Mail & Photos to MacDougall Correctional Institution

The Mailing Address

Address your letter to:

[Inmate's Legal Name, SCDC Number]
MacDougall Correctional Institution
1516 Old Gilliard Road
Ridgeville, SC 29472

Include the housing or living unit if you know it, this can speed up internal delivery once mail clears inspection. Always include your complete return address on the envelope.

Mail Is Opened and Inspected

Every piece of incoming mail at MacDougall is opened and inspected before it reaches the inmate. This is standard across all SCDC institutions. Inspection can add processing time, so build that into your expectations if you’re sending something time-sensitive.

Photos

Photos are generally accepted as part of a letter. SCDC doesn’t publish a facility-specific limit on the number of photos per envelope on its public site, if you’re sending a large batch, call (843) 688-5251 to confirm there isn’t a per-envelope limit currently in effect, since SCDC has adjusted photo policies at other institutions in the past.

Books and Magazines Require an Approved Vendor

Effective Oct. 1, 2025, SCDC requires that books and magazines come from an approved vendor, paid for in advance, with a receipt enclosed. You can’t mail a book you already own or one purchased secondhand. Magazine subscriptions must be set up directly through a verified subscription service, not a family member or friend mailing individual issues.

Packages Go Through Access Securepak

SCDC uses Access Securepak as its approved package vendor. You order approved items (typically food, hygiene products, clothing, and electronics) directly through Access Securepak’s platform, and the package ships to the facility from there. You cannot mail a package directly to MacDougall or hand-deliver one.

What’s Never Allowed

Regardless of MacDougall’s specific rules, some restrictions are universal at every SCDC institution and most facilities nationwide: never mail cash directly to an inmate, and never include anything that could be mistaken for a prohibited substance or contraband. Doing so risks the entire piece of mail being rejected or destroyed, and can create legal exposure for the sender.

If Your Mail Doesn’t Seem to Be Getting Through

If it’s been more than two weeks since you sent something with no acknowledgment, call MacDougall at (843) 688-5251 to check on it. Mail flagged during inspection for any reason can be delayed or rejected, and a phone call is the fastest way to find out what happened.

Send Photos and Letters with Pigeonly

The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at MacDougall Correctional Institution is through Pigeonly. Upload your photos or write your letter online, and Pigeonly prints and mails everything to the facility for you, following the mail rules listed above.