SCDC runs one statewide search, not a separate lookup per facility.
South Carolina doesn’t run a separate inmate lookup for each institution. To confirm someone is at Kershaw Correctional Institution, you search the statewide SCDC inmate database by name, then check that the result lists Kershaw as the current location.
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Go to doc.sc.gov/inmate-search-disclaimer and accept the disclaimer to reach the search tool. Search by the person’s first and last name. If you have their SCDC inmate number, that narrows the result immediately since South Carolina has a large statewide inmate population and common names can return multiple matches.
When you find the right person, click their name to open the Inmate Search Detail Report. Look in the right-hand column, labeled “Inmate Sentence and Location,” for three things: the SCDC ID number, the current institution (this should say Kershaw), and the dorm-room-bunk assignment, which is the living unit.
The SCDC ID number is the number you’ll need for every money deposit and every piece of mail. Write it down exactly as it appears.
The institution field is the person’s current physical location. This can change without much notice if someone is transferred for medical reasons, disciplinary reasons, or a program assignment, so it’s worth checking again close to your visit date or before sending money.
The dorm-room-bunk field tells you the living unit inside Kershaw. You don’t need this for a visit, but it can help mailroom staff route a letter faster, and vending and package staff sometimes ask for it.
If someone was recently sentenced to SCDC custody, they don’t go directly to Kershaw. Every adult male sentenced to 91 days or more first goes through Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center in Columbia, where SCDC classifies and assigns them to a permanent institution. SCDC’s own policy sets a goal of completing that process within 45 days, though medical or mental health evaluations and bedspace availability can extend it.
If the search shows the person at Kirkland R&E, not Kershaw, that’s not an error. It means classification isn’t finished yet. Search again in a week or two. Once SCDC assigns them to Kershaw, the location field will update.
A few things can explain a name that returns no results:
Because SCDC facility assignments can change, search again within a day or two of a planned visit or deposit, not only once when you first start looking. A wasted trip to Kershaw because someone was transferred the week before is avoidable with a same-week search.
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No. SCDC runs one statewide inmate search covering every institution. Search by name at doc.sc.gov/inmate-search-disclaimer and check that the result lists Kershaw as the current location.
Inmate SearchFirst and last name is enough to start. If you have the person's SCDC inmate number, use it too, since it narrows results faster for common names.
Inmate SearchThe Inmate Search Detail Report shows the SCDC ID number, the current institution, and the dorm-room-bunk living unit, all in the right-hand column under Inmate Sentence and Location.
Inmate SearchEvery newly sentenced adult male first goes through Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center for classification, a process SCDC aims to finish in 45 days. They'll show as being at Kirkland until that's done and they're assigned a permanent institution.
Inmate SearchDouble check the spelling of the legal name, including any suffix. If they haven't been sentenced yet, they're likely still in a county jail, not SCDC custody. If they've finished their sentence, check the Released Inmate List instead.
Inmate SearchIt's updated regularly but can lag a few days behind a recent transfer. If someone's location suddenly doesn't match what you expected, call the institution directly before assuming an error.
Inmate SearchYes, effectively. Deposits and mail move faster and more reliably with the SCDC number included, and some processes require it.
Inmate SearchThe SCDC statewide search is name-based. If you only have a booking number from a county jail, that number belongs to a different system and won't work in the SCDC state search.
Inmate SearchCheck doc.sc.gov/released-inmate-list. If their name appears there, they've completed their sentence instead of moving to a different institution.
Inmate SearchYes. Facility assignments can change with little notice. Search again within a day or two of your planned visit or deposit so you're not making a trip based on outdated information.
Inmate SearchAdd the SCDC inmate number if you have it, or narrow using any additional identifying detail the search allows, like date of birth, to avoid confusing two people with the same name.
Inmate SearchCall Kershaw Correctional Institution directly at (803) 896-3300 with the person's full legal name and, if you have it, their SCDC number.
Inmate SearchConfirmed they're at Kershaw? Here's how non-contact visits work.
View ArticleFund their Cooper Trust Fund account with their confirmed SCDC number.
View ArticleSet up an account so they can call you once you've confirmed their location.
View ArticleAddress a letter correctly using their confirmed SCDC number and living unit.
View ArticleSearch for your loved one and start sending photos, letters, and messages today.
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All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 8, 2026.