Sheriff James R. Metts
Ed.D,CHS-III,CJM,L.L.D.
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INMATE INFORMATION
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In addition to providing law enforcement services for the citizens of Lexington County, the Sheriff’s Department also manages and operates the Lexington County Detention Center which serves as the primary jail or detention facility in Lexington County. It is the mission of the Lexington County Detention Center to provide humane and just treatment for all persons detained in the facility without jeopardizing the safety and security of the detention center staff, employees, inmates, or the community. To help accomplish this mission, rules have been established regarding inmate visitation and contact. If you plan to visit an inmate being held at the detention center, please read the following information carefully to help expedite the visitation process and insure that no rules are violated.
Visitation
If you wish to visit an inmate, the inmate will first need to tell you the proper time schedule for visitation and prearrange an appointment for you to visit. Your name must be listed on the inmate’s approved visitation list and you must be prepared to present proper student, state, or government photo identification (including children) at the time of visitation. Be aware that an inmate may refuse to see any visitor.
Please be on time! Visits are limited to one hour and visitation times can not be extended. Also, be prepared to wait as there are limited visitation spaces and processing requires time. Only two (2) adults will be allowed to visit an inmate at a time and children under the age of twelve (12) are not allowed to visit. Any child between the ages of twelve (12) and seventeen (17) must be accompanied by an adult and controlled at all times. Special visits are not allowed without prior approval from the Detention Bureau Director.
Visitors must wear proper attire which conforms to reasonable standards. Short shorts, short skirts, bathing suits, and tank tops or excessively tight or revealing clothing is considered inappropriate. Shoes and shirts are required. If the Visitation Officer feels that a visitor’s clothing is inappropriate, the visit may be denied. Smoking is not permitted in the detention facility or visitation area. Additionally, food and/or beverages are not allowed in the visitation area.
Visitors may be denied visitation privileges for any of the following reasons:
- The visitor is not on the inmate’s approved visitation list.
- The visitor violates detention center rules.
- The visitor exhibits disruptive conduct or behavior.
- The visitor is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- There is insufficient space for visitation.
- Visitation would place the visitor’s health at risk.
- A reasonable threat to the safety or security of other inmates, employees, or the
community is jeopardized if the visit were to take place.
Inmates in the Annex, specifically A Dorm, will follow the same guidelines as for the general population inmates. The visitation is held on Saturday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and Sunday at 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. This visitation will be held in the Detention Center Visitation lobby.
Former inmates must wait six months after their release from the detention center to be eligible to visit another inmate currently being held in the facility. Visitation will not be allowed for inmates who are currently on disciplinary confinement.
Inmate Worker Visitation
Visitation for the inmate workers will follow the same guidelines as for the general population inmates. This information is listed in the above listed Visitation guidelines. The Inmate Workers visitation is held on Saturday from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. This visitation will be held in the Detention Center Visitation lobby.
Official Visitors
Official visitors (attorneys, clergy, etc.) may visit an inmate any day of the week between the hours of 8:30 am and 10:00 pm. However, official visits will not be permitted while meals are being served and during formal security activities (12:00 pm – 1:30 pm and from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm). Official visitors must present proper photo ID and professional ID prior to any visit. The Chaplain Corps visits inmates on a regular basis providing religious services and spiritual guidance to inmates of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Unitarian faiths, as well as, to inmates of other world religions.
Property and Contraband
All visitors and their property are subject to be searched by detention center staff. Refusing to comply with a search request will result in the denial of visitation. Visitors attempting to bring contraband into the facility are subject to arrest. Food and beverage items, personal property, money, drugs, and/or weapons are not allowed to be given to inmates. These and other unauthorized items found on an inmate, at any time, will be considered contraband and the inmate may be charged and/or their visitation privileges may be revoked.
Visitors may bring identification and keys into the visitation area, however, officers may require that other personal property be placed in available lockers or returned to the visitor’s vehicle before visitation is allowed. Purses, cell phones, and recording devices are not allowed in the facility. Detention center employees will not accept clothing or personal property for inmates and will not hold visitor property during visitation.
Mail
Mail is distributed to inmates every weekday, except holidays. Mail is not read or censored by detention center personnel. However, all incoming mail is opened and inspected for contraband in the presence of the inmate.
Inmates may only receive normal-sized cards or letters. Envelopes with clasps or padding will not be accepted. Packages will also not be accepted. Legal mail (from an attorney’s office, for example) is exempt from these restrictions but may be inspected for contraband.
Mailing Address for Inmates:
Inmate’s Name, Housing Location and Inmate Number
Lexington County Detention Center
P.O. Box 2019
Lexington, SC 29071-2019
Telephone Calls
Inmates can not receive telephone calls or messages. However, inmates do have access to collect call telephones and may call out of the facility if the person being called accepts the charges for the call. Except for actual and verifiable emergencies, such as a death or medical emergency of an immediate family member, messages for an inmate are not accepted and will not be given to the inmate. In case of an emergency, contact the detention center shift supervisor at (803) 785-2743.
Financial Matters
Inmates may keep money in an account for the purchase of canteen items such as snack foods, writing paper, stamped envelopes, toiletries, and undergarments. Inmates are not allowed to have cash in their possession. Money for an inmate may be deposited into the inmate’s account by mail or at the front lobby of the Detention Center on weekdays (except for holidays) from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm. Only cash (no coins) or money orders are accepted. Deposits are limited to $140.00 per day.
To make deposits to inmate accounts, please follow the link: INMATE DEPOSITS
Mailing Address for Inmates:
Inmate’s Name, Housing Location and Inmate Number
Lexington County Detention Center
P.O. Box 2019
Lexington, SC 29071-2019
Medical Care / Mental Health
Medical care is provided to inmates on a 24-hour basis by contracted medical staff. A physician visits the facility regularly and inmates are transported to proper health care facilities in cases of emergencies. The medical staff administers prescription medication as outlined by a doctor.
In addition to standard medical care, limited dental services are available.
For mental health issues, a Lexington County Mental Health caseworker is available, seven-days-a-week, to assess inmates. They are also on-call after hours to provide assistance with any emergency situation. If you feel that any person housed in the Lexington County Detention Center is depressed, suicidal, or mentally unstable, please notify the shift supervisor immediately at (803) 785-2743.
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INMATE INFORMATION
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