Construction of Georgetown County’s new $65 million detention center on Browns Ferry Road is progressing steadily, with walls already up, and wiring and plumbing being installed. Block works is about 75 percent done and metal studs are currently being installed inside the structure.
The facility, located across from the current jail, remains on schedule and within budget, said Donny Cummings, Senior Construction Project Manager for the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office.
“The building itself is done,” he said. “We’re just finishing up a few interior walls and other details inside.”
The new facility—expected to open in the first quarter of 2027—will replace the aging Georgetown County Detention Center, which opened in the mid-1990s. Sheriff Carter Weaver says the new jail will be able to accommodate about 250 inmates, compared to the existing jail’s capacity of about 130.
“The new facility will give us more space, improved security and updated technology,” Weaver said. “It’s designed to be safer for both staff and inmates, with features that make day-to-day operations much more efficient.”
Among the safety enhancements are negative-pressure medical cells designed to isolate sick inmates, separate housing areas for male and female detainees, and individual recreation yards for each housing block to prevent inmates from intermingling. A secure booking and intake area will streamline the process of admitting and releasing inmates while keeping operations separated from administrative areas.
The site will also include an armory, shooting range for law enforcement training, and separate buildings for the Coroner’s Office and the Sheriff’s Reentry Program, a successful training initiative that provides inmates with valuable skills to help them transition back into society.
“It will all be a major upgrade from what we currently have,” Weaver said. He noted that the project represents an important investment in public safety and in the future of the county.
“This new detention center is about more than just bricks and mortar—it’s about building a safer, more modern facility that allows our staff to do their jobs effectively and humanely,” Weaver said. “It will better protect our officers, improve conditions for inmates, and ensure we can meet the needs of our growing community for years to come.”
Jonathan Branch, who is in charge of the Reentry Program, said he’s incredibly excited to have a space designed specifically for the purpose of housing the program.
“The building we’re in now was an old detention center warehouse that was retrofitted to meet our needs,” he said. “We’re grateful for it, but this new space will be built from the ground up for what we do. It’s going to give us more room and allow us to expand opportunities for education and job training.”
Founded in 2007 and substantially revitalized by Sheriff Weaver with the hiring of Branch in 2022, the Reentry Program provides inmates with job training, education and personal development before release. Participants gain hands-on experience through apprenticeship partnerships and local employers, often earning certifications in high-demand trades such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical work and welding. The program also partners with Coastal Carolina University and Horry-Georgetown Technical College to offer college-level courses and GED instruction.
To date, more than 250 men have graduated from the Reentry Program. Its success rate is nearly 100%. A number of graduates have gone on to secure full-time employment with Georgetown County and other local businesses.
“The Reentry Program changes lives,” Weaver said. “It’s about accountability, opportunity, and redemption. Giving people the tools to rebuild their lives makes our whole community safer and stronger.”
The detention center project broke ground in June 2024. The 85,800-square-foot facility – an addition of about 15,000 square feet compared to the current facility – is being constructed on county-owned property that will eventually also include a new Emergency Operations Center and potentially other county buildings.
Despite rising material and labor costs across the construction industry, Cummings said the project has remained on track financially. “Right now, we’re still on budget,” he said.
No major construction setbacks have occurred, and favorable weather through the fall has helped crews maintain momentum. When completed, the new complex will provide a modern, more secure, and more efficient detention facility to serve Georgetown County for decades to come—while also creating new opportunities for rehabilitation and reentry.