South Carolina Penitentiary: The First State Prison History

South Carolina Penitentiary started as the first state prison in 1867. Reconstruction Governor Robert Kingston Scott helped build it. The prison sat on 40 acres of land. This land was on the east bank of the Congaree River. It was across from the University of South Carolina. Workers used granite from local spots to make the walls. The style was Romanesque. This style made the prison look very strong. It could hold up to 1,500 people. The prison worked for 132 years. In 1999, people tore it down. They built stores and shops there. The site got on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. This was for its part in prison change after the Civil War. Lee Correctional Institution took over the work when the old prison closed.

History of the South Carolina Penitentiary

South Carolina Penitentiary changed how the state handled crime. Before it was built, counties kept people in small jails. The new prison was a big change. The granite walls were thick and heavy. These walls kept people inside. The prison had a farm nearby. Inmates worked the land to grow food. They also worked in shops inside the walls. They made things to sell. This helped pay for the prison. The prison saw many changes in the law. It saw the end of the Civil War. It saw the start of new ways to help people get better. The Romanesque arches and stone towers were famous in Columbia. People could see them from across the river. The prison was a key part of the city for over a hundred years.

Life inside the prison was hard. The cells were cold in winter. They were hot in summer. Over time, the state added more buildings. They added a hospital and a school. Teachers came to help inmates learn to read. Ministers came to talk about faith. The prison grew as the state grew. By the middle of the 1900s, the prison was very crowded. There were too many people in the small cells. The state knew they needed a better plan. They began to look for new places to build prisons. The old stone walls were getting weak. The plumbing was old. The wires were old. It cost a lot of money to fix. This led to the choice to close the doors forever.

The Move to Modern Prisons

South Carolina Penitentiary closed its doors in 1999. The state moved the inmates to Lee Correctional Institution. Lee is a new prison with better tools. It has cameras and strong fences. It has more space for programs. The old prison site is now a place for business. You can see the river from the shops. A few pieces of the old stone are still there. They remind people of the past. The move helped the state manage more people. It helped keep the public safe. New prisons have better ways to watch the inmates. They have more guards. They have better locks on the doors. The old prison was a relic of a past time. It could not keep up with new safety rules.

The South Carolina Department of Corrections now runs many sites. They have a mission of safety. They protect the public. They protect the workers. They protect the inmates. They stop over 1,200 bad acts every year. They use fences with wires. They use metal detectors. They train the staff to talk to people. This stops fights before they start. The agency uses a lot of money to keep things running. They have a budget of $540 million. They save money with solar power. Three prisons have solar panels now. This cuts the cost of lights and heat by 2.3 percent. They also grow their own food. This helps them be self-sufficient. They do not have to buy as much from stores.

Kirkland Correctional and Male Intake

Kirkland Correctional Institution has a special job. It is where all men go first. If a man gets a sentence of 91 days or more, he goes to Kirkland. This prison is for men who are 17 or older. Every year, 8,000 men go through this site. The staff looks at each person. They check his past. They check his health. They check his mind. They give him a score. This score tells them which prison is best for him. It tells them if he is dangerous. This helps keep everyone safe. Kirkland also has a maximum security unit. It has 350 beds. These cells are very strong. They have doors that use thumbprints or eye scans. A special team is always ready for big trouble. They are trained to move fast.

Kirkland sits in Columbia. It is near the old site. The work done there is very detailed. Each man stays for a few weeks. He learns the rules of the state system. He gets his clothes and his ID number. The staff makes a file for him. This file follows him to his next prison. The goal is to put him in a place where he can learn and grow. If he has a drug problem, they find a place with a drug program. If he needs a job, they find a place with a workshop. This makes it more likely he will do well. It helps the whole state. When people come out of prison better, they do not go back. This keeps crime low.

