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Spartanburg County Jail

950 California Avenue
Spartanburg, SC 29303-2184
(864) 596-2650

Interview with Charles, Rich, Kevin, Molly, Jeremy, Chad and Laura

JM: How long was your sentencing for?
Charles: I was sentenced to 90 days in Spartanburg County Jail.
Rich: i was sentenced to 30 months in the department of corrections and 2 years probation.
Kevin: Six months.
Molly: $989.00 fine or 30 days in jail.
Jeremy: I was sentenced with two years time served and was given a consecutive sentence under the Youthful Offenders Act (YOA) and had to spend an additional year in a different facility.
Chad: 1 year
Laura: I had gotten a 30day sentence

JM: Did you spend time in a holding cell after your sentencing? If so, what was that like? If you didn't where did they they take you instead?
Charles: Yes. I was in Spartanburg 4 days, when a bench warrant showed up on my background for DUS 2nd, which added 30 more days to my sentence and I was shipped to Columbia on September 20, 2010.
Rich: yes, we were put in single cells for the full day. they moved us from the main jail to the courthouse in handcuffs and leg irons and put us in single cells until it was time to go to the courtroom, then back to a single cell. and our leg irons were left on us for approx. 8-9 hours even though we were still in a jail.
Kevin: Yes, it was in the old county jail. It was different than the new county jail, there were bars everywhere and it was much more unpleasant. I spent maybe an hour and was taken back to the new county jail.
Molly: No
Jeremy: Yes I did. There was a horrible roach infestation in the old county jail, which was condemned and deemed unfit for inmate housing.
Chad: waited in holding "area" until court was over, then back to the main jail
Laura: yes. the cell was small and cold for whatever reason i was unable to pull my little thin cover over me before 10pm while in my cell. it was quiet because i was in there by myself.

Are you or someone you love expecting to spend some time in Spartanburg County Jail? If so, you might be wondering what to expect once you are behind locked doors. Going to jail can be scary, especially if this is your first time.

While we can't promise that jail will be easy, having the right information can help to alleviate some of your anxiety, and can help you feel more prepared for the experience. We have interviewed former inmates of Spartanburg County, who have shared their knowledge about what life is really like inside the jail. You can access their interviews by clicking the links to the left.

Take a few minutes to read their stories, so you can learn what to expect behind bars in Spartanburg County Jail.

Time Off for Good Behavior
Due to overcrowding problems, many jails allow inmates to be released before their entire sentence has been served if they are well behaved. Spartanburg County is very overcrowded, sometimes housing four inmates in each two man cell. They generally release inmates up to 10 days early per month sentenced.

This number can vary somewhat depending on what program or part of the jail you are in. Either way, it is in the best interests of everyone for you to be on good behavior so you can spend as little time as possible locked up. To receive the time off, you need to follow all the rules, avoid fights, and be respectful to the officers.

Meals
Spartanburg County provides three meals per day to inmates. The food has received mixed reviews from inmates. Some say the food isn't terrible, but the portions are too small. Others say the food is horrible.

Some of the least favorite meals of inmates are the chicken patty (rubbery), chuck wagon dinner (tasteless) and rice. Some inmate favorites are the hotdogs/hamburgers, turkey roll, and pancakes. The jail does not provide additional snacks outside of meals for free, but if you have money on your books you are generally allowed to visit the inmate store or "canteen one time per day to buy snacks and other items such as cigarettes, paper, pencils and toiletries."

Continue to the interview