Donating Books to Greenville Detention Center: What's Accepted and How to Drop Them Off

Greenville County Detention Center accepts paperback books and magazines as in-person donations. You’ll drop them off at the Reception Control window in the Public Lobby at 20 McGee St.

If you’re sending reading material instead of bringing it in, publications can be mailed directly to the Detention Center. That includes books, newspapers, and magazines addressed to 20 McGee Street.

For in-person donations, go to the Reception Control window (Public Lobby) at 20 McGee St. That’s the drop-off point for acceptable paperback books and magazines.

The Reception Control window accepts donations from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week. Those extended hours make it easy to fit a drop-off into your schedule, whether that's during a lunch break or after work.

A common mistake: tucking extra items into what you're sending. Photographs aren't accepted through postal mail to inmates at this facility, so leave photos out of any mailed packages.

Practical Tips

• ✓ If you’re donating a large stack of paperbacks or magazines, confirm the drop-off plan before you make the trip to the Reception Control window at 20 McGee St.
• ✓ Aim to arrive during the stated donation window (8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m., seven days a week) so you’re not stuck coming back.

Everything gets screened. All mail is searched for contraband before reaching an inmate, and legal mail is opened in the inmate's presence for the same reason. Books or magazines with gang-related content won't make it through - those materials are strictly prohibited.

Can't drop items off in person? Mailing is an option. Send books, newspapers, or magazines directly to the Detention Center at 20 McGee Street.