SCDC runs one statewide search tool. Here's how to use it to confirm someone is at MacDougall.
South Carolina doesn’t run a separate inmate lookup for each prison. One statewide tool covers every SCDC institution, including MacDougall. Search by name, confirm the listed location says MacDougall, and check back if the person you’re looking for was recently sentenced, since new intakes typically start elsewhere before being classified and assigned here.
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South Carolina doesn’t maintain a separate inmate database for MacDougall or any other single institution. Every SCDC facility, including MacDougall, is covered by one search tool at doc.sc.gov/inmate-search-disclaimer. Accept the disclaimer, then search by the inmate’s first and last name.
A name search can return someone with a similar name, or someone who has since transferred. Check the current institution field in the results and confirm it reads “MacDougall.” If it lists a different facility, especially Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center, the person hasn’t been assigned to MacDougall yet or has since moved.
Most people newly sentenced to SCDC custody start at Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center for classification before being assigned to a permanent institution. That process typically takes several weeks. If a search shows Kirkland instead of MacDougall, the person likely hasn’t finished intake yet. Check back periodically, since the listed location updates once a transfer is processed.
MacDougall is officially classified as both medium and minimum security, and per SCDC’s own audit documentation, currently houses inmates across a range of classifications despite being designated a medium-custody institution. If you’re trying to understand phone curfew rules or other custody-specific policies, the specific classification of the person you’re looking for matters more than the facility’s overall designation. See the phone calls guide for how this affects overnight call access.
A few things can cause a name search to return nothing: a name spelled differently than expected, a recent booking not yet reflected in the system, or the person being held somewhere outside SCDC custody entirely, such as a county jail awaiting transfer. If you’re confident someone was sentenced to SCDC and they still don’t appear, call MacDougall directly at (843) 688-5251.
Once the search confirms MacDougall as the current location, you can move on to scheduling a visit, sending money, or setting up phone and mail contact. Each of those has its own requirements covered in the linked guides below.
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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 confirm the result lists MacDougall as the current location.
Inmate SearchMost new SCDC sentences start at Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center for classification before being assigned to a permanent institution. That process can take several weeks.
Inmate SearchCommon reasons include a name spelled differently than you expect, a recent booking not yet reflected in the system, or the person still being held at a county jail instead of in SCDC custody.
Inmate SearchNot in detail. MacDougall houses both medium and minimum custody inmates, and classification affects things like the phone curfew. Call the facility if you need to confirm someone's specific classification.
AboutCall MacDougall directly at (843) 688-5251.
Inmate SearchYou can move on to scheduling a visit, sending money, or setting up phone and mail contact. Each has its own process covered in the linked guides on this page.
Inmate SearchNow that you've confirmed their location, here's how to schedule a visit.
View ArticleFund their commissary account through the Cooper Trust Fund.
View ArticleSet up an account to receive calls, and check whether the curfew applies.
View ArticleAddress a letter once you've confirmed they're here.
View ArticleSearch for your loved one and start sending photos, letters, and messages today.
Search for Your Loved OneFree Inmate Search
All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 9, 2026.