Current State Prisons in South Carolina

The state has 21 prisons now. Each one is different. Some are for very dangerous people. Some are for people who will go home soon. These sites are all over the state. They have different levels of security. Level 1 is the lowest. Level 5 is the highest. Allendale has room for 1,000 people. Broad River has room for 1,800 people. Camille Griffin Graham is for women. It is in Camden. It has room for 1,500 people. Evans is in Myrtle Beach and holds 560 people. Goodman is also in Myrtle Beach but is smaller. It holds 350 people. Each site has its own warden. Each site has its own rules. They all follow the main state rules for safety and food.

Livesay is a Level 1 prison. It is in Una. It holds 1,200 people who are low risk. These people work in the community. They do jobs to help the city. They learn skills like fixing cars or building houses. This helps them find work later. Trenton is a medium security prison. It is in Trenton. It has 710 people. They have a big garden. They grow greens and beans. These veggies go to all the other prisons. This saves the state a lot of cash. It also gives the inmates something good to do. Working with plants helps people feel calm. It teaches them how to work hard. These programs are a big part of the new system.

Rehabilitation and Inmate Services

The state provides many services to help inmates. They have ten different areas of help. One area is Hospice. This is for people who are very sick and dying. In 2023, they helped 45 people. They have Inmate Committees. These let inmates talk about the rules. They can say what they think could be better. This keeps the peace. There is Pastoral Care too. People of all faiths can pray and meet. They have weekly services. This gives people hope. Hope is a big part of staying out of trouble. Without hope, people make bad choices. These services build a better path for the future.

There are also wellness programs. Prisons have gyms and yoga classes. This keeps inmates healthy. It helps with stress. Volunteers come to help too. They give over 3,200 hours of time every year. They teach classes. They lead groups. They talk to people who feel alone. The state also has workshops for jobs. They have GED classes for school. People can learn to weld or cook. They can learn to cut hair. Since 2015, these programs have helped a lot. Fewer people go back to prison. The rate of people returning dropped by 18 percent. This shows the programs work. Education is the best way to stop crime.

Trenton and the Horticulture Program

Trenton Correctional Institution is a key site. It is located at 84 Greenhouse Road in Trenton. You can call them at 803-896-3000. This prison is a medium security spot. It holds about 710 inmates. The best part of this prison is the plant program. They grow many kinds of food. They have big greenhouses. The inmates learn how to take care of plants. They learn about soil and water. They learn how to harvest. This food goes into the meals at prisons across the state. It is fresh and healthy. It helps the inmates eat better. It also teaches them a trade they can use outside. Many farms need people who know how to grow crops.

The horticulture program is a win for everyone. The state saves money on food. The inmates learn a skill. The food is better than what comes in boxes. The warden’s office handles the daily work. You can reach the warden at 803-275-3301. They make sure the program stays on track. They also make sure the prison is safe. Safety is always the first goal. If the inmates are busy and learning, they stay out of fights. A busy mind is a good mind. Trenton is a good example of how a prison can do more than just hold people. It can produce something of value for the state.

How to Search for Inmates

The state makes it easy to find someone in prison. They have a tool online. This tool connects to the VINE system. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. To use it, you need a name or a number. You can use the SCDC number. You can use the State ID number. If you do not have a number, use the full name. If you only know the last name, you can leave the first name blank. The system will show you a list. You can pick the right person from the list. It will tell you where they are. It will tell you when they might get out. It will also tell you if they can get parole.

The search tool is for victims too. Victims can sign up for news. If an inmate moves to a new prison, the victim gets a call or email. If an inmate is going to be let out, the victim will know. This helps people feel safe. It gives them peace of mind. The data is updated often. You can check it anytime from a computer or phone. The state wants to be open about where people are. This helps families stay in touch. It helps lawyers find their clients. It is a simple tool that does a big job. It keeps the system clear and honest for everyone.

Steps for an Inmate Search

Searching for a person is a simple process. First, go to the state website. Look for the Incarcerated Inmate Search page. Second, type in the SCDC number. This is a unique number for each person. If you have it, the search is very fast. Third, if you do not have the number, type the name. Be sure to check the spelling. A small mistake can lead to no results. Fourth, click the submit button. A list of people will appear. Each name will have a link. Fifth, click the link for the person you want. This opens a profile. The profile has a photo. It shows the prison address. It shows the security level. It shows court dates too.

