South Carolina Prisons

1
South Carolina Prisons

• The original correctional system in South
  Carolina was established in 1866.
• The South Carolina Legislature passed an act that
  created the first state-level prison for felons
  that were housed in county facilities.

2
SC Prison History

• Allendale and Evans Correctional Institutions
  became operational in 1989.
• Budget and Control Board approved 24 million to
  begin the construction of the Central
  Correctional Institution (CCI) in Lee County
  (later named Lee Correctional Institution).
• Thomas B. Lee was named architect, engineer and
  first superintendent.

3
Early SC Prisons
Lee Correctional Facility
4
Early SC Prisons
Correctional officers monitored inmates from the
tops of the buildings.
During the early 1900s inmates were required to
wear striped uniforms.
5
1866-1900 State Penitentiary Management
Operations

• After Thomas B. Lee, seven superintendents headed
  the State Penitentiary during this period.
• Inmate labor was used for prison industries
  construction projects across the state.

6
1900 - 1930 Emergence of Dual Prison System in
South Carolina

• Prison industries consisted of
• machine shops
• Carpentry
• Blacksmith
• Weaving
• Shoe and tailoring shops

7
1900 - 1930 Emergence of Dual Prison System in
South Carolina

• In January 1869, prisoner count at the State
  Penitentiary totaled 201.
• At the end of 1900, this number increased to 795
  (a 300 increase over 30 years).

8
1900 - 1930 Emergence of Dual Prison System in
South Carolina

• Another farming operation began on the site of
  the current Walden Correctional Institution
• Capital punishment was ushered in with the
  installation of the electric chair in 1912

9
Local Prisons and Jails in full Operation by 1930

• County supervisors full authority to retain
  convicts for road construction
• Or to transfer them to the State.
• Chain gangs worked throughout the state.
• Because of the retention of inmates by local
  prisons/jails,
• The State Penitentiary only housed 687 offenders
  in September 1930 - a decrease of 108 inmates
  from the count of 795 in 1900, 30 years
  earlier.

10
State Prison History

• 1930 - 1960 State Penitentiary Co-existed with
  Chain Gangs.
• 1937 - Construction began on a separate facility
  to house female prisoners only.
• This facility, Stevenson Correctional
  Institution, also served as SCDCs first
  pre-release center.
• 1949 - A bookbindery was added to prison
  industries.

11
Prison Population Increase

• During this 30-year period, the State
  Penitentiary population increased from 687 in
  1930 to 2,078 in 1960
• Tripled in 30 years

12
1900 - 1930 Emergence of Dual Prison System in
South Carolina

• A chair-caning factory was added to prison
  industries
• Inmates began manufacturing license plates and
  road signs
• An inmate classification system was initiated.
• In 1927, the Richards building for female
  prisoners was constructed at the Penitentiary

13
1866-1900 State Penitentiary Management
Operations

• Inmate labor was used in the construction of
  Clemson, Winthrop and Claflin colleges, as well
  as the State hospital.
• Farming operations to support the Penitentiary
  began at the site of what is now the Wateree
  River Correctional Institution.

14
1960 Creation of the South Carolina Department
of Corrections (SCDC)

• Abuses within the prison system
• Use of convict labor on private property as a
  form of political reward
• Governor Ernest Fritz Hollings called for the
  creation of a state agency.
• The South Carolina Department of Corrections was
  established in 1960
• A State Board of Corrections was created at the
  same time to oversee the functions of SCDC
• Members represented each judicial circuit.

15
SCDC

• In 1960, the Governor of South Carolina decided
  to end the abuses of the correctional system and
  created a new state agency.
• The agency was named the South Carolina
  Department of Corrections (SCDC).
• Today, the Department of Corrections is still a
  state agency, reporting directly to the Governor.
  

16
SCDC

• The Department of Corrections currently has
  almost
• 6,000 employees
• 23,000 inmates
• 28 institutions
• Cost per inmate for 2007 14,093

17
SC Prison Population

• The 28 prisons are categorized into 4 security
  levels
• 1) High security (level 3)
• 2) Medium security (level 2)
• 3) Minimum security (level 1B)
• 4) Community-based pre-release/work centers
  (level 1A)

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LEVEL 1-A

• Community-based pre-release/work centers
• Minimum security
• Non-violent inmates
• Within 36 months of release
• Work and program focus
• Housing
• Double bunk
• Open-bay wards
• Unfenced perimeters

19
Level 1-B

• Minimum-security (higher security than L-A)
• Inmates with short sentences or time to serve
• Housing
• Double bunk cubicles
• Unfenced perimeters

20
Level 2

• Medium-security
• Single fenced perimeters
• Electronic surveillance
• Housing
• Double bunk
• Some double bunk cubicles

21
Single Fence
22
Level 3

• High-security
• Violent offenders
• Longer sentences
• Inmates with behavioral problems
• Closely supervised
• Activities movement highly restricted
• Housing
• Single double cells
• All perimeters are double-fenced with extensive
  electronic surveillance

23
Double Fenced
24
Visitation in SC Prisons

• An important component of the rehabilitation
  process.
• It is conducted in the least restrictive manner
  possible.
• While meeting requirements of
• Safety
• Security
• Classification
• Space availability

25
Rules for Visitors

• Effective January 1, 2008, SCDC is a tobacco free
  environment.
• Tobacco, tobacco related products, paraphernalia
  or lighting devices are not allowed in buildings
  or on property.
• Considered contraband within all Agency buildings
  and institutions.

