Reception and evaluation (men) — statewide male intake; also a maximum-custody unit and the Gilliam Psychiatric Hospital · Reception and Evaluation Center · SCDC

Kirkland Correctional Institution

Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (803) 896-1521 Info last verified: June 2026

South Carolina's statewide reception and evaluation center for men, in Columbia — where newly committed men are received and classified before transfer. The campus also includes a maximum-custody unit and the Gilliam Psychiatric Hospital.

Statewide rules that apply at every SCDC prison

These rules are set by SCDC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in South Carolina.

Dress code

Dress modestly — no revealing, sheer, or provocative clothing, and nothing that resembles what incarcerated people or staff wear.
Each institution enforces its own visiting dress code and may turn away a visitor who is dressed out of code, so confirm the specific institution's rules before traveling.

ID: Every visitor must be on the incarcerated person's approved visitor list (the person requests visitors from inside using SCDC Form 19-127; a list holds up to 15 people). Adult visitors show a valid government-issued photo ID at each visit.
What to bring: Bring only what the institution allows — phones, bags, food, and most personal items are not permitted in the visiting room. Money for the person's account is sent through the SCDC vendor, never handed over at a visit.
Scheduling: Visits are scheduled in advance through the SCDC (ViaPath/GTL) scheduler at scdoc.gtlvisitme.com, usually on weekends in set time blocks; since June 1, 2025, many South Carolina–licensed adults can register online, while others apply by mail. A newly committed person is held at a reception center first — Kirkland for men, Camille Griffin Graham for women — before transfer.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in South Carolina

Overview

Kirkland Correctional Institution, on Broad River Road in Columbia, is South Carolina’s statewide reception and evaluation center for men. Most men entering SCDC custody are received here, where they are assessed (medical, mental health, and custody classification) and then assigned and transferred to a permanent institution. Because of that role, a man may be here only briefly, and the institution shown in the inmate search can change within the first weeks. The Kirkland campus also includes a maximum-custody unit, an infirmary, and the Gilliam Psychiatric Hospital, the state’s inpatient psychiatric facility for incarcerated men. People in reception status have limited privileges until classification is complete.

What Makes Kirkland Different

It is the statewide men’s intake center, so a newly committed man usually begins here before transferring.
Visiting is limited during the reception period, so confirm the person’s status and institution before traveling.
The campus includes the Gilliam Psychiatric Hospital and a maximum-custody unit, where visiting arrangements may differ — confirm with the institution.
The institution shown in the inmate search can change once the person is classified and transferred.

Visiting

The statewide SCDC rules above — the approved visitor list, the dress code, ID, and item limits — apply at Kirkland Correctional Institution. The institution’s own arrangements:

The full visitor process is in Visiting in South Carolina.

Getting There and Parking

The campus is on Broad River Road in Columbia, northwest of downtown.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

Columbia has the full range of gas, food, and lodging. The nearest 24-hour emergency rooms are in the Columbia area.

Mail

South Carolina does not use an off-site mail vendor — incoming personal mail goes directly to the institution, where it is opened and inspected before delivery. Address it with the person’s full committed name and SCDC number, the living unit, and the institution’s address. Cash, stamps, and writing materials are not allowed in the mail. Legal mail is opened in the person’s presence. Since October 1, 2025, publications (books and magazines) must be sent directly from an approved vendor. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in a South Carolina state prison:

Visiting in South Carolina — the approved visitor list (Form 19-127), dress code, and scheduling
Mail & Packages — addressing mail to the institution and the approved-vendor rule for books
Phone & Video Calls — ViaPath calls, video visits, and messaging
Sending Money — depositing to the person’s account
Medical & Mental Health — sick call and care
Transfers & Finding Someone — reception, finding someone, and the inmate search

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.