Safety, Service, Stewardship The mission of the South Carolina Department of Corrections is: Safety--we will protect the public, our employees, and our inmates. Service--we will provide rehabilitation and self-improvement opportunities for inmates. Stewardship--we will promote professional excellence, fiscal responsibility, and self-sufficiency. About SCDC The original correctional system in South Carolina was established in 1866 when the South Carolina Legislature passed an act that created the first state-level prison for felons that were housed in county facilities. In 1960, the Governor of South Carolina decided to end the abuses of the correctional system and therefore created a new state agency. The agency was named the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Today, the Department of Corrections is still a state agency, reporting directly to the governor. The Department of Corrections currently has some 4,900 employees, just under 20,000 inmates, and operates 21 institutions.