Facility Information

The Lexington County Detention Center is the local jail facility in Lexington County, South Carolina.  Operated by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, the Lexington County Detention Center is the county’s primary detention center.  It works with various local law enforcement agencies to provide safe detention facilities for people arrested in the county.

The Lexington County Sheriff is Bryan Koon, who began his law enforcement career in 1993.  He was with the Town of Lexington Police Department for 20 years, then completed the National Sheriffs’ Institute program to receive training on issues impacting modern law enforcement, specifically those issues impacting sheriffs, including running local jail facilities.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department has been CALEA accredited since 1999.  CALEA, or the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., is an organization that was created through the joint efforts of several law enforcement agencies, including: the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Sheriff’s Association, and the Police Executive Research Forum.  The purpose of CALEA is to establish standards for local law enforcement agencies, and recognize those agencies that meet standards through a credentialing process.

One of the ways that the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department strives to remain in contact with the community is through the Sheriff’s Blog available on its website.  Although the blog contains information about the community as a whole, it may also be a source of up-to-date information about the Lexington County Detention Center.

While the Lexington County Detention Center is run by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, the person in charge of its day-to-day activities is the Jail Commander, Major Kevin Jones.

Inmates have access to 24-hour medical care through a company that contracts with the Lexington County Detention Center to provide medical service.  In medical emergencies, inmates are transported to appropriate medical facilities.  Some limited dental services are available.  For mental health issues, a caseworker is available seven-days-a-week to assess mental health and refer for treatment, when necessary.  There is also an on-call caseworker that is available to provide services in emergency scenarios.  If you believe that an inmate is in need of immediate mental health services because of depression, or mental instability, or that an inmate is suicidal, you can contact a Detention Center shift supervisor at 803-785-2743.

Lexington County Detention Center Addresses

Physical Address

Lexington County Detention Center
521 Gibson Rd
Lexington, SC 29072

Mailing Address

Lexington County Detention Center
P.O. Box 2019
Lexington, SC 29071-2019

Inmate Mailing Address

Inmate Name, housing location, and inmate number
Lexington County Detention Center
P.O. Box 2019
Lexington, SC 29071-2019

The Lexington County Detention Center has much more liberal rules for inmate mail than most local jail facilities.  Incoming mail is not read or censored, although it is open and inspected for contraband in front of the inmate.  Contraband is a broad term that encompasses any items not specifically allowed in inmate mail.  The only type of mail that inmates are allowed to receive is normal cards and letters.  They cannot receive packages or envelopes with clasps or padding.  Attorney mail does not have the same restrictions, but legal mail may also be inspected for contraband.

Contraband that people often try to get to inmates include: food, beverages, personal property, money, drugs, and weapons.  However, any item that is unauthorized is considered contraband.  Inmates who are in possession of contraband can be charged with a crime.

Inmate mail is distributed every weekday, except for holidays.  Mail is not distributed on weekends.

Phone Numbers

The Lexington County Detention Center’s has three phone numbers used to provide general jail information to the public.  The main number is 803-785-2700.  The number to schedule visitation or ask questions about information is 803-785-2743.  The number to find out information about inmates incarcerated in the Lexington County Detention Center is 803-785-2740.  If you have concerns about an inmate’s mental health status, you can contact a shift supervisor 24/7 at 803-785-2743.

Inmate Roster

The Lexington County Detention Center has a complete inmate locator list.  This list provides a complete list of inmates currently in the facility.  It is alphabetized and contains the following at-a-glance information: inmate’s full name, race, gender, and age; the primary charge or charges against the inmate; the inmate’s arrest date; and the department or agency that booked the inmate.  If you click on the inmate’s record, you get a more complete and detailed record for that inmate, which includes: a mugshot or booking photo; release date (if available); next court date (if available); the charges against the inmate; the trial status of each charge; the docket number; and the bond amount (if available) and whether or not the inmate qualified for bond.

