Wateree River Correctional Institution

Established in the 1890s, Wateree Correctional Institution is the oldest facility in the South Carolina Department of Corrections and serves as a medium-security institution for adult men. Under the long-standing leadership of Warden Donald Beckwith, Wateree has developed innovative and impactful rehabilitation programs rooted in agricultural work and stewardship.

The prison operates thousands of acres of farmland, including crop cultivation and one of the state’s largest dairy operations, each contributing to the nutritional needs of correctional facilities statewide. Inmates participate in these programs to gain transferable job skills, responsibility, and discipline. Wateree also partners with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, a unique initiative that is one of only a few of its kind nationwide, in which incarcerated men care for and train retired racehorses, reinforcing patience, empathy, and personal growth. Through purposeful work and a focus on practical skills, Wateree prepares individuals to reenter society with hope and capability.