Palmer Pre-Release Center

Your inmate will provide you with information about his visitation schedule. You can also find out the current visiting days/hours at Palmer Pre-Release Center by calling the facility directly. There is also the option of calling the SCDC Visitation Inquiry Line at 803-896-1838.

Press 1 — for questions regarding the visitation application process.

Press 2 — for up-to-date information about prisons that presently have canceled visitation because of security concerns, including COVID-19.

To get up-to-date information about visiting, you can follow the SCDC Twitter account at https://twitter.com/SCDCNews.

Visiting Applications

Your inmate must send you a visiting application. You'll be added to their visiting list once the application has been properly completed, submitted, and approved. It is the inmate's responsibility to let you know when you've been approved.

The number of visits that an inmate may receive each month is based on their security and custody level and may be further restricted by programming or by the inmate's behavior. The inmate will provide you with information about his or her visitation schedule, based on where he is housed.

Visiting Rules

Do not attempt to bring electronic devices – including activity fitness trackers and smart watches – into the visiting room. All visitors age 18 and older are required to submit to a pat/frisk search in addition to the existing search procedures. 

Dress Code

The following requirements for visitors are strictly enforced. Should a decision be made that a visitor is inappropriately dressed, the visitor will be denied admission to the institution.

• Shirts and shoes are mandatory.
• Clothing that exposes an undue amount of flesh (e.g., exposing chest, back, thighs, or midsections) is prohibited. Halter tops, underwear-type tee-shirts, tank tops, fishnet shirts, or any type of shirt or pants made with see-through fabric are NOT allowed to be worn by any visitor (male or female). Sleeveless shirts WILL NOT be allowed.
• Visitors may wear Bermuda-length shorts provided they are not more than three (3") inches above the top of the kneecap.
• At institutions where the use of khaki inmate uniforms has been fully implemented, all visitors may wear blue jeans/shorts, khaki pants/shorts, or other color denim jeans/shorts.
• At institutions that continue to utilize blue-jean denim inmate uniforms (shock units), visitors will be prohibited from wearing blue jeans/shorts or blue denim pants/shorts. Denim jeans/shorts other than the color blue will be allowed.
• Women and girls may wear dresses or skirts. However, no sleeveless dresses will be allowed. If a dress or skirt is considered too short or if there is a slit (no higher than three [3"] inches above the top of the knee), or is considered otherwise inappropriate by an officer, the officer will be required to contact the Duty Warden (or designee if the Duty Warden is not present in the institution) who will be responsible for coming to the entrance area for a decision as to whether the visitor will be allowed to visit. The decision of the Duty Warden/designee is final.
• Any shirt or other article of clothing with a picture or language that may be considered profane or offensive by current public and/or SCDC standards will not be allowed. In such cases, the officer will contact the Duty Warden (or designee if the Duty Warden is not present in the institution) who will be responsible for coming to the entrance area for a decision as to whether the visitor will be allowed to visit. The decision of the Duty Warden/designee is final.
• Clothing designed or intended to be tightly worn, to excessively accent the body, e.g., spandex, tights, leggings, tank tops, etc., is prohibited.
• Hair pieces and any hair accessories are subject to search.
• No jewelry except a wedding ring, one (1) pair of earrings, one (1) religious medallion on a necklace or chain, one (1) wristwatch, and a medical alert bracelet.

Items you can bring to a visit

SCDC institutions now utilize cashless vending machines that require Paykey devices, electronic recording tools the size of a keychain onto which cash can be transferred. These devices can be purchased for $5 or $6 at the entrance and can hold up to $50. 

• One clear plastic small wallet or change purse
• One set of keys (Must not contain any items that may cause a security threat.)
• One photo ID
• Life-saving medication

For visitors bringing authorized infants and small children, no more than five (5) diapers, three (3) baby bottles (or two (2) sipper cups for toddlers, must be clear), and three (3) jars of sealed baby food in a clear plastic bag. 

Baby wipes/towelettes may be brought in by visitors provided they are brought in a clear plastic bag. Infant/Baby carriers will be allowed but will be subject to search prior to entry into the institution. (Visitors will be required to remove the infant from the carrier for this purpose.)

You are only allowed to send letters, five pages of newspaper clippings or internet printouts, and up to 10 photos per envelope. Do not send your inmate cash, stamps, or any writing materials. You are not allowed to send anything to eat, drink, or smoke. 

You are allowed to send books, magazines, and newspapers, but they must be paid for in advance and sent directly from the publisher or from a publication supplier (like Amazon).

SCDC sponsors four Inmate Package Programs yearly. Family/friends can order various combinations from Access Securepak for shipment to the inmate's institution. The packages contain a wide variety of snacks, candy, and seafood.

Visit http://www.southcarolinapackages.com to place your orders.

Email

Inmates at Palmer Pre-Release Center can't receive incoming calls, but they do have access to phones. For complete details on how to call an inmate in South Carolina, please click here.

The SCDC uses GTL for money services, and they offer five ways for you to send money to your inmate. All the money you send (minus fees) is deposited into your inmate's Cooper Trust Fund Account. This is how they purchase canteen, phone time, stamps, etc…

Online

To send money online with a credit or debit card, click here. When creating your account, choose South Carolina Dept. of Corrections as the facility.

Mobile App

Download the mobile app and send money wherever you happen to be! You can download the free app for Android devices here and for iPhone and iPad here.

Phone

Call (888) 988-4768 and follow the prompts. For trust (canteen) deposits, the Site ID number is 121. To speak with a live agent 24/7, call customer service at (877) 650-4249.

Walk-In

Cash deposits to ConnectNetwork are now available at 26,000 retail locations nationwide including Walmart, ACE, Kmart, Kroger, and more. Find a location.

To use this walk-in retail – pay in cash option:

Step 1: Visit ConnectNetwork.com or with the free ConnectNetwork mobile app.
Step 2: Set up the cash payment by selecting “Walk-In Retail (Pay in Cash).”
Step 3: Then, to complete your transaction, bring cash and the PaySlip to your local store.

Mail-in Money Order

All money orders must be made payable to GTL and sent with a deposit slip to:

GTL Financial Services
10005 Technology Blvd West
Suite 130
Dallas TX 75220

If you are interested in a career with the South Carolina Department of Corrections, you can find out more information about available jobs at Palmer Pre-Release Center by clicking here.