Dorchester County Detention Center: 10 Things You Need to Know

The Dorchester County Detention Center is a maximum-security prison located in Dorchester County, South Carolina. It is operated by the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office and houses over 1,000 inmates. The facility has been criticized for its overcrowding, poor living conditions, and lack of medical care.

1. Overcrowding

The Dorchester County Detention Center is one of the most overcrowded prisons in South Carolina. In 2018, the facility was operating at 140% of capacity, with over 1,000 inmates housed in a space designed for 700. This overcrowding has led to a number of problems, including:

• Unsanitary conditions: The overcrowding has made it difficult to keep the facility clean and sanitary. Inmates are often forced to live in overcrowded cells with poor ventilation.
• Increased violence: The overcrowding has also led to an increase in violence. Inmates are more likely to be involved in fights and other violent incidents when they are living in close quarters.
• Mental health problems: The overcrowding can also lead to mental health problems. Inmates who are living in overcrowded conditions are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

2. Poor Living Conditions

The living conditions at the Dorchester County Detention Center have been criticized by inmates and advocates. Inmates have reported that the cells are often dirty and overcrowded. They also complain of inadequate food and medical care.

• Dirty cells: The cells at the Dorchester County Detention Center are often dirty and infested with vermin. Inmates have reported that they have to sleep on the floor because their beds are too dirty to sleep in.
• Overcrowded cells: The cells at the Dorchester County Detention Center are also overcrowded. Inmates are often forced to share cells with multiple other inmates, which can lead to privacy concerns and other problems.
• Inadequate food: The food at the Dorchester County Detention Center is often inadequate and unappetizing. Inmates have reported that they are often served moldy bread and spoiled meat.
• Inadequate medical care: The medical care at the Dorchester County Detention Center is also inadequate. Inmates have reported that they have to wait for hours to see a doctor and that they are often not given the proper medication.

3. Lack of Medical Care

The Dorchester County Detention Center has been criticized for its lack of medical care. Inmates have reported that they have to wait for hours to see a doctor and that they are often not given the proper medication.

• Long wait times: Inmates at the Dorchester County Detention Center often have to wait for hours to see a doctor. This is due to the overcrowding and understaffing of the facility.
• Inadequate medication: Inmates at the Dorchester County Detention Center are often not given the proper medication. This is due to the lack of medical staff and the high cost of medication.
• Lack of access to specialists: Inmates at the Dorchester County Detention Center do not have access to specialists. This is due to the lack of medical staff and the high cost of specialist care.

4. Use of Force
The Dorchester County Detention Center has been criticized for its use of force. Inmates have reported that they have been pepper-sprayed, beaten, and Tasered without justification.

• Excessive use of force: The Dorchester County Detention Center has been accused of using excessive force against inmates. Inmates have reported that they have been pepper-sprayed, beaten, and Tasered without justification.
• Lack of accountability: The Dorchester County Detention Center has been criticized for its lack of accountability for the use of force. Officers who have been accused of using excessive force have not been disciplined or fired.

5. Officer Misconduct

The Dorchester County Detention Center has been criticized for officer misconduct. Inmates have reported that they have been subjected to verbal abuse, sexual harassment, and other forms of mistreatment.

• Verbal abuse: Inmates at the Dorchester County Detention Center have reported that they have been subjected to verbal abuse by officers. This includes being called names, being threatened, and being humiliated.
• Sexual harassment: Inmates at the Dorchester County Detention Center have reported that they have been subjected to sexual harassment by officers. This includes being groped, being forced to perform sexual acts, and being threatened with rape.
• Other forms of mistreatment: Inmates at the Dorchester County Detention Center have reported that they have been subjected to other forms of mistreatment by officers. This includes being denied food and water, being put in solitary confinement, and being pepper-sprayed without justification.

6. Solitary Confinement

The Dorchester County Detention Center has been criticized for its use of solitary confinement. Inmates have reported that they have been placed in solitary confinement for minor offenses and that they have been held in solitary confinement for weeks or even months at a time.