26
Visitation

• 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 immediate family on
  the approved visitation list may visit at
  reception and evaluation.

27
How to Apply for Visiting Privileges

• If the inmate wants you to visit, he or she will
  send you a Form 19-127, "Request for Visiting
  Privileges."
• Only inmates are authorized to provide an
  application.
• FULLY complete the Form 19-27 that is provided to
  you by the inmate and return it by mail to the
  Central Visitation Center (CVC).
• A parent, legal guardian, or other adult may
  assist a child in completing the form however,
  only a parent or legal guardian will be permitted
  to sign this form.

28
Visitation

• Each inmate in the SCDC is allowed a maximum of
  fifteen (15) approved visitors on his/her
  visiting list.  
• Inmates are provided with  "Request for Visiting
  Privileges" forms (SCDC Form 19-127) to send to
  prospective visitors. 
• Forms are provided to each inmate upon arrival in
  the Department of Corrections Reception and
  Evaluation Center
• Available to inmates in all institutions
  throughout the state.  

29
Visitation

• IT IS THE INMATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ADVISE
  HIS/HER VISITOR(S) OF THEIR APPROVAL.

30
Visitation

• Minor children that are on the APPROVED visiting
  list must be accompanied by an adult.
• 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. 
• 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. 

31
Visitation

• Inmate may only have one visit per day
  therefore, all visitors must be together.

32
Phone Calls

• Inmate Telephone List Inmates to SCDC are
  allowed to list the names, addresses, and phone
  numbers for up to five people that they wish to
  call.
• Approximately two weeks after completing the
  form, the inmate will be issued a Personal
  Identification Number (PIN) and will be
  temporarily allowed to call these numbers at
  times allowed by the institutional schedule.
•  

33

• After 90 days, the inmate will no longer be able
  to call these telephone numbers, unless the owner
  of the telephone number has taken action to be
  added to the inmate's telephone list.
• Each inmate is allowed up to 20 phone numbers on
  his or her list of authorized phone numbers.

34
Inmates Phone List

• To be added to an inmates telephone list
• You must receive SCDC Form 23 "Telephone
  Privilege Request" from the inmate.
• You must fill out SCDC Form 23 properly, and
  must send it, along with a copy of the page of
  your most recent telephone bill that displays the
  phone number, name, and address of the billed
  party, to                 

35
Inmates Phone List

• Inmate Phone Service Provider c/o South Carolina
  Department of Corrections
•                  P.O. Box 21787        
          4444 Broad River Road        
          Columbia, South Carolina 29221
• 1787

36
Phone Calls

• Toll free numbers are NOT allowed and will NOT be
  added to the inmates telephone list.
• After adding your phone number to the inmates
  telephone list
• SCDC will give the inmate a copy of the form you
  submitted to inform the inmate that you can now
  be called.

37
Phone Calls

• Your phone account must be current with your
  local telephone company (not past due).
• Your local telephone company must have a Billing
  and Collection agreement with the South Carolina
  Department of Corrections inmate phone service
  provider.

38
Phone Calls

• You must have a noncordless phone with touch
  tone service (no rotary dial).
• Cell phone numbers may be added to inmate
  telephone lists using the SCDC Form 23 (Inmate
  Telephone Privilege Request).

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_at__at__at_Phone Calls

• Inmate calls to cells phones must be prepaid by
  the family member (please see "Prepaid Option
  Instructions" below).
• All calls from inmates to family members, using
  cell phones and/or traditional phones, will be
  subject to restrictions, recording, and
  monitoring.

40
Phone Calls

• Is there a credit limit on my account? Call 1 -
  888-664-7839
• In the correctional industry, the typical monthly
  bill can range between 30.00 to 150.00 a month.
  As a courtesy to guard against fraud, the inmate
  phone service vendor has established a "courtesy
  limit" of 200.00. This limit can be raised or
  lowered, depending upon your needs and payment
  history.

41
Inmate Package Program

• South Carolina Department of Corrections allows
  inmates to receive packages twice a year.

42
South Carolina Prison Holiday Package Program

• Inmate Package Program
• South Carolina Department of Corrections allows
  inmates to receive packages twice a year.
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