Lexington County Inmate Search

The Lexington County Detention Center’s inmate locator list has a default function that provides information on inmates in an alphabetical list.  However, if you go to the inmate locator list and click on the “arrest date” field, it returns the list of inmates in order of their arrest dates.  It has inmates who were arrested as early as 2011, but to find a list of inmates who were recently arrested, you can start at the bottom of the list and work your way up.  You could also look at the list of inmates specifically by arresting agency.  Each inmate’s information includes: the inmate’s first, last, and middle names; the inmate’s race; the inmate’s age; the inmate’s gender; the charges against the inmate; a booking photo/mugshot; the inmate’s release date when available; court information such as court dates and trial status; the docket number for each charge; and the bond amount if the inmate is bond-eligible.

Mugshots

The Lexington County Detention Center does not maintain a dedicated booking photo/ mugshot database.  However, booking photos/mugshots are available in the inmate locator tool, if you click on the inmate’s name and pull up the full record.

Visitation

The Lexington County Detention Center uses Securus to schedule inmate visitation.  They offer a video visitation system that allows two types of visitation: on-site visitation and remote visitation from home.  You can schedule visits by contacting Securus at www.securustech.net.

Visitors, including children, must present identification to visit.  Acceptable forms of identification include: state-issued photo identification; federal government-issued photo identification; and school-issued student identification.

Visitation is up to the discretion of the jail and the inmate.  The Lexington County Detention Center may refuse to allow an inmate to exercise his or her visitation rights or may choose to not allow a particular visitor to visit.  Inmates may also refuse to see any visitor.  In some housing locations, inmates may schedule their own visitations, but are also responsible for informing visitors about the times for those visits.

Some of the reasons that the jail may deny a visit include, but are not limited to: the visitor not being on the approved visitor list; the visitor violating the Detention Center’s visitation rules; the visitor engaging in disruptive conduct or behavior; the visitor being intoxicated or under the influence of drugs; a lack of space for visitors; health and safety concerns; the visit posing a threat to the inmate, employees, or the community; or the visitor being a former inmate within six months of the proposed visit. Inmates on disciplinary confinement status are permitted visits, but they can only have remote visits, not in person visits, and their visits are restricted to 8:00pm to 10:00pm Wednesday and Friday.

For on-site visitation, visitors are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled visitation time.  If you arrive at the time that the visit is scheduled to start, you will probably have to wait for your visitation because of processing time and the limited number of visitation slots.

There are two adult visitors per visitation period.  Children under the age of 12 cannot visit at the facility, but children aged 11 and under can visit remotely.  Any child between the ages of 12 and 17 must be accompanied by an adult and must be supervised by that adult at all times; no children can be left unattended in any part of the jail’s lobby or waiting facilities.

Visitors must comply with a dress code, which is up to the discretion of the visitation officer.  Prohibited clothing items include, but are not limited to: short-shorts, mini-skirts, bathing suits, tank tops, excessively tight clothing, or excessively revealing clothing.  Visitors must wear shoes and shirts.  Visitors may not smoke inside the Detention Center or visitation area.  Visitors may not bring food, beverages, or cell phones into the visitation area.

Inmate Phone Privileges

The Lexington County Detention Center, like most local jail facilities, does not allow inmates to receive incoming phone calls, nor does it take messages for inmates under normal circumstances.  Inmates are, however, permitted to make outgoing calls.  All of these phone calls must be collect calls and the person receiving the calls must agree to pay for the charges for the phone calls.  The Lexington County Detention Center does not have a phone provider that allows you to set up an account for jail phone calls or provide a way for inmates to use other means, such as phone cards, to pay for phone calls.

Generally, the jail will not accept messages for inmates.  However, the jail will make exceptions for genuine and verifiable emergencies.  Examples of these emergencies includes death or medical emergencies for immediate family members.  To relay an emergency message, contact the Detention Center shift supervisor at 803-785-2743.  Be prepared to provide verification of the emergency. 

