Can You Visit Someone in the Special Housing Unit (SHU)? Here's What to Know
SHU placement at Greenville County Detention Center affects visiting privileges. If someone lands in the Special Housing Unit for disciplinary reasons, they can't receive visitors right away. Visitation eligibility kicks in on the 7th day after they were received in the SHU.
Note: Housing assignments can change. To confirm where someone is currently housed (and whether SHU rules apply), you’ll need to call or visit the Detention Center for the most current status.
SHU visiting hours in Building Four run 8:00 AM–10:30 AM and 1:00 PM–2:30 PM. Plan to arrive within those windows - show up outside the SHU schedule and you'll be turned away.
Quick context: The Detention Center offers visitation 7 days a week, but inmates are limited to two 30-minute visits per week total. SHU visits count toward that cap.
SHU visits don't always look like standard face-to-face meetings. Depending on housing assignment, you might visit via video monitor, talk through telephone receivers while seeing each other through glass, or communicate through vented glass barriers. The format depends on where the person is housed when you arrive.
Note: Visits may be subject to monitoring and recording.
Visitor limits matter more in SHU since the visiting windows are tighter. Each visit can include one adult and up to two minor children. Inmates can have three adults on their visitor list, and they're only allowed to update that list once every 30 days. If you're not on the list - or need to swap someone out - timing could mean the difference between visiting this week or waiting another month.
- ✓ Bring a picture ID that matches the name on the inmate’s visitor list.
- ✓ Acceptable ID may include a driver’s license, State ID card, or other picture ID.
Getting mixed signals about whether someone can have visitors? Confirm their housing assignment directly with the Detention Center - call or visit in person. Housing changes happen. Once you've confirmed they're in SHU for disciplinary reasons, remember the rule: visitation eligibility starts on the 7th day after they were received in the SHU.
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