How to visit, scheduling, dress code, and visitor requirements
Starting June 1, 2025, most adults (18+) with a valid South Carolina driver's license can register for visitation online. Paper applications are still required for minors and adults without a South Carolina ID or with out-of-state IDs. Once approved, register on the GTL scheduling website and book visits through the SCDC/GTL scheduler. Schedule at least 15 hours ahead. Can't make it? Cancel at least 48 hours before—otherwise, the missed visit counts against the inmate's monthly allotment. General population inmates with visitation privileges get four in-person visits per month, one per weekend. Up to four visitors can attend at once, but at least one must be an adult. Each inmate may list up to 15 approved visitors using SCDC Form 19-127. Limited restroom access is available, and vending machines accept major credit cards only.
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Getting approved to visit at Kershaw starts with one form: SCDC Form 19-127. Once you know the visitor limit, how to fill it out, and where to send it, the rest falls into place.
Starting June 1, 2025, adults 18 or older with a valid South Carolina driver's license can register for visitation online. If that's you, online registration is the quickest way to submit your request.
Starting June 1, 2025, South Carolina changed how visitation registration works at SCDC facilities, including Kershaw. The biggest shift: most adults can now register online, though some visitors still need to go through the paper application process.
Scheduling an in-person visit at Kershaw starts online—and timing matters. Book through the GTL scheduler at least 15 hours ahead, and cancel properly if plans change so the visit doesn't count against the monthly limit.
Virtual visits at Kershaw require some setup upfront, but once your account and device are ready, it comes down to two things: scheduling and showing up on time. Here's how to get everything in place without last-minute surprises.
You can't just show up at Kershaw and hope for a spot. Every in-person visit must be booked through the GTL scheduler at least 15 hours in advance. That 15-hour cutoff is what trips most people up when they're trying to plan something last-minute.
Virtual visits at Kershaw are straightforward once you understand how the system works. Here's everything you need to know: who can schedule, booking windows, costs, rules that can end a visit early, and what to do when tech goes sideways.
Your first visit at Kershaw goes smoother when you bring the right ID, leave prohibited items behind, and plan for the two-hour restroom rule. Here's what to bring—and what to leave in the car.
Trying to visit someone at Kershaw and hitting a wall? The trick is knowing which office handles what. Below are the phone numbers and emails you'll need for visitation questions, virtual visit tech support, phone issues, and refunds.
Trying to visit someone at Kershaw but hitting a wall? Whether it's the application, virtual visit setup, or phone account issues, here are the contacts that can actually help.
The inmate must provide you SCDC Form 19-127 to complete and submit. Each inmate can have up to 15 approved visitors, and applications are processed by the facility and may include background checks.
Most adults age 18 and older with a valid South Carolina driver’s license can register online starting June 1, 2025. If you don’t have a South Carolina ID (or you have an out-of-state ID), you must apply using the paper process through the Division of Visitation.
Inmates with visitation privileges may receive four in-person visits per month, with one visit allowed per weekend, and they may have up to four visitors at a time as long as one is an adult. If you can’t attend, cancel at least 48 hours in advance—late cancellations or missed visits count against the inmate’s monthly total.
Phone and money systems get confusing fast—especially when a call won't connect or a deposit seems stuck in limbo. Here's how to deal with blocks, set up PrePay, understand deposit timing, and request refunds.
Your visit goes smoother when you show up with the right ID and leave problem items behind. Use this guide to avoid delays—or getting turned away—at check-in.
