Search Lee County Inmate Records
Lee County has a unique inmate population because it hosts both a local detention center and a state prison. The Lee County Sheriff's Office runs the local jail. Lee Correctional Institution, a major state facility, is also in Lee County near Bishopville. You can search for people held in the Lee County jail or in the state prison system. This page covers how to look up inmates, check the local jail roster, and find records for people held in Lee County or state facilities located here.
Lee County Quick Facts
Lee County Sheriff and Detention Center
The Lee County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for the county. It runs the Lee County Detention Center where local inmates are held. The jail houses people waiting for trial and those sentenced to short terms. Staff log each booking and release. They track charges, court dates, and bond amounts for every person in the Lee County jail.
You can reach the Lee County Sheriff's Office to ask about someone in custody. The office is in Bishopville, which is the county seat. Lee County is a rural county in the eastern part of South Carolina. The detention center follows all state rules set by Title 24 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. The Bishopville Police Department also handles arrests within the town. Those inmates go to the same Lee County Detention Center for processing and holding.
The Lee County government website provides contact details and hours for county departments, including the Sheriff's Office.
This site shows the Lee County government portal with links to the Sheriff's Office and other departments that serve the area.
Lee Correctional Institution
Lee Correctional Institution is a state prison located in Lee County. It sits at 990 Wisacky Highway in Bishopville. The facility opened in 1993 and houses both close and medium custody male inmates. Warden Shane Jackson oversees the facility. Lee CI is one of the larger SCDC institutions in the state.
The prison offers several programs for inmates. Vocational training covers areas like electrical work, carpentry, welding, and brick masonry. Lee CI also runs recycling projects through a partnership with the private sector. An apparel plant on site produces clothing, mattresses, and pillows for use across SCDC facilities. The institution has a licensed infirmary that provides 24-hour medical care for the Lee County inmate population held at the prison.
Other programs at Lee CI include:
- Better Living Incentive Community for good behavior
- Character Based Unit for moral growth
- Bee keeping as a vocational program
- Hospice care for the terminally ill
- College correspondence courses
To find someone at Lee CI, use the SCDC online inmate search. You can search by name or inmate number. Results show the facility, sentence, and projected release date. Not all inmates at Lee CI are from Lee County. The state assigns inmates based on custody level and needs, so people from any South Carolina county may serve time here.
Note: Lee CI also serves as a video conferencing site for parole hearings through SCDPPPS.
How to Search Lee County Inmates
There are several ways to look up inmates in Lee County. For the local jail, call the Lee County Detention Center. Give them the person's full name. Staff can check the roster and confirm custody status. They can share charges and bond details.
For state inmates, go to the SCDC website. The free search tool lets you look up anyone in state prison. This includes people at Lee CI and any other SCDC facility. The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services has a separate search tool for people on supervision in Lee County. If someone was released from prison and placed on parole, you can track them there.
You can also search for case information through the South Carolina Judicial Branch website. This tool covers court records across all counties, including Lee County criminal cases.
Lee County Inmate Population Records
Inmate records in Lee County are public under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. You can request records from the Sheriff's Office or the Clerk of Court. Basic booking data is often shared over the phone. Written records may require a formal request.
For state-level records about inmates at Lee CI or other SCDC facilities, submit a FOIA request to SCDC at FOIA@doc.sc.gov. The department handles requests for public records about inmates from Lee County and all other South Carolina counties. Response times vary by the scope of your request. Simple lookups are often fast.
Families of Lee County inmates can use the SCDC family services page for visitation rules, mail guidelines, phone call procedures, and money transfers. All visits to state prisons must be scheduled in advance. Lee CI has its own visitation schedule that families should check before planning a trip.
Note: SCDC records data is from the prior day, so check back for the most current information.
Victim Services for Lee County
Crime victims in Lee County can sign up for the VINE system. VINE sends alerts when an inmate's custody status changes. It is free. You can register by calling 1-866-727-2846. The system works every day, all day.
VINE covers local jail inmates and state prison inmates from Lee County. When a person is released, transferred, or escapes, the system notifies anyone who registered. The SCDC Division of Victim Services runs the state side of this program. Their toll-free line is 1-800-835-0304. Because Lee CI is in Lee County, victims of crimes committed by inmates housed there can also register for alerts about those specific inmates. This is true even if the inmate is not from Lee County originally.
Probation and Parole in Lee County
SCDPPPS supervises people on probation and parole in Lee County. Agents make home visits and ensure each person follows their supervision terms. The agency uses risk assessments to set contact levels. High-risk cases get more frequent visits.
People who finish a prison sentence from Lee County may be placed on community supervision. Under Section 24-21-560, the state sets procedures for pre-release and community supervision. These programs help former inmates return to life in Lee County. Under Section 24-3-20, work release is an option for inmates within 36 months of release. The goal of these programs is to lower repeat offenses and keep Lee County communities safe. Agents across the state made over 86,000 home visits in the last fiscal year.
Nearby Counties
Lee County borders several other South Carolina counties. If you are not sure where someone is held, check the county where they were arrested. The local jail or a nearby facility may house the person.