Visiting someone incarcerated at SCDC - Broad River Secure Facility in Columbia, South Carolina means working within the visitation rules set by the South Carolina Department of Corrections. State prison systems are larger and more bureaucratic than county jails, and visiting procedures, including application forms, approval timelines, and scheduling portals, are standardized across the state's DOC facilities. Before your first visit to SCDC - Broad River Secure Facility, confirm the current process and your approval status by calling 803-896-2234.
Every state DOC requires visitors to submit a written application before being added to an inmate's approved visitor list. The application typically asks for your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, address, relationship to the inmate, and your criminal history if any. The DOC runs a background check, and approval can take anywhere from two weeks to a couple of months, depending on the state. Prior felony convictions, active warrants, or a recent release from custody yourself can result in denial. You'll receive written notice of approval or denial by mail.
State prisons schedule visits by housing unit, custody level, and day of week. Many state DOCs now require advance scheduling through an online portal such as GTL/ViaPath GettingOut, Securus Visitation, or a state-run system, with visits booked days or weeks ahead. Walk-up visits without an appointment are rare in modern state corrections. Visiting days at SCDC - Broad River Secure Facility may differ for general population, restricted housing, and protective custody inmates. Call 803-896-2234 for the current schedule and to confirm whether the inmate's current status allows visits.
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Most state DOCs require it to be unexpired and match the name on your approved visitor application. Dress code at SCDC - Broad River Secure Facility is enforced at the entry point: no clothing matching inmate uniforms (colors vary by state; often blue, white, gray, or orange), no revealing attire, no underwire bras in some facilities (they set off metal detectors), no hats, no jackets in the visiting room. Phones, bags, and electronics stay in your vehicle or in lobby lockers. Searches of visitors are routine; refusing a search ends the visit.
Visits at SCDC - Broad River Secure Facility depend on the inmate's classification. Minimum and medium custody inmates generally receive contact visits in a common visiting room. Maximum custody, administrative segregation, and protective custody inmates may be restricted to non-contact visits through glass or limited to fewer hours per month. Inmates in disciplinary status can have visits suspended entirely. If the inmate has been transferred recently, has a pending classification change, or is in restricted housing, call 803-896-2234 to verify what type of visit is currently allowed.
Most state DOCs now offer video visitation as a supplement to or replacement for some in-person visits. Video visits at state facilities are typically handled through GTL/ViaPath, Securus, or HomeWAV and require setting up a paid account, scheduling in advance, and connecting from a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Some states have made video the primary or only visitation option at certain facilities. For information on inmate phone plans and money transfer options that work alongside video visitation, see InmateAid's inmate services and call 803-896-2234 to confirm what's offered at SCDC - Broad River Secure Facility.
To start the visitor application process or check current visiting hours at SCDC - Broad River Secure Facility, call 803-896-2234.
For visitation updates, virtual visitation, rules for visitors, and FAQs, visit our Visitation Information.
Visitation is now open on Saturdays and Sundays for all institutions not on covid quarantine.
Visits must be scheduled ahead of time on the SCDC/GTL scheduler. If you have not created an account, click here to do so.
For virtual visitation, read carefully: the virtual visitation instructions and FAQ (PDF) before creating an account.
Visits will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be scheduled in 2-hour blocks. General population inmates with visitation privileges will be allowed four in-person visits per month.
Inmates may have one visit per weekend and up to four visits per month.
Inmates may have up to four visitors at a time, one of which must be an adult. Children of all ages can visit. Children age 10 and older must have a government-issued photo ID to visit. Children age nine and younger must show a long-form birth certificate.
Families of inmates who have visitation privileges and live in housing units other than the general population need to schedule visits by calling the institution. For visitation updates, virtual visitation, rules for visitors, and FAQs, visit our Visitation Information.
Questions? Email visitation@doc.sc.gov.