Visitation at Hill-Finklea Detention Center

There’s No In-Person Visiting Lobby

Unlike some South Carolina county jails that still offer in-person visits, Hill-Finklea’s official page states plainly that all visitation is conducted through video. Families and friends don’t visit in a physical room here, the entire process happens on a screen.

The Platform the County Names

The Sheriff’s Office directs visitors to set up an account at smartinmate.com. That’s the platform named on Berkeley County’s own site, and it’s the one to start with. A few third-party inmate-visitation guides for this facility list a different provider entirely, which is a sign those pages haven’t been updated to match the county’s current system, or that the county switched vendors at some point without every third-party site catching up. Don’t set up an account with a platform based only on a third-party site. Confirm with the facility directly at (843) 719-4546 if you’re unsure which system is current.

What Isn’t Published: Hours and Limits

Berkeley County’s detention center page doesn’t list specific visitation days, hours, or how many visits are allowed per week. This is a real gap, not an oversight on this guide’s part, the information isn’t on the official page as of this writing. Call before you set aside time for a video visit.

What to Ask When You Call

• Which video visitation platform is currently in use?
• What days and hours are visits scheduled?
• Is there a limit on visits per week or per inmate?
• Do I need to register or create an account before scheduling, and if so, how?
• Is there a fee per video visit?

Attorney Visits Are Different

Attorneys can schedule in-person visits Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with an appointment preferred. This is the one confirmed exception to the video-only rule, and it applies to legal counsel, not family members.

General Requirements

The official page lists some conduct rules for visitation: no tobacco products, handbags, or cell phones, visitors must be “properly dressed” (no revealing clothing), all visitors need photo ID, and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Beyond that, specific dress code items aren’t itemized, so if you’re unsure whether an outfit meets the standard, ask when you call.

If the Lobby Notice Looks Outdated

The Sheriff’s Office page still references a lobby closure that may be tied to an older policy. Treat any reference to lobby access as unconfirmed until you’ve called and asked directly whether that notice still reflects current policy.