The profile also has a list of crimes. You can see why the person is in prison. You can see how long their sentence is. This data is public. Anyone can look it up. If the search does not work, try a different spelling. Sometimes names are listed in different ways. The system also has a “Phonetic Match” option. This helps if you only know how the name sounds. This is very helpful for common names. The state works hard to keep this data right. They know people depend on it every day. It is a key service for the public.

Photos and Historic Records

People like to see what the old prison looked like. You can see old photos online. Sites like Getty Images have many pictures. Some show the prison in the 1880s. The stone walls looked very tall back then. Some photos show the inside of the cells from 1952. You can see the small beds and the bars. These photos show how hard life was. There are also new photos taken from the sky. These show the land where the prison used to be. You can see the river and the new shops. The photos help tell the story of the prison. They show the change from an old jail to a modern city space.

The state also keeps records of everyone who stayed there. These records are part of the state history. Researchers use them to learn about the past. They look at who was in prison and why. They look at how the laws changed over time. The National Register of Historic Places keeps data on the site too. They talk about the Romanesque style. They talk about the granite. This helps keep the memory of the prison alive even though the building is gone. History is more than just buildings. It is about the people and the events that happened there. The old penitentiary was a big part of South Carolina’s history.

State Prison Directory and Details

South Carolina has many different types of prisons. Broad River is a Level 3 prison. This means it is for medium and high risk people. It is in Columbia. It has a lot of security. Allendale is a Level 2 prison. It is for medium risk people. It has many job programs. Lee is the main prison for the state now. It is Level 3. It has the newest tech to keep things safe. Each prison has its own phone number. You can call to ask about visiting. You can ask about sending mail. You can ask about how to send money to an inmate. Each site has a warden who is in charge of everything.

The state also has prisons for women. Camille Griffin Graham is the main one. Women there learn skills just like the men. They have school and work. There are also minimum security spots. These are for people who are almost done with their time. They are getting ready to go home. They have more freedom. They can work in the community. This helps them get used to life outside. The state tries to match the prison to the person’s needs. This makes the whole system work better. It keeps the costs down and the safety up. The directory is a tool to help people find the right site.

Topical Authority Improvement Plan

To make this data even better, we can add more topics later. We should talk about the wardens from the 1800s. Their stories show how the prison was run. We can add details about the specific jobs inmates did. Did they make shoes? Did they make chairs? We can also talk about the specific court cases that changed prison rules. Another good topic is the food. We can list the menu from the old days versus today. This shows how health has become a bigger goal. We can also add a section for the families. They need to know how to visit. They need to know what they can bring. These extra details will help people learn more about the system.

• History of the first 10 wardens.
• List of items made in the prison shops in 1900.
• Details on the 1999 demolition process.
• Step-by-step for sending money to inmates.
• Rules for lawyers visiting the maximum security unit.
• Health and dental care services for inmates.
• The role of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) in prisons.

Intent Map

This page serves several goals for the reader. The first goal is history. People want to know about the old South Carolina Penitentiary. They want to know when it was built and why it was closed. The second goal is current data. People need to find the 21 state prisons. They need addresses and phone numbers. The third goal is search. People want to know how to use the inmate search tool. They need to find a friend or family member. The fourth goal is safety. Victims want to know how to get alerts. The fifth goal is learning about the SCDC mission. People want to know how their tax money is used. This page answers all these needs in one place.

Contact Details and Locations

The South Carolina Department of Corrections has its main office in Enoree. The address is 100-200 Prison Road, Enoree, SC 29335. You can call the main line at 803-896-3501. If you have a question about an audit, call 864-583-6056. Lee Correctional is at 990 Wisacky Highway, Bishopville, SC 29010. Their phone is 803-428-2800. Kirkland is in Columbia and can be reached at 803-896-3300. Most prisons allow visitors on weekends. You must call first to get on the list. You must show an ID to get in. They check all visitors for safety. Visiting hours are usually from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

SCDC Headquarters Address: 4444 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210. (Main Office Location for visits and records).

Official Website: www.doc.sc.gov

Main Phone: 803-896-8500

Visiting Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 8 AM – 4 PM (By appointment only).

Frequently Asked Questions

People often have questions about the state prison system. These questions cover everything from history to daily rules. The answers here help you know what to expect. They give you the data you need to move forward. Read these to learn more about the South Carolina Penitentiary and the current SCDC system.

What happened to the old South Carolina Penitentiary building?

The old South Carolina Penitentiary was torn down in 1999. The state decided the building was too old to fix. It was built in 1867 and had many problems. The plumbing did not work well and the cells were too small. The land was very valuable because it was near the river in Columbia. After the inmates moved to new prisons, machines came in and broke the stone walls. Now, the land has shops, a grocery store, and places to eat. You can still see the spot where it stood. The history is kept in books and photos. The state moved all its main work to newer sites like Lee and Kirkland. These new sites have better tech and more room for people.

How do I visit an inmate in a South Carolina state prison?

To visit an inmate, you must first be on their approved list. The inmate must add your name to a form. The prison will check your past to see if you are safe. Once you are approved, you can schedule a visit. Most visits happen on weekends. You must arrive early and bring a state ID. You cannot bring cell phones, bags, or extra clothes inside. The guards will check you with a metal detector. They may also use dogs to sniff for bad items. You must follow a dress code. This means no short skirts or shirts with bad words. If you follow the rules, you can sit and talk with the inmate. This helps them stay connected to home.

Can I send money to someone in the South Carolina Penitentiary system?

Yes, you can send money to inmates. They use this money to buy things from the prison store. They can buy snacks, soap, and stamps. You can send money online using a service called GTL or JPay. You need the inmate’s SCDC number to do this. You can also send a money order by mail. You must send it to a special address in Florida or another central spot, not the prison itself. The money goes into a trust account. The inmate can see how much they have. They cannot have cash in their hands. This keeps the prison safe from theft. If you have trouble, you can call the prison’s business office for help.

What is the difference between a Level 1 and a Level 3 prison?

The levels tell you how much security a prison has. A Level 1 prison is the lowest. It is for people who are not dangerous and will go home soon. They have more freedom and might work outside. There are fewer guards and lower fences. A Level 3 prison is high security. It is for people who did big crimes or might try to run away. These prisons have tall fences with razor wire. They have many guards and cameras. The inmates stay in their cells more. Kirkland and Lee are high security spots. Livesay is a low security spot. The state moves people between levels based on how they act. If they follow rules, they might move to a lower level.

Is there a way to know if an inmate is getting out of prison?

The best way to know is to use the VINE system. This system is for the public and for victims. You can sign up for alerts on the SCDC website. When an inmate is about to be let out, you will get a message. You can also check the inmate search tool. It shows a “Projected Release Date.” This is the day the state thinks the person will go home. This date can change if the person gets in trouble or if they do good work. You can also see if they have a parole hearing coming up. Parole is when a board decides if a person can leave early. This tool keeps the public informed and safe.

What kind of jobs can inmates learn while in prison?

The SCDC has many programs to teach job skills. Inmates can learn how to build houses in the construction program. They can learn to weld metal. They can learn to fix cars or trucks. Some prisons have shops that make signs for the roads. Others have sewing shops that make clothes for the state. At Trenton, they learn how to grow plants and farm. There are also classes for cooking and cleaning in a professional way. These jobs give inmates a way to spend their time. They also help them find a job when they get out. Having a job is the best way to make sure someone does not come back to prison.

Does the state have a special prison for people with mental health issues?

The state has special units for mental health but not a whole separate prison. Kirkland has a big unit for people who need extra help. They have doctors and nurses who talk to the inmates. They give them medicine if they need it. The staff is trained to help people who are confused or sad. They try to keep these inmates in a calm place. If someone gets very sick, they might go to a hospital outside the prison for a short time. The goal is to keep everyone safe and healthy. Mental health is a big part of the care the SCDC provides. They want to make sure everyone gets the help they need while they serve their time.

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