Inmate Trust Accounts / Commissary

The Lexington County Detention Center provides a way for inmates to purchase items not provided through the jail through the use of inmate trust accounts.  This service is known as canteen or commissary. The Lexington County Jail uses McDaniel Supply Company to provide canteen/commissary/trust services for inmates.  To make deposits to an inmate’s trust account, you can visit McDaniel Supply Company’s website.  You can also make deposits in person at the jail by visiting the front lobby of the Detention Center.  The Detention Center has kiosks, which are available from 9:00am to 10:00pm on weekdays and from 9:00am to 4:00pm on weekends.  Deposits are limited to $140 per day.  You can also make deposits by mail, but the jail only accepts money orders for mailed in deposits.

Canteen purchases are a way for inmates to purchase items that are not supplied by the jail.  These include items that go beyond what we consider “necessary” items.  Examples of canteen items include: snack foods, writing supplies, stamped envelopes, paper, undergarments, and toiletries.  Inmates must use their inmate trust accounts for these purchases, and cannot possess cash at any time.  Cash money is considered contraband and can subject an inmate to disciplinary action or even criminal charges.  If you want to send money for an inmate’s trust account, rather than sending cash to an inmate, make a deposit via money order to an inmate’s trust account.

Bail Information

Lexington County provides bond information for inmates in the inmate locator list.  Once you click on an inmate’s name, it will provide information about the bond amount for each charge against an inmate.  For an inmate to be released, the bond for each charge must be paid, or the charge resolved for the person. If bond is denied for any of the charges, then the inmate will not be eligible for release until that charge is resolved.

Lexington County handles bond through bond court.  Bond court sessions are held daily, Monday through Friday, in both morning and afternoon sessions.  The morning session begins at 10:00am and the afternoon session begins at 3:00pm.  Bond payments are accepted every day.  During the week, bond can be paid from 9:00am to 5:00pm.  During the weekend, or on holidays, bond can be paid from 10:00am to 3:00pm.

Lexington County has a cash bond system.  This means that, in order to secure the release of an individual, you must pay the full amount of the cash bond.  This amount is refundable as long as a defendant appears at all scheduled court dates and fulfills all other conditions of release. However, if unable to pay the full amount of the cash bond, you can secure the services of a bail bondsman.  For a percentage of the total amount of the cash bond, usually 10%, which is a non-refundable fee to the bondsman, the bondsman agrees to be responsible for the full amount of the cash bail if a defendant fails to appear for court or comply with other conditions of release.   The contract with the bail bondsman is a private contract and resolving it is not done through the bond court system.   The Lexington County Detention Center cannot recommend a specific bondsmen to provide bail services.  However, bondsmen are easy to locate; they may have offices near the jail, be affiliated with criminal defense attorney, or located in the Yellow Pages or online.

Conclusion

Lexington County, South Carolina’s local jail facility is the Lexington County Detention Center, which is located in the city of Lexington.  It is run by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, but it provides a detention facility for inmates arrested by any of Lexington County’s numerous local law enforcement agencies.

The Lexington County Sheriff is Bryan Koon; however, Sheriff Koon has entrusted jail commander Kevin Jones with the supervision of the Lexington County Detention Center.  Along with shift supervisors, who are responsible for making decisions during the shifts they supervise, Jones is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the jail facility.  To reach Commander Jones, you can contact him at 803-785-2700.  To reach the shift supervisor, you can contact the jail at 803-785-2743.

The jail is located at 521 Gibson Road in Lexington, South Carolina.  It offers on-site visitation at its visitors’ center, as well as remote visitation through Securus.  The jail allows deposits to inmate accounts through lobby kiosks in the visitation center, as well as online and by the mail.  Inmates can only make outgoing collect calls, but the jail will take messages in the event of verifiable emergencies.  Inmates have access to 24-hour health care, including access to an on-call mental health professional for after-hours mental health emergencies.