Governor Henry McMaster has announced the departure of Bryan Stirling, the Director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC), from his role after more than 11 years of service. Stirling has accepted a position as the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. He was appointed by former Governor Nikki Haley in October 2013 and reappointed by Governor McMaster in January 2019.
Gov. McMaster remarked, “Director Bryan Stirling is widely recognized as the best corrections director in the country, and his relentless spirit has turned SCDC into a model for other states to follow.”
During his tenure, Stirling implemented innovative reentry programs, achieved the lowest recidivism rate in the country, and addressed the issue of contraband cell phones in prisons. He also succeeded in raising employee salaries significantly.
Director Stirling expressed, “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to lead the men and women at the Department of Corrections and help transform the agency into a place where incarcerated people are returned to society safely with real second chances.”
Joel Anderson, the current Deputy Director for Operations at SCDC, has been appointed as Acting Director. Anderson has a long history with SCDC, having rejoined the department in 2004 and having held various leadership roles.
Anderson’s career in corrections began with the Texas Department of Corrections, with subsequent roles at the Florida Department of Corrections, before returning to South Carolina.
He resides in Richland County with his wife.
