Detention Center - Psychological Services | Greenville County Government

The Detention Center Psychological Services Section is comprised of Clinical Counselors, a part-time Psychiatrist and an Administrative Specialist. Under the direction of its administrator, it is responsible for ensuring that a full range of mental health and psychiatric services are provided to meet the needs of inmates incarcerated within the facility.

Contact Information

Psychological Services Office
20 McGee Street
Greenville, SC 29601

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Inmate Psychological Care

Psychological services are provided within the Detention Center and are available 24 hours a day; with psychiatric care provided as necessary.

A five-dollar co-payment is charged to inmates to defray the costs of psychological treatment:

When care is requested by an inmate and is considered non-emergency in nature by the Mental Health staff.
In accordance with all other County ordinances and policies.

These charges are on a per-occurrence basis.

Psychological Services staff does see inmates without money. Inmates considered indigent are examined and treated as necessary, with co-payments debited from their accounts in anticipation of funds being deposited.

NOTICE
Because of HIPPA confidentiality laws, the Detention CenterТs Psychological Services staff are prohibited from providing inmate mental health/medical information or discussing inmate history or treatment with friends, family members, attorneyТs or clergy. We can, however, accept information regarding medications and history that you feel it would benefit us to know about the inmate.

The following was prepared as a step-by-step guide to help families cope with the criminal justice system in Greenville County when a family member who suffers from a brain disorder (mental illness) is arrested.

Step One: Support Your Relative

If your family member/friend calls you and says that she/he has been arrested, help him/her stay calm and offer your help and support.
If she/he is already at the Detention Center (County Jail), she/he will be screened for mental illness, as well as other health concerns, upon arrival. It is very important that they be direct and honest to benefit as much as possible from this screening process. Assure your family member that it is OK to discuss his/her physical and mental condition, diagnosis, medications, etc., with the staff conducting the screening, which includes the Operations Booking Staff, the Medical Staff and Jail Psychological Services staff. It is important that your family member feels safe to speak openly with the mental health screeners.

Step Two: Send A Fax Or Drop Form Off At Detention Center

You may complete the Inmate Medical/Mental Health Information Form and fax it to the Division of Health Services at 864-467-2386. If you do not have access to a fax, you may drop this form off in the main lobby of the Detention Center.
Click on form, print, complete and fax as instructed above.
IMPORTANT: This fax shall contain Medical information only! All other questions related to incarcerated person must be addressed to the Operations Division of the Detention Center.
Once you are sure your relative has been booked into the facility, fax the document to Division of Health Services at 864-467-2386. Faxes can be sent 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Step Three: Contact The Detention Center

Call the Detention Center at 864-467-2330 and ask to leave a Phone-In-Concern for Medical the Psychological Service staff. Inform them that your family member suffers from a mental illness and describe the diagnosis and any other concerns you may have related to their condition.

Step Four: Resources And Support

Mental Health Court: A diversion program that seeks to increase compliance and success of mental health interventions and decrease risk of ongoing involvement with criminal justice. Participants must apply through their attorneys or via family contact with the Mental Health Court Coordinator located in the Pre-Trial Intervention office of Greenville County. The program's caseworker may assist the defense attorney, prosecutor, and the judge in implementing an alternative sentence to a mental health treatment facility rather than incarceration in a jail or prison. You may contact them at 864-467-8647.

NAMI Ц National Alliance for Mental Illness: NAMI of Greenville, South Carolina is a non-profit, grass-roots organization offering support, education and advocacy for families and friends of people with serious mental illness and for persons with serious mental illness. Family members, significant others, and inmates might find support and assistance through the "Prison/Jail Outreach Program." You may contact them at 864-331-3300.

Supporting and coping with a loved one who suffers from a brain disorder can be extremely challenging and stressful. Knowledge, as well as your love and fortitude, will be essential in helping you to become a strong and effective support system for your family member. For information about support groups and educational programs provided free of charge in your area, contact NAMI - the NationТs Voice on Mental Illness at 864-331-3300, or on the internet at http://www.namigreenvillesc.org/.

This informational guide was adapted from one written by NAMI volunteers in California, based on their own personal experience to help families navigate the system. We are not attorneys, and this is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Please assist your family member in obtaining proper legal representation.

General Mental Health Services: Inmates are seen in response to written requests, through on-call/triage rotations and assigned zones [assigned areas of the jail]. Clinicians refer inmates for psychiatric referral, collaborate with the Health Services Division and coordinate continuity of care for in-coming and select out-going inmates.

Psychiatric Services: Targets the pharmacological intervention of mental illness symptoms. Through evaluation, medication management and clinical follow-up by mental health clinicians, inmates are moved through the care continuum of crisis stabilization and mental health maintenance.

Mental Illness Stabilization (GCDC-MIS) program: Targets areas of crisis stabilization to include the Isolation Dorm, Special Management Unit and the Housing Unit targeted for occupancy by those with on-going mental health stabilization issues, meeting current Axis I DSM criteria. The majority of these inmates has a severe and persistent mental illness or is presenting with mental health crisis symptoms.

Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Treatment Program (GCDC-AODT): The Detention Center holds a SC DHEC license to provide outpatient psychoactive substance abuse treatment to adults. GCDC is the first Detention Center in South Carolina to have its own license to provide this type of treatment program. The program is open to adult inmates of GCDC, currently at no charge. Participation is voluntary and attendance at all sessions required.