Wateree River Correctional Institution
Wateree River Correctional Institution is a level 2 prison for male inmates that is located in Rembert, South Carolina. It is operated by the South Carolina Department of Corrections and can house approximately 884 inmates.
Phases I and II of the Department of Corrections' Youthful Offender Institutional Services (YOIS) are operational at Wateree River Correctional Institution. The YOIS is required for all inmates sentenced under the Youthful Offender Act. The institution also houses adult offenders.
Prison Insights
Wateree River Correctional Institution
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Visiting Hours and Rules
Please call Wateree River Correctional Institution directly for the current visiting schedule. You can also call the SCDC Visitation Inquiry Line at 803-896-1838 if you have questions about your visiting application or for up-to-date info about canceled visitation.
Press 1 — for questions about the visitation application process.
Press 2 — for information about prisons that have canceled visitation because of security concerns, including COVID-19.
To get up-to-date information about visitation at South Carolina correctional facilities, you can also follow the SCDC Twitter account at https://twitter.com/SCDCNews.
If you still have questions, please call 803-896-8500 for more information about inmate communication and visitation.
Visiting Applications
The only way you can get a visiting application is from your inmate. They must mail it to you, and you must fill it out completely before sending it for approval.
If you are not on your inmate's approved visiting list, you will not be allowed to visit. The SCDC will not add you to your inmate's visiting list until the application has been completed, submitted, and approved. Once the process is complete, your inmate will notify you and provide you with information about the visitation schedule.
Dress Code
The following dress code requirements for visitors are strictly enforced. You will be denied admission to the visiting room if these rules are not followed.
- 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 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.
You can not bring electronic devices – including activity fitness trackers and smart watches – into the visiting room. Everyone age 18 and older must submit to a pat/frisk search.
Items you can bring to a visit
The visiting room at Wateree River Correctional Institution has cashless vending machines that require Paykey devices. You can purchase this device at the entrance to the facility. They can hold up to $50. These devices can be reloaded and/or reused at each visit.
You may bring the following items into the visiting room:
- 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
Visitors with infants may bring five diapers, three baby bottles (or two sipper cups for toddlers, must be clear), three jars of sealed baby food in a clear plastic bag, and baby wipes/towelettes in a clear plastic bag. Infant/Baby carriers are allowed but are subject to search.
Physical Address
Wateree River Correctional Institution
Highway 261
Rembert, SC 29128
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/UrHjPsed92j7zgT3A
General Phone Number
(803) 432-6191 or
(803) 896-3400
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Inmate Name/DOC Number
Wateree River Correctional Institution
PO Box 189
Rembert, SC 29128-0189
Inmate mail can include letters, five pages of newspaper clippings or internet printouts, and up to 10 photos per envelope. Do not send cash, stamps, or any writing materials. You are not allowed to send anything to eat, drink, or smoke.
All books, magazines, and newspapers, must be sent directly from the publisher or from a publication supplier (like Amazon). They must also be paid for in advance.
SCDC sponsors four Inmate Package Programs every year. You can order various package combinations from Access Securepak for shipment to Wateree River 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 Wateree River Correctional Institution can't receive incoming calls. But they do have access to phones during certain hours. 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 have different options for you to send money to your inmate at Wateree River Correctional Institution.
The money you send (minus fees) is deposited directly into your inmate's Cooper Trust Fund Account. They use the money to purchase canteen items, phone time, stamps, etc…
Online or Mobile App
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. You can also download the mobile app to send money from anywhere. 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, first visit ConnectNetwork.com or use the free ConnectNetwork mobile app. Set up the cash payment by selecting “Walk-In Retail (Pay in Cash).” 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
Do not mail the money order directly to Wateree River Correctional Institution. It will be returned.
Deposit slip (en Español).
Programs For Inmates
SHOCK Incarceration Program: This program is required for Court ordered male inmates who must be between the ages of 17 and 29 and who have passed a 15-day evaluation.
Agriculture: This institution provides inmate labor for the Agriculture and Food Service Division's 7,000 acre row crop operation, the new dairy which provides milk for SCDC and the Department of Juvenile Justice, and beef cattle operations located adjacent to the facility.
Education: Literacy, GED preparation, and high school courses.
Vocational Training: Construction Engineering Operations (CEO) and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF).
Health Care: Routine medical and dental care provided on site, five days per week.
Programs: Religious services, volunteer services, recreational services, Alcoholics Anonymous.
Community Services: Provides inmate labor crews to the Office of the Adjutant General, the City of Camden, Kershaw County, Lee County, the City of Sumter, Sumter County Public Works, and the Department of Transportation; provides three (3) correctional officer-supervised inmate litter crews who pick up trash along the I-20 and adjacent secondary roads; and an institution work crew which fills sandbags for use in coastal areas during hurricanes/floods due to storms.
Pictures of Wateree River Correctional Institution
Careers at Wateree River Correctional Institution
To find out more information about a career with the South Carolina Department of Corrections and available jobs at Wateree River Correctional Institution, click here.