Perry Correctional Institution
Perry Correctional Institution is a level 3, maximum-security institution for male inmates that is located in Pelzer, South Carolina. It can house approximately 1,000 inmates, and it is operated by the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
Prison Insights
Perry Correctional Institution
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Visiting Hours and Rules
Your inmate will provide you with information about his visitation schedule after you are approved for visits. You can call Perry Correctional Institution directly to get information about the visiting schedule. 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, and you must fill it out and be approved before you are allowed to visit. The SCDC will add you to your inmates 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.
Visiting Rules
Electronic devices – including activity fitness trackers and smart watches – are not allowed in 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 dress code requirements for visitors are strictly enforced. If an officer decides that you are inappropriately dressed, you will be denied admission to the visiting room.
- Shirts and shoes are mandatory.
- Clothing that exposes 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 are not allowed.
- Visitors may wear Bermuda-length shorts provided they are not more than three inches above the top of the knee.
- At institutions where they use khaki inmate uniforms, all visitors may wear blue jeans/shorts, khaki pants/shorts, or other color denim jeans/shorts.
- Women and girls may wear dresses or skirts. However, no sleeveless dresses will be allowed. A dress or skirt is considered too short if it hits higher than three inches above the top of the knee
- 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.
- 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
Perry Correctional Institution utilizes 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 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 infants, you may bring 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 in a clear plastic bag. Infant/Baby carriers will be allowed but are subject to search prior to entry into the institution.
Physical Address
Perry Correctional Institution
430 Oaklawn Road
Pelzer, SC 29669
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/gz8qdDFUktTvDcFZ6
General Phone Number
(864) 243-4700 or
(803) 737-1752
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Inmate Name/DOC Number
Perry Correctional Institution
430 Oaklawn Road
Pelzer, SC 29669
You may send letters, five pages of newspaper clippings or internet printouts, and up to 10 photos per envelope to your inmate. 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 every year. You can order various package combinations from Access Securepak for shipment to Perry CI. The packages contain a wide variety of snacks, candy, and seafood.
Visit http://www.southcarolinapackages.com to place your orders.
How to Call an Inmate
Inmates at Perry Correctional Institution 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.
How to Send Money
The SCDC uses GTL for money services, and they offer five ways for you to send money to your inmate at Perry Correctional Institution. 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
Programs For Inmates
Education: Literacy and GED preparation.
Vocational Training: Carpentry, and brick masonry.
Industries: Manufacturing case goods for governmental agencies and schools.
Health Care: Routine medical and dental care provided on site with 16-hour emergency care available.
Programs: Sex offender treatment programs, religious services, volunteer services, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, a Pre-Release program, recreational services, assisted living, Impact of Crime classes, and the Character-Based Rehabilitation Program.
Services: Serves as one of the video conferencing sites for parole hearings in conjunction with the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.
Community Services: Provides an Operation Behind Bars program for at risk youth and adults to tour the prison and hear inmates describe what led to their criminal behavior and life inside prison. Provides up to 120 inmate workers.
The Impact of Crime Program
The Impact of Crime Program is a structured classroom curriculum which causes the offenders to put themselves in the place of the victim, and it serves to bring about a greater understanding of the pain and suffering caused by crime.
The Impact of Crime Program covers 13 crime-specific modules and uses a crime victim speaker at the closing of each module.
Character-Based Rehab Unit
This special program hand-picks participants. It operates under a philosophy that emphasizes "exhaustion and receptivity." When exhaustion prevents an inmate from improving and instead causes them to revert to their old ways of behavior while behind bars, they are ready for this program.
Operation Behind Bars
The "Operation Behind Bars" program utilizes a more realistic approach rather than intimidation or scare tactics. The program is targeted toward young adults, and allows them to tour a prison facility and then hear inmates give realistic accounts of actions that led to their criminal behavior, the effects of incarceration on themselves and their families as well as the impact of their crime on the victims and the community, and day-to-day life in prison.
This program is offered as a public service to the citizens of South Carolina and is free of charge. To participate, the following guidelines must be met:
1. You must be at least 14 years old
2. Have a picture ID
3. Appropriate attire
4. Sign a SCDC Release of Liability form
Pictures of Perry Correctional Institution
Careers at Perry Correctional Institution
If you are interested in a career with the South Carolina Department of Corrections, you can find out more information about available jobs at Perry Correctional Institution by clicking here.
