State limit on prison transfers lifted

Inmates sentenced to terms in state prison should see shorter waiting times for the trip to the big house, thanks to a state budget provision ending limits on how many inmates local jails can transfer each week.

The Legislature, overriding a veto by Gov. Mark Sanford, allotted $1.9 million for the S.C. Department of Corrections to hire new workers for reception and evaluation, an inmate’s first stop in the state system, and to bed newly sentenced inmates. The policy change comes as a relief to Spartanburg County Detention Facility Director Larry Powers, who complained the DOC’s refusal to accept prisoners immediately, due to overcrowding, violated the law and unfairly burdened counties.

“We realize that (DOC Director Jon) Ozmint and the Department of Corrections have problems just like everybody else, but our contention from the beginning was the law said you have to do that, and, additionally, you don't put problems off by pushing them on somebody else,” Powers said.

Since January, Spartanburg County has been allowed to transfer only 16 male and three female inmates to state custody weekly. The backlog was the highest in mid-March, Powers said, when 67 people were awaiting transfer. On Monday and Tuesday, a combined 23 inmates were transferred to DOC custody, leaving 18 on the waiting list.

According to the new policy, inmates will be housed at a “jail” within Kirkland Correctional Institution in Columbia if beds aren’t available at the reception and evaluation center, and the DOC will also open a 96-bed unit at the MacDougall Correctional Institution in Ridgeville. DOC spokesman Josh Gelinas said hiring is under way for 17 security and seven non-security positions at Kirkland, plus 10 security positions at MacDougall.

The DOC is using an additional $2.5 million for 23 new positions at Broad River Correctional Institution, which can be used for overflow, Gelinas said. The new process continues to evolve, he said, adding that the DOC hasn't received complaints about the quota system recently. Still, he said, “This will definitely help ease any possible congestion.”

Kathy Williams, assistant director for the S.C. Association of Counties, said the new funds should reduce county jail overcrowding and costs for counties to house inmates already sentenced to prison.

“In some cases, it’s been several weeks that these counties are keeping state prisoners,” she said. “And really, this money is to help them comply with the statute that has been on the books for a long time.”