiting any SCDC facility.

Wireless devices note: all personal devices that communicate wirelessly - including activity fitness trackers and smart watches - are prohibited effective February 1, 2016. This includes Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular-capable devices. Leave all smart watches, fitness trackers, and wireless-enabled accessories in your car.

All visitors, regardless of age, are subject to search. Any visitor who refuses to be questioned or refuses to consent to a search will be denied entry.

RESTROOM RULE - ONE-TIME USE PER VISIT

SCDC's published restroom policy:

Visitors may use the visitation room restrooms one time during a two-hour visit.

If children age 9 or younger are present: they must accompany the adult visitor to the restroom, and this counts as both visitors' one-time restroom use.

Restrooms located outside the institution or in the lobby may be available before processing through security - use these before entering if possible.

VENDING MACHINES - DEBIT/CREDIT CARDS ONLY

As of July 1, 2024, all vending machines at SCDC visitation areas accept debit/credit cards only. PayKeys are no longer accepted at any institution.

Facilities with specific vending management:

- Broad River, Evans, Kirkland, Kershaw, Lee, Lieber, McCormick, Perry, Turbeville, Tyger River: contact 803-400-8941 or scdcvending@gmail.com for issues

- Camille Graham, Goodman, Leath, Livesay, MacDougall, Manning, Palmer, Trenton, Wateree River: operated by SC Commission for the Blind; debit/credit only

Bring a debit or credit card. Cash and coins are no longer accepted for vending.

INFANT AND SMALL CHILD ITEMS

Visitors bringing authorized infants and small children may bring:

- Up to 5 diapers

- 3 baby bottles (or 2 sipper cups for toddlers - must be clear)

- 3 jars of sealed baby food in a clear plastic bag

- Baby wipes/towelettes in a clear plastic bag

- Infant/baby carriers (subject to search - visitor must remove the infant from the carrier for the search)

VIRTUAL VISITATION - GTL

Virtual visitation is available at all SCDC institutions for approved visitors, Monday through Friday. Schedules are determined at the institution level.

Platform: GTL at scdoc.gtlvisitme.com/app

Compatible devices: computers, tablets, smartphones including all Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac)

Must be on the inmate's approved visiting list to schedule virtual visits. 15-hour advance scheduling required.

For virtual visitation FAQ: doc.sc.gov/sites/doc/files/Documents/family/FAQs_Virtual_Visitation.pdf

Questions: email visitation@doc.sc.gov

DRESS CODE

Conservative attire is required at all SCDC institutions. Specific dress code rules are published in the facility-type PDFs at doc.sc.gov/family:

- Minimum-security and female institutions: separate dress code PDF

- Medium-security with contact visitation: separate dress code PDF

- Medium- and close-security with non-contact visitation: separate dress code PDF

No color prohibition is published statewide for SCDC (no blue/orange equivalent). Arriving inappropriately dressed is grounds for denial of the visit that day.

FEDERAL BOP IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Federal inmates from South Carolina fall under BOP Residential Reentry Management Atlanta. Federal prisons operating under BOP Program Statement 5267.09.

Federal facilities in South Carolina: FCI Edgefield (Edgefield, SC - low security and satellite camp). Pull current visiting details at bop.gov/locations/institutions/edg/.

BOP RRM Atlanta: 3800 Camp Creek Pkwy., SW, Building 2000, Atlanta, GA 30331

REENTRY CONNECTION

SCDC operates reentry programs statewide. See our South Carolina halfway houses page at inmateaid.com/halfway-houses/south-carolina/ for statewide reentry resources.