Trying to reach an inmate? Here’s how to contact someone in South Carolina prison

When her brother was incarcerated in a South Carolina prison more than a decade ago, Destiny Mills tried to find time to answer his calls. Sometimes, she’d write. But the system could be complicated and time-consuming.

After serving time at Camille Graham and Leath Correctional Institutions, Mills said that the “incredibly hectic” communication process can be frustrating on both sides. Finding a way to make it work took time.

“When you’re actually living it, to be able to be in contact with my loved ones — it gives you hope,” Mills said.

From county jails to state prisons and federal correctional facilities, here are some ways to reach those behind bars.

County Jails

Relying on an inmate to make a collect call is not the only way to find someone who was recently arrested. South Carolina’s inmate locator systems allow family members to search for people in custody by name, helping them determine where someone is being held shortly after an arrest.

Once an inmate is located, the process of staying in contact varies by county.

Most detention centers allow inmates to make outgoing phone calls through collect or prepaid services, but family members cannot call into the jail. Instead, individuals must wait for an inmate to initiate contact or navigate the facility’s rules for mail and visitation.

Procedures for sending mail differ across the Midlands. In Lexington County, mail is mostly processed electronically, though some legal and preapproved documents can be sent in paper form. Richland County accepts inmate mail at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, although the facility has strict rules about what can be enclosed.

Visitation policies are unique to each county and can require planning in advance. Regardless of the county, visitors must have a government-issued photo ID, and some require visitors to schedule appointments beforehand. Video visitation can sometimes replace in-person visits, especially with child visitors.

State Prisons

Most families communicate with incarcerated relatives through correctional tablets, according to South Carolina Department of Corrections Public Information Officer Chrysti Shain. The tablets, available to inmates across the state prison system, allow monitored telephone calls and electronic messages.

To electronically message an inmate, families can create an account and will be able to purchase email credits, or stamps, to send emails. Telephone calls placed through the correctional tablets are outgoing only.

South Carolina’s state prisons are managed by the South Carolina Department of Corrections, which is now simplifying its visitation application and approval process. A single application for the visitation scheduling system must be completed before arriving at the prison and visitors must upload certain documents to be eligible.

Visitation must be scheduled and is offered Saturdays and Sundays at select times. Inmates are allowed four visits each month, and visitors must follow prison policies.

Anyone on an inmate’s approved visitation list can request a virtual visit, which come with their own regulations and scheduling limitations.

Traditional mail is accepted at all South Carolina state prisons. All incoming inmate mail must be clearly marked with the inmate’s legal name, South Carolina Department of Corrections number, living unit and full name of the institution. A number of items, including cash, cigarettes and food, cannot be sent by mail.

Federal Prisons

South Carolina federal prisons follow a nationwide system established by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Families can locate loved ones in federal custody through the online inmate locator.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, inmates may be transferred between facilities, making it important for families to verify an inmate’s location.

Unlike state prisons, federal inmates have access to the Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System, or TRULINCS. The program allows inmates to exchange electronic messages. Family members cannot start the conversation, but once added to an approved contact list are able to send monitored messages at any time.

Like state prisons and county jails, loved ones can send traditional mail and all phone calls are outgoing only. Visiting someone in federal custody is different from in other detention centers.

Upon arrival, an inmate is given a visitor information form and a copy can be mailed to friends and family who may want to visit. Completion of the form does not always mean a visitor is approved. People can also be turned away if they do not follow dress codes or other regulations.

Similar to state and county detention centers, federal prisons requires those incarcerated and their loved ones to follow unique sets of rules and procedures. Some can be timely or frustrating, but for many inmates, Mills said, every bit of communication that reached her was like “a breath of fresh air.”