South Carolina jail supervisor Matrese Grant was arrested for allegedly sneaking home-cooked meals to inmates — and booked into her own facility

A South Carolina corrections sergeant was fired and arrested after allegedly sneaking home-cooked food into a detention center, authorities said.

Matrese Grant served as a sergeant and shift supervisor at the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center in Darlington County.

Grant was identified after another corrections officer noticed contraband was allegedly entering the facility, according to the sheriff’s office.

On September 7, Grant allegedly gave inmates home-cooked meals, Sheriff Michael August said.

The shift supervisor also attempted to avoid surveillance cameras by concealing items underneath a blanket, August said.

On September 11, the sheriff’s office suspended Grant without pay. She was subsequently terminated and arrested, authorities said.

Following her arrest, Grant was taken into custody. She was booked at the same detention center where she had worked, officials said.

Grant faces charges of misconduct in office and furnishing contraband, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office emphasized its zero-tolerance policy regarding prohibited items. Food is treated as contraband because weapons or other dangerous materials could potentially be concealed inside it, officials said.

The case marks at least the third contraband-related arrest involving an employee or contractor at the detention center since 2025, authorities said.

In January 2025, a facility-wide search at the detention center resulted in 55 warrants against inmates, according to officials.

Grant has been charged and not convicted, according to the sheriff’s office.

The accusations against her have not been proven in court, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.