How to Schedule and Prepare for Your First Visit at Greenville County Detention Center
Your first visit to Greenville County Detention Center goes a lot smoother when you understand the limits, how first-come, first-serve scheduling works, and what to bring so you actually get through the door.
Greenville County Detention Center offers visitation 7 days a week. Each inmate is allowed two visits per week, and visits run in 30-minute intervals. It's a short window, so plan to make the most of it.
Note: Visits may be monitored and recorded. Assume anything you say could be listened to later.
For inmates in Buildings One, Two, and Four, visitation is first-come, first-serve. The specific times available depend on the inmate's classification, housing area, and privilege level. That means two people in the same facility might have completely different visiting options on the same day.
If your loved one is in Building Four, video visits are handled through the Building Four Video Visitation Office, located in the public lobby of Building Two. The office is open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seven days a week, with the last visit accepted at 5:30 p.m. It's first-come, first-serve, so arriving earlier during busy times gives you a better shot at getting a spot before the cutoff.
Before you go, confirm that you're on the inmate's approved visitors list. Inmates can have up to three adults on their list and can only update it once every 30 days. Double-check that your name is currently listed before making the trip.
Bring a picture ID, and make sure the name on it matches the name on the inmate's visitor list exactly. A driver's license, state ID card, or other picture ID should work. If the names don't match, you can be turned away at check-in, even if you drove a long way to get there.
- Hand over your picture ID at entry - your ID must be surrendered before you are allowed into the facility.
- Take your visitor badge - staff will issue a badge after you surrender your ID.
- Keep the badge visible - it must be visible at all times while you are in the secure portion of the facility.
- Return the badge when you leave - once the visit is completed, you return the visitor badge and your identification card is returned to you.
- ✓ Cell phones
- ✓ Cameras
- ✓ Purses
- ✓ Bags
- ✓ Tobacco products
- ✓ Lighters, flame-producing devices
- ✓ Mace or chemical sprays
- ✓ Firearms
- ✓ Weapons of any type
- ✓ Be prepared for searches, all persons and items are subject to search by detention staff
Each inmate is limited to three adults on their approved visitors list. If multiple family members want to visit, coordinate with the inmate ahead of time so the right people are listed. The list can only be changed once every 30 days, so plan accordingly.
Each visit can include one adult and up to two minor children. If you're bringing kids, keep that limit in mind when deciding who accompanies them. Any additional adults will need to plan a separate visit.
The format of your visit depends on the inmate's housing assignment. You might visit by video monitor, talk through telephone receivers while seeing each other through glass, or speak through vented glass barriers. Building Four video visits are routed through the Building Four Video Visitation Office in the public lobby of Building Two during its operating hours.
Note: Visits may be monitored and recorded. Keep the conversation appropriate and avoid sharing sensitive details you would not want replayed.
Arrive early. Buildings One, Two, and Four all operate on a first-come, first-serve basis, and exact timing depends on the inmate's classification, housing area, and privileges. For Building Four video visits specifically, the office accepts the last visit at 5:30 p.m. even though it stays open until 6:00 p.m.
- ✓ Bring a picture ID (driver’s license, State ID card, or other picture ID)
- ✓ Make sure the name on your ID matches the name on the inmate’s visitor list
- ✓ Dress conservatively: short-shorts, miniskirts, bathing suits, halter tops, and other revealing clothing are prohibited and will prevent you from visiting
If you can't present the required picture ID (or the name doesn't match the visitor list), you won't make it past the check-in process. Wearing revealing or prohibited clothing can also end your visit before it starts. Leave prohibited items out of the facility entirely, and expect that staff may search people and belongings as part of security. Visits may be monitored and recorded, so treat the conversation as if you're speaking in a public setting.
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