Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Nearly one thousand cameras spread throughout our state's prison system are all fed back into a centralized command center located on the Department of Corrections Broad River Road campus.
"We have two very dedicated officers sitting behind us now, manning these hours 24/7," Director Bryan Stirling said.
News 19 asked Stirling if this system set up was in response to the riot at Lee Correctional Institution last month that killed seven inmates.
"No. This has been planned much longer before that, so this is something that we've always wanted to do. It doesn't happen over night. It takes us a while to procure and build and things of that nature, so this is not in response to Lee," he said.
Stirling said the system has already proven to be successful.
"We did see someone from throwing a note from one cell to another and we're able to see that and send officers to respond and get that note and I'm sure those cells will be searched," he said.