Visitation



VISITATION UPDATE:


Contact visits expand to some medium-security institutions

SCDC will now allow inmates at some medium-security prisons to visit their loved ones without plexiglass booths.

Those institutions are Allendale, Evans, MacDougall, Trenton and Tyger River.

These institutions join Camille Graham, Goodman, Leath, Livesay, Manning, Palmer and Wateree River to allow contact visits. This change took effect Dec. 3, 2022.

Visits at close-custody institutions and higher-security medium custody institutions will continue to be non-contact.

The visitation booths will remain in the visitation rooms. If visitors are caught with contraband, the institution could go back to non-contact visits. Also, if COVID-19 restrictions return, the department will resume using the plexiglass booths for visitation.

Anyone caught bringing contraband into SCDC will be arrested and prohibited from visiting again.

All visits still need to be scheduled through the GTL scheduler.



Find complete visitation rules for minimum-security and female institutions here.

Find complete visitation rules for medium-security institutions with contact visitation here.

Find complete visitation rules for medium- and close-security institutions with non-contact visitation here.

Here are visitation details for this weekend's visitation period of Mar 18 and Mar 19.

In-person and virtual visitation is approved for ALL institutions except for these dorms/units:
  • Kirkland: F1A
  • Manning: W7 (A, B, C, and D)

SCDC institutions without units on covid quarantine will be allowed to visit both in person and virtually. Institutions with a majority of dorms on quarantine will not be allowed to visit at all. At other institutions, inmates not in quarantine dorms will be allowed to visit virtually.

All visits must be scheduled at least 15 hours ahead by using the GTL scheduler.


Restroom use during visitation

While visitors are encouraged to use the restroom before arriving at the institution, some accommodations are being made for restroom use during weekend visitation.

Visitors may use the visitation room restrooms one time during a two-hour visit. If children age nine or younger are present, they must accompany the adult visitor to the restroom. This will be considered as both visitors’ one-time use.

Also, restrooms located outside the institution or in the lobby might be available before processing through the security area.

Virtual visitation is available at some institutions Monday-Friday depending on covid restrictions. Those decisions are made at the institution. For more information about virtual visitation schedules, contact the institution directly.

VISITATION:

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, you should first read carefully: the virtual visitation instructions and FAQ 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 general population need to schedule visits by calling the institution.

Questions? Email visitation@doc.sc.gov .

Virtual visits continue for inmates who are not in quarantine dorms. If you have questions, please email visitation@doc.sc.gov.

If covid cases arise at other institutions and housing units are put on quarantine, visits will be cancelled. Information will be distributed on the agency’s website here and on the agency’s Twitter feed. Please keep close watch because circumstances can change quickly with covid.

Several changes will be in place. All visits must be scheduled ahead of time through the SCDC/GTL scheduler, located here on the agency’s website. This is the same process used to schedule virtual visits. To use the scheduler, visitors must be on the approved visitation list and do two things:

  1. Register on the SCDC/GTL scheduling website. To register, click on this link, which is found under the visitation tab on the agency’s website.
  2. After logging into the site, schedule your visit.

The agency asks anyone planning to visit to register as soon as possible. Information about how to do that can be found here.

Also, if you need to update your address or any other information on your account, please email a photograph or photocopy of your ID to visitation@doc.sc.gov.

Other changes include:

  1. Visits will be non-contact except for a brief embrace at the beginning of the visit.
  2. Visits at medium and close security institutions will be in newly installed visitation booths.
  3. Proof of vaccination is not required for visitors or inmates.
  4. All visitors will be screened for covid symptoms.
  5. Mask requirements are determined by the institution’s COVID-19 Operations status:
    1. Visitors to institutions on “Everyday” status are encouraged to wear a surgical mask, which will be issued by the institution.
    2. Visitors to institutions on “Enhanced” status who are age four and older are required to wear a surgical mask, which will be issued by the institution.
  6. All visitation stations will be sanitized after each visit.
  7. Visitors are encouraged to use the restroom before arriving at the institution as restrooms will not be accessible.
  8. Institutions with living areas on covid quarantine will not be able to visit. Information about this will be shared as soon as it is known, keeping in mind that covid testing is ongoing and circumstances can change quickly.
  9. If visitors are unable to attend a scheduled visit, they must cancel the visit 48 hours ahead of time. Otherwise the visit will count toward the inmate’s monthly visit total.


More details about visitation for Female and Minimum-security institutions can be found here.

More details about Medium- and Close-security institutions can be found here.

See also these important general visitation guidelines and the information below.

Virtual Visitation

Virtual visitation is available at all institutions for those on an inmate's visitation list, depending on covid restrictions. Virtual visits can be done on any kind of computer, tablet or smart phone. This is now available on Apple products, including iPhones, iPads and Macintosh computers.

Virtual Visitation Instructions and Frequently Asked Questions
Click here to schedule a visit.
Virtual Visitation Quick Reference Guide
Virtual Visitation: Moving from Flash to WebRTC
Walk-through for Mobile Download for Android Devices

Register or log-in: scdoc.gtlvisitme.com/app
Scheduling a Visit:
All visits must be scheduled through the GTL scheduling tool, and visitors must be on the inmate’s approved SCDC visitation list.

Follow these directionsafter logging in to GTL.

Click here to schedule a visit.



Visitation is an important component of the rehabilitation process and is conducted in the least restrictive manner possible while meeting requirements of safety, security, classification, and space availability. Review visitation guidelines at the link: Rules for Visitors

Mailing Applications: The Division of Visitation and Inmate Drug Testing (Visitation) processes applications for visiting privileges. Mail applications to:

   Division of Visitation and I/M DT
   P. O. Box 212969
   Columbia, South Carolina, 29221-2969

Visitation Inquiry Line: 803-896-1838
   Press 1 — for questions regarding the visitation application process. If the recording does not answer your question, you may leave a message including your phone number (with area code) and staff will return your call.
   Press 2 — for up-to-date information about prisons that presently have canceled visitation because of security concerns.

Approved visitor should check the agency website www.doc.sc.gov (visitation) for any cancellations.

Each inmate in the S. C. Department of Corrections is allowed to have a maximum of 15 approved visitors on his/her visiting list.   Each inmate is provided with  "Request for Visiting Privileges" forms (SCDC Form 19-127) to send to his/her prospective visitors.  The only way for an individual to receive a visiting privileges form is from the inmate who wants them to visit.  These forms are provided to each inmate upon arrival in the Department of Corrections Reception and Evaluation Center and are available to inmates in all institutions throughout the state.   Every individual  must complete this form and forward it to Visitation through the Central Visitation Center for processing.  The form is reviewed by staff and the information is entered into the automated system.  If the form is missing any required information, the form is returned to the sender for proper completion.

Once the application form has been properly completed, submitted, and approved, the individual is added to the inmate's visiting list.  An inmate is provided a copy of his approved visiting list once a week if a change is made during that week. IT IS THE INMATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ADVISE HIS/HER VISITOR(S) OF THEIR APPROVAL.

Minor children that are on the APPROVED visiting list must be accompanied by an adult and will be allowed to visit only if they are the inmate's brothers and sisters, the inmate's children (natural or legally adopted), the inmate's stepchildren, grandchildren, or step grandchildren.  When an individual arrives at an institution to visit, everyone age 10 and older must  present a public safety picture identification.  Those under age 10 must show a copy of their long-form birth certificate.  Certain criteria must be met before an inmate who wishes to have minor nieces or nephews visit.  This information is available to the inmates at their institution, but first and foremost the inmate must be incarcerated at least three consecutive years.

Upon arriving at the institution, the visitor must state the name and SCDC number of the inmate they wish to visit.   This information is entered into the automated system and if the individual is listed on the inmate's approved visiting list, a visitor's pass will be generated for the individual. [Inmates may only have one visit per weekend; therefore, all visitors must be together.]

Inmates are not allowed to have visitors during the reception and evaluation process unless they remain in the Reception and Evaluation Center longer than thirty (30) days and the visitor is on the approved visiting list. After thirty (30) days only an inmates' parents, grandparents, spouse, and/or children are eligible to visit at R&E. In order to schedule a visit at R&E on the approved list after 30 days, contact 803-896-2000 between the hours of 8:00-12:00 on Mondays and Tuesdays ONLY.

The institution where the inmate is housed should be contacted directly concerning the visiting days and times appropriate to that facility.  Addresses and telephone numbers for all institutions are provided in the Institutions section of this web site.