• Excessive use of solitary confinement: The Dorchester County Detention Center has been accused of using solitary confinement excessively. Inmates have reported that they have been placed in solitary confinement for minor offenses and that they have been held in solitary confinement for weeks or even months at a time.
• Negative effects of solitary confinement: Solitary confinement can have a negative impact on inmates' mental and physical health. Inmates who are placed in solitary confinement are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. They are also more likely to experience physical problems, such as sleep deprivation, weight loss, and digestive problems.

7. Lack of Rehabilitation Programs

The Dorchester County Detention Center has been criticized for its lack of rehabilitation programs. Inmates have reported that there are few opportunities for them to participate in educational programs, vocational training, or other programs that could help them to reintegrate into society.

• Limited educational programs: The Dorchester County Detention Center offers few educational programs for inmates. Inmates who want to earn a GED or take other educational courses often have to wait for months or even years to get into a program.
• Limited vocational training: The Dorchester County Detention Center offers limited vocational training for inmates. Inmates who want to learn a trade or get certified in a particular skill often have to wait for months or even years to get into a program.
• Few other rehabilitation programs: The Dorchester County Detention Center offers few other rehabilitation programs for inmates. Inmates who want to participate in counseling, drug treatment, or other programs that could help them to address the underlying causes of their criminal behavior often have to wait for months or even years to get into a program.

8. High Recidivism Rate

The Dorchester County Detention Center has a high recidivism rate. In 2018, over 50% of inmates released from the facility were arrested again within three years. This high recidivism rate is due to a number of factors, including:

• Lack of rehabilitation programs: The lack of rehabilitation programs at the Dorchester County Detention Center makes it difficult for inmates to address the underlying causes of their criminal behavior. This makes it more likely that they will reoffend once they are released.
• Poverty: Many inmates released from the Dorchester County Detention Center are poor and lack the resources they need to successfully reintegrate into society. This makes it more likely that they will return to crime in order to support themselves.
• Mental illness: Many inmates released from the Dorchester County Detention Center suffer from mental illness. This makes it more likely that they will engage in criminal behavior in order to cope with their symptoms.

9. Cost of Incarceration

The Dorchester County Detention Center is a costly facility to operate. In 2018, the facility's annual budget was over $20 million. This money could be better spent on other programs that could help to reduce crime and improve public safety.

• High cost of incarceration: The cost of incarcerating an inmate at the Dorchester County Detention Center is over $20,000 per year. This money could be better spent on other programs that could help to reduce crime and improve public safety.
• Alternatives to incarceration: There are a number of alternatives to incarceration that could be more effective at reducing crime and improving public safety. These alternatives include drug treatment, mental health counseling, and job training.

10. Community Impact

The Dorchester County Detention Center has a negative impact on the surrounding community. The facility is a source of noise, pollution, and crime. It also contributes to the cycle of poverty and crime in the community.

• Noise pollution: The Dorchester County Detention Center is a source of noise pollution for the surrounding community. The facility's generators, sirens, and other equipment can be heard for miles.
• Air pollution: The Dorchester County Detention Center is a source of air pollution for the surrounding community. The facility's generators, vehicles, and other equipment emit harmful pollutants into the air.
• Crime: The Dorchester County Detention Center contributes to the cycle of poverty and crime in the community. Many inmates released from the facility are poor and lack the resources they need to successfully reintegrate into society. This makes it more likely that they will return to crime in order to support themselves.

Conclusion

The Dorchester County Detention Center is a problematic facility that has a negative impact on inmates and the surrounding community. The facility is overcrowded, understaffed, and lacks basic necessities such as adequate food and medical care. Inmates are subjected to verbal abuse, sexual harassment, and other forms of mistreatment. The facility's high recidivism rate is a testament to its failure to rehabilitate inmates. The Dorchester County Detention Center is a costly burden on taxpayers and a dangerous place for inmates. It is time to close the