How to visit, scheduling, dress code, and visitor requirements
Visiting someone in South Carolina DOC takes planning, but the steps are straightforward. Starting June 1, 2025, most adults with a valid South Carolina driver's license can register online. Minors and certain other visitors still need paper applications mailed to the Division of Visitation in Columbia. All visits—in-person and virtual—go through the GTL scheduler, and some guidance recommends scheduling at least 15 hours ahead. Inmates with visitation privileges can receive up to four in-person visits per month (typically one per weekend), with up to four visitors at a time and at least one adult present. Kids can visit too. Children 10 and older need a government-issued photo ID; kids 9 and under need a long-form birth certificate. Plan around restroom limits, the 48-hour cancellation rule, and the ban on phones, smartwatches, and fitness trackers.
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Starting June 1, 2025, South Carolina DOC is letting many adult visitors register for visitation online. The deciding factor? Whether you have a valid South Carolina driver's license. If you don't, you'll still need to use the paper application.
SCDC offers online visitor registration for some adults, but paper applications are still required in several common situations. Here's how to figure out which path applies to you—and what to do next.
Virtual visitation with South Carolina DOC is straightforward once you understand the timing rules and system requirements. Here's how to set up your account, schedule a visit, and avoid the common issues that get sessions cut short.
Planning a visit with someone in South Carolina DOC custody? Two timing rules trip people up most: you need to book through GTL far enough ahead, and you need to cancel early enough that the visit doesn't count against the person's monthly total.
Virtual visits with someone in South Carolina DOC are straightforward once you understand two things: the specific institution controls when visits happen, and you need to be on the approved virtual visitation list before you can connect.
Visiting someone in SCDC goes smoothly when you bring the right ID for everyone in your group. Here's what you need for adults, kids, and virtual visits—so you don't get turned away at the door.
Your first visit is much easier when you know the scheduling rules upfront. Use this as your quick checklist before booking.
To request a virtual visit with someone at South Carolina DOC (SCDC), you'll need to be on their approved visitation list. Each visitor needs their own account, and the name on your account must match the name on the approved list exactly. Sessions run 50 minutes and cost a flat $10—they start on the hour and there are no partial refunds. That's why picking an allowed location matters: if your visit gets cut short, you're still out the full $10.
Inmates with visitation privileges are allowed up to four in-person visits per month. Generally, that works out to one visit per weekend within the monthly allowance.
Children age 10 and older must show a government-issued photo ID. Children 9 and younger must present a long-form birth certificate.
No. SCDC prohibits personal wireless-communicating devices inside institutions, including phones, fitness trackers, and smartwatches.
Can you bring a debit or credit card into an SCDC visit for vending machines? The answer changed in July 2024 for certain institutions. Here's what's different now, which cards work, and the limits you need to plan around.
Sending money to someone in South Carolina DOC comes down to two main options: automated deposits through ConnectNetwork/GTL, or mailing a money order with the required deposit form. Here's how timing works, what limits apply, and what to do if you need a refund after release.
SCDC uses the same GTL scheduler for both in-person and virtual visits, but the timing rules differ. Here's how to plan ahead—and what to do if plans change.
