Visiting in South Carolina (SCDC)

Visiting an incarcerated person in South Carolina involves getting on the person’s approved visitor list and then scheduling a visit in advance. Days, hours, and whether a visit is contact or non-contact are set by the institution and the person’s custody level, so confirm the details with the specific prison.

Step 1: Getting on the visitor list

Each incarcerated person builds an approved visitor list of up to 15 people by submitting SCDC Form 19-127 from inside. The form comes from the incarcerated person — SCDC does not start it for you. A visitor must be approved before scheduling a visit.

Step 2: Scheduling the visit

Visits are scheduled in advance through the SCDC (ViaPath/GTL) scheduler at scdoc.gtlvisitme.com. Since June 1, 2025, many adults with a valid South Carolina driver’s license can register online; minors and others may need to apply by mail. Visits are usually offered on weekends in set time blocks, with a limit on visits per month and visitors per visit — confirm the institution’s current schedule and limits.

What to wear

Visitor clothing must be modest. The standard rules:

• No revealing, sheer, or provocative clothing.
• Nothing that resembles what incarcerated people or staff wear.

Each institution enforces its own dress code at the entrance and may turn away a visitor who is out of code, so confirm the specific institution’s current rules before traveling.

Identification

Every adult visitor must show a valid government-issued photo ID. Children must be on the approved list and accompanied by an approved adult; confirm the institution’s rules for the identification required for minors.

What you can bring

Items in the visiting room are tightly limited. Phones, bags, and most personal items are not allowed. Cash is not handed to the person — money for the person’s account is sent through the SCDC vendor; see Sending Money in South Carolina.

Video visiting

South Carolina offers video visits through the SCDC (ViaPath/GTL) scheduler at scdoc.gtlvisitme.com, the same platform used for in-person visits. The visitor must be on the approved list; confirm the institution’s video-visit availability and how to schedule.

Verify Before Acting

For the general, nationwide overview of this topic, see the national guide: Visiting Basics.