South Carolina Department of Corrections
Law EnforcementSouth Carolina, United States1001-5000 Employees
The South Carolina Department of Corrections is a state agency in the law enforcement sector, based in Columbia, South Carolina. It operates the state's correctional system and reports directly to the governor. Its mission centers on safety, service, and stewardship: protecting the public, staff, and inmates; offering rehabilitation and self-improvement opportunities for inmates; and promoting professional excellence, fiscal responsibility, and self-sufficiency. Originating from 1866 and reorganized in 1960 to form the current department, it now runs 21 institutions and maintains a sizable workforce. Its primary audience includes the public, inmates, and department employees; it addresses issues of safe confinement, orderly facility operations, and inmate rehabilitation. Positioned in the law enforcement industry as a state corrections agency, it oversees multiple facilities and inmate populations within the state. In March 2026, the department announced a collaboration with Impact Justice and AmplifiedAg to launch the first vertical farm inside a U.S. prison, at the Camille Graham women's facility in Columbia, reflecting a drive toward innovative reforms.