If someone was recently sentenced, Kirkland is almost always where they start.
Every adult male sentenced to 91 days or more in South Carolina passes through Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center before being assigned to a permanent institution. If a search shows someone at Kirkland, that’s the expected first stop, not a sign of a problem.
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If someone was recently sentenced to SCDC custody, don’t expect to find them at a facility like Kershaw, Lee, or Broad River right away. South Carolina policy (SCDC’s Inmate Classification Plan, OP-21.04) routes every adult male sentenced to 91 days or more through Kirkland first for records intake, medical and mental health screening, PREA screening, and custody classification. Roughly 8,000 men go through this process every year.
Go to doc.sc.gov/inmate-search-disclaimer and search by name. Click the result to open the Inmate Search Detail Report, then check the right-hand column for the SCDC ID number, current location, and living unit. If the location says Kirkland, that confirms they’re still in the classification process.
SCDC’s own policy sets a goal of completing the full reception and evaluation process within 45 days. Medical or mental health evaluations, along with bedspace availability at the eventual assigned institution, can extend that window. Mental health screening specifically has its own internal deadline of 30 days.
There’s no public tool that shows exactly where someone is in this 45-day process. If it’s been well beyond 45 days and the location still shows Kirkland, that’s worth a phone call instead of continuing to wait.
Once SCDC completes classification, the person is transferred to whatever institution matches their custody level, and the inmate search location field updates to reflect that new institution. There’s no notification sent to families when this happens: you have to check back yourself.
Kirkland has a dedicated line for visitation-related questions during the reception period: (803) 896-2000, available Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to noon only. For anything outside that narrow window, or questions unrelated to visitation, call the facility’s main line at (803) 896-1521.
6 of 8 questions
Kirkland is South Carolina's intake and classification center for every adult male sentenced to 91 days or more. Nearly everyone shows up here first before being assigned to a permanent institution.
Inmate SearchSCDC's stated goal is to complete classification within 45 days, though medical evaluations or bedspace availability can extend it.
Inmate SearchNo. It's the expected, standard first stop for every male offender in the state, not a sign of a problem with their case or classification.
Inmate SearchNo. SCDC doesn't notify families of transfers. Check the inmate search periodically; the location field updates once the transfer happens.
Inmate SearchCall Kirkland's main line at (803) 896-1521 to ask about the status, since that's beyond SCDC's own stated goal for completing classification.
Inmate SearchNot through the public inmate search. It shows current location only, not progress through intake steps. Calling the facility is the only way to get more detail.
Inmate Search(803) 896-2000, available Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to noon only. For other questions, call the main line at (803) 896-1521.
Inmate SearchEvery adult male sentenced to 91 days or more goes through Kirkland. Women go through Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution's reception process instead.
Inmate SearchUnderstand who can visit, and when, during the reception period.
View ArticleYou can fund their account during R&E even before you can visit.
View ArticleSet up an account so they can call you once phone access is available.
View ArticleLetters can reach them now, even though photos can't yet.
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 9